Kinesiology - Degrees and Advising

The Master of Science in Kinesiology is a science-based degree program that offers advanced study to prepare graduates to enter the field at occupational levels requiring a master's degree. The program offers three specialized areas of emphasis; Physical Education & Sports Studies (PESS) and Exercise Science & Health Promotion (ESHP), and the Individualized Course of Study (ICS).

For additional information about the graduate program, please contact Dr. Kris Jankovitz at: kjankovi@calpoly.edu or phone 805.756.2534

Applications to the Master of Science Degree Program in Kinesiology are accepted on a continuing basis, however, to ensure adequate processing and full consideration, all application materials should be filed with the Cal Poly Admission's Office before the dates given below. Applicants are encouraged to file during the initial filing period.

Provide Transcripts

Have official transcripts sent from all the undergraduate institutions you attended to the Cal Poly Admissions Office, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, 93407.

Do NOT send transcripts directly to the Kinesiology Department. Send transcripts to Admissions.

Send three (3) letters of recommendation for admission to the Master of Science Degree Program in Kinesiology to: Kris Jankovitz, Ph.D., CHES, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Kinesiology, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0386. Letters should be received before the dates given below.

Personal Statement

The statement of purpose on the CSU application cannot be used in lieu of the personal statement requirement. The “Personal Statement” is limited to two typewritten, double-spaced pages. At the top of the page write, Personal Statement, your name and the quarter you are applying for admission to the program.

1. A one-paragraph statement that speaks to your interest in the field of Kinesiology.

The personal statement should be sent to: Kris Jankovitz, Ph.D., CHES, Graduate Program

Coordinator, Department of Kinesiology, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand

Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0386. Letters should be received before the dates

GRE Scores

GRE test scores are not currently required for admission to the graduate program in Kinesiology. If you have completed the GRE please submit those scores with your on-line application or by mail to the Cal Poly Admissions Office, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, 93407.

Graduate Teaching Assistantship positions in Kinesiology are available pending available funding. Positions are awarded on a competitive basis and dependent upon the staffing needs of the department. A Graduate Teaching Assistantship does NOT provide a tuition/fee waiver NOR does it provide a waiver of out-of-state fees.

Applications for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship for the 2008-2009 academic year will be accepted until May 15, 2008. Two letters of recommendation for the position are required.

Click here to download the Application form for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship position.

Click here to download the Letter of Recommendation form for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position.

The ESHP emphasis is an extension of the undergraduate concentration under the Bachelor of Science degree in the Kinesiology Major. The emphasis incorporates an in-depth study of the scientific and clinical knowledge in exercise science, and theory and practice in health promotion. The graduate ESHP track offers coursework and training to prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings including; worksite, education, public/non-profit, private, and commercial fitness. It also prepares graduates to pursue positions in cardiac rehabilitation, adult and elder health & fitness, as well as other hospital-based or clinically oriented settings. The ESHP curriculum is aligned with competencies required for certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine. This emphasis also provides students with an excellent background to pursue graduate study at other institutions offering doctoral degrees.

The PESS track offers advanced coursework and training required for coaching and teaching physical education. It is oriented toward in-depth study of theory and practice in PE pedagogy, sport and physical activity. It prepares students to pursue positions in (a) teaching physical education at all levels**; (b) coaching at the secondary and post-secondary levels, as well as with private and public agencies/organizations; and (c) continued graduate study at other institutions offering doctoral degrees.

The ICS offers selected students the opportunity to pursue a specific objective for graduate study that is distinctly different from the ESHP and PESS emphases areas. The ICS is ideal for graduate students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of the areas of specialization in Kinesiology (e.g., Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Health Education, PE/Sport Pedagogy). In addition to the required graduate core courses on the Formal Study Plan, an individualized emphasis area is created in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. The proposed Individualized Course of Study is subject to approval by a majority of the Kinesiology graduate faculty before it can be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Programs and Research.

Masters candidates must have an undergraduate degree. Applicants with an undergraduate major in Kinesiology or closely related field are preferred.. Applicants to the graduate program must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the last 90 units of undergraduate work. Special attention is focused upon student performance in undergraduate science courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry) as well as undergraduate kinesiology coursework (biomechanics, exercise physiology, muscle anatomy). Applicants to the program who do not have an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and/or are deficient in academic preparation for their selected emphasis of study will be required to successfully complete deficient coursework before the Masters Degree can be conferred. Coursework deficiencies may not be placed on the Formal Study Plan and must be taken in addition to the 45 units for the Masters Degree in Kinesiology.

Pre-Requisite Competencies for Exercise Science and Health Promotion Emphasis -

Coursework deficiencies for the ICS, if any, will be determined by the student's faculty advisor and be approved by a majority of the graduate faculty.

For admission to the program with classified standing, an applicant must have an undergraduate major in Kinesiology or closely related field and meet the pre-requisite requirements for the applicant's selected emphasis of study. The applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the last 90 units of undergraduate work. Students below a 2.75 GPA may appeal to the Graduate Coordinator to be "conditionally" accepted. This procedure will involve a review process and a specified contract to be successfully completed before admission to classified standing.

Admission to the program with conditionally classified standing is awarded to applicants who show promise for graduate study but do not have a sufficient level of undergraduate training in Kinesiology and/or their selected emphasis of study. The applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the last 90 units of undergraduate work. Applicants with undergraduate deficiencies must remove these deficiencies through satisfactory completion of course work or examination before Advancement to Candidacy.

The Formal Study Plan must include 45 units of approved graduate work; at least 33 of these units must be completed at the 500-level.

Each candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive examination before the degree is granted. This examination may take one of two forms: (1) students presenting a thesis or project must successfully defend the thesis or project in an oral examination, or (2) students not presenting a thesis or project must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination assessing competency in the course work taken toward the degree requirements. If the degree is not completed within 4 years, the graduate faculty may require that a thesis candidate also be tested on course work.

A maximum of 12 units of 400-level courses may be put on the Formal Study Plan provided these courses were not required as part of the undergraduate degree. Graduate students enrolled in 400-level courses will be expected to complete assignments beyond those normally required of undergraduate students and will be graded against more rigorous standards than those applied to undergraduate students in the same course.

A maximum of 12 units taken outside the Kinesiology Department may be put on the Formal Study Plan.

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE

Each candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive examination before the MS Degree in Kinesiology is granted. The examination can take one of two forms: (1) those students following the thesis/project option must successfully defend the thesis or project in an oral examination, or (2) those students following the non-thesis option must pass a comprehensive examination dealing with current general knowledge in the discipline of kinesiology and the application of coursework taken on the formal study plan.

Note: If the degree requirements on the Formal Study plan, including Thesis or Comprehensive Exam are not completed within 7 years, the student will need to complete additional requirements as determined by the graduate committee. See the catalog for requirements to “Petition for Special Consideration” to extend the time limit.

KINE 599 – Thesis/Project

Registration Policy – Effective Spring 2007

In 2007 the Kinesiology Graduate Faculty approved a policy stating that graduate students enrolled in KINE 599 – Graduate Thesis/Project must:

a) Successfully complete the first quarter of KINE 599 (3 units), meaning (s)he must successfully propose his/her Thesis/Project(CH. 1, 2, & 3) to the Thesis/Project Committee

b) Receive a passing letter grade (A,B, or C) BEFORE enrolling in the second quarter of KINE 599 (3).

Note: If the student receives a grade of Incomplete (I) or Report in Progress (RP) the “I” or “RP” must be satisfied and the grade changed before enrolling in the second quarter of KINE 599.

c) To receive a passing grade (A,B, or C) for the second quarter of KINE 599 (3 units), the candidate must successfully defend his/her Thesis/Project, complete the required revisions, obtain all required signatures from the committee, and successfully submit the written document to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

Note: It is expected that sometime during the Academic Year 2007-2008, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies will adopt a pending proposal that requires all Thesis/Project students to maintain continuous enrollment until the Thesis/Project is completed.

Graduate Comprehensive Exam

Effective Spring Quarter 2007

The Comprehensive Exam will be an oral exam. The written exam has been discontinued at this time. The deadline for applying to take the Comprehensive Exam is the end of the third week of the quarter the candidate intends to take the Comprehensive Exam. Comprehensive Exams will be scheduled between week 7-10 of Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Only in rare instances will Comprehensive Exams be held during the Summer quarter.

A Committee of three Graduate Faculty Members will be assigned to each candidate. The selection of the Committee Members will be based on matching expertise to the Emphasis of Study and the career objective of the student. Committee selection will also consider workload across the faculty.

A three-hour block of time will be reserved for the Oral Comprehensive Exam. This time block will allow for completion of the exam, deliberation by the Committee, and the post-exam debriefing of the candidate.

The Comprehensive Exam will focus on global knowledge in Kinesiology. The candidate will be presented with two or three comprehensive questions developed by his/her Committee that will be answered orally. Committee members may ask follow-up questions if necessary for clarification.

The nature of the questions will be global and open ended, with an emphasis on application, critical thinking, and problem solving. The questions and will be oriented to the student’s career objective and graduate emphasis of study.

The exam will be pass/fail in nature (with the understanding that an overall score of 70% represents a passing score). The scoring rubric is available for review.

After the exam, the Committee will debrief the candidate concerning areas of strengths and weakness on the exam.

In the event that a candidate fails the exam the debriefing will clarify the area(s) of weakness that should be addressed by the student when preparing to repeat the Comprehensive Exam. If a candidate fails the exam (s)he must wait until the next quarter to apply to take the Comprehensive Exam.

Graduate Course Descriptions

Application for Comp Exam

Comps Scoring Rubric