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Kinesiology | Graduate Degrees | M.S. in Kinesiology | Exercise Physiology Concentration, M.S.

Exercise Physiology Concentration, M.S.

Exercise Physiology is the study of how exercise affects the functions of the body which can influence health and or performance. Students learn the impact of exercise at the whole body, system, and cellular level. You can apply this knowledge to work with healthy and clinical populations to impact positive alterations involving various physical activity programs. The knowledge gained in the academic field of exercise physiology may be acquired through the scholarly study of physical activity and through laboratory measurements of various physiological outcomes that can impact health and/or performance.

Educating the community, including patients, clients, athletes, children, and older adults on how and why to employ specific types of physical activity to improve performance, health, and well-being relies on application of knowledge gained by professionals in the area of exercise physiology.

Exercise Physiology

The M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology includes both thesis and non-thesis (or coursework only) options. Both are 36-hour programs with the thesis option being more appropriate for students who wish to go on to pursue a doctoral degree and the non-thesis option being more appropriate for those who wish to design and implement exercise programming for athletes and other apparently healthy adults. The non-thesis option typically includes 6 credit hours of internship. We have a strong record of placing our students in the top facilities in north-central North Carolina; abundant opportunities exist in Greensboro, as well as in Winston-Salem, High Point, Durham, Chapel Hill, etc. Nearly all students are admitted into the non-thesis option. Those who show strong initiative in learning laboratory skills and in identifying a mentor and research topic may later be admitted into the thesis track (usually late in the first or early in the second semester).

Clinical Exercise Physiology

The M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology is a 42-hour coursework only program that prepares students to enter careers in exercise programming and diagnostic exercise testing of individuals with, or at high risk for, chronic diseases. The curriculum includes coursework in exercise testing and prescription, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and electrocardiography, and includes 12 credit hours of internship at two or more clinical sites. Common internship sites include Cone Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Duke University Medical Center, and other sites across north central North Carolina. This CAAHEP-accredited program covers the competencies and internship hours required to pass the ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist Exam.

The Student Experience

We offer opportunities for students interested in a broad range of career specializations including personal training, group fitness instruction, clinical careers (i.e. cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation), allied health professions, exercise instruction, exercise psychology, exercise physiology, and much more.
Nearly all students are admitted into the non-thesis option. Those who show strong initiative in learning laboratory skills and in identifying a mentor and research topic may later be admitted into the thesis track (usually late in the first or early in your second semester).
You will progress through your degree based on your individual plan of study. A plan of study must be approved by your advisor (M.S.: non-thesis option) or a committee of three (M.S.: thesis option) members chosen by you and your advisor. The M.S. plan of study generally includes exercise physiology, a research methods course, and electives (mostly in the exercise physiology area).
You will have access to the Exercise Endocrinology Lab, Cardiac Metabolic Lab, Exercise Physiology Research Lab and The Metabolic, Energetics and Sleep Laboratory (METS), which encompass over 4000 square feet of research space. The laboratories include state of the art instrumentation.

AFTER GRADUATION

We have a strong record of placing our students in the top facilities in north central North Carolina; abundant opportunities exist in Greensboro, as well as in Winston-Salem, High Point, Durham, Chapel Hill, etc.

APPLY TO PROGRAM

Please follow these steps when submitting an application For more general questions, make sure you check out KIN’s Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for please contact the department directly at [email protected].

Graduate School Requirements

1. Online Application to The Graduate School

2. All official transcripts

Send to the Graduate School directly. One official transcript is needed from all colleges and universities previously attended. If credit from one institution has been transferred to another and is listed on the receiving institution’s transcript, a transcript from the original institution is not required.

If an applicant is currently enrolled in a degree program and will not graduate prior to an admission deadline, transcripts should be provided that reflect courses in progress. It will speed up the processing of your application greatly if you also upload an unofficial copy of your transcript(s) issued by your institution(s) registrar’s office that includes the official seal as part of your online application (student advising transcripts are not accepted).

Please remember that you must still have your official transcript(s) sent to The Graduate School even if you supply official copies.

3. English Language Proficiency

The English Language Proficiency requirement must be fulfilled for all non-native English speaking applicants regardless of citizenship. It can be waived if the student has earned a US degree or has an acceptable score on either the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam. It can also be fulfilled by completing Level 5 of our Interlink program. Please see more information on requirements for international applicants.

4. Three Recommendations

All applicants must submit a minimum and maximum of three recommendations. In most cases the department would prefer at least two of the recommendations to be from faculty members who can address your academic capability. All recommendations are to be uploaded through The Graduate School’s online application system.

Departmental Notes

5. Graduate Assistantships

All qualifying applicants are considered for assistantships. You do not need to apply for an assistantship. If you are interested in an assistantship please indicate this on your application by checking the appropriate box. NOTE: Due to the way certain programs are structured, potential students applying to the Ed.D., M.S.A.T., Fully online M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology, or M.S. in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology are typically not considered for assistantships.

6. Application Materials

Ed.D. — Complete applications received by January 15 receive priority consideration. However, applications submitted through April 1 will be considered for Fall admission if program capacity allows. The Ed.D. program accepts students for Fall admission only.
M.S.A.T. — Complete applications must be submitted by January 15. The M.S.A.T. program accepts students for Summer admission only.
M.S., M.S./Ph.D., Ph.D. — Complete applications received by January 15 receive priority consideration for admission and funding. Applications submitted through July 1 will be considered for Fall admission if program capacity allows. Spring admission is possible but unlikely and we have no assistantship funds for spring applicants.

IMPORTANT: For Non-U.S. Academic Transcripts

International applicants are required to have their credentials formally evaluated. More information about this requirement, including recognized services for evaluation, can be found on the Graduate School’s international applicant page.