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Exercise Physiology - M.S.

Become a leader in exercise physiology with Kent State's master's degree. Our rigorous program is designed to prepare you for a successful career in academia or research. With access to cutting-edge facilities and expert faculty, you'll gain the knowledge and experience needed to make an impact in the field.

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology prepares graduates for a wide variety of career options, including exercise prescription and research, as well as future doctoral study. Representative faculty research includes the areas of body composition, metabolism/nutritional requirements, environment, clinical exercise physiology and the physiology of aging as it is influenced by physical activity and fitness.

Athletic training faculty also support the degree path with their areas of expertise in clinical and educational research in the field of athletic training.

The Exercise Physiology major includes the following optional concentration:

  • The Athletic Training concentration is designed to serve the needs of post-certification (or certification-pending) students who wish to further their knowledge and skills in the athletic training profession while pursuing a master's degree. Students have the opportunity to pursue advanced clinical and academic training while obtaining knowledge and skills relative to effective clinical instruction and supervision. Advanced research skills are also a critical component to this advanced track program. Opportunities to perform research independently and/or in conjunction with program faculty are widely available.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in exercise science, or equivalent preparation, from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
    • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score
    • Minimum 77 MELAB score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 Duolingo English score

Degree applicants are expected to have substantial preparation in the sciences, usually including coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, anatomy, kinesiology and exercise physiology.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Pass one of the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) or NSCA exams: Certified Exercise Physiologist (C-EP) or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
  2. Demonstrate understanding of the physiology of human movement across the lifespan.
  3. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the human and health and disease.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiology of disease, risk factors and special exercise populations, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Graduates of the Athletic Training concentration will be able to:

  1. Apply the principles of the research process in athletic training by engaging with faculty and clinical staff in graduate research initiatives.
  2. Engage health care professionals and apply the knowledge gained, through their education in both the classroom and clinical settings.
  3. Engage in program improvement as part of a continuous quality improvement initiative by evaluating the effectiveness of the program through multiple evaluation resources.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements
ATTR 53018ETHICAL LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTH CARE 3
EXPH 63050RESEARCH PROCESS IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 3
EXPH 63091RESEARCH SEMINAR 1
Additional Requirements or Concentration
Choose from the following:27
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Athletic Training Concentration
Minimum Total Credit Hours:34

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Major Requirements
EXPH 63051QUANTITATIVE AND RESEARCH METHODS IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 3
EXPH 65081ENERGY METABOLISM AND BODY COMPOSITION 3
or EXPH 65083 EXERCISE ENERGY METABOLISM
EXPH 65082CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FUNCTION 3
or EXPH 65084 CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPIRATORY DYNAMICS DURING EXERCISE
Suggested Electives, choose from the following:12
BMS 68610
HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY I
BMS 68611
HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY II
BSCI 50020
BIOLOGY OF AGING
BSCI 50431
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
EXPH 50612
EXERCISE LEADERSHIP FOR THE OLDER ADULT
EXPH 55065
EXERCISE TESTING
EXPH 55070
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
EXPH 55080
PHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE
EXPH 60610
PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING: IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR
EXPH 63098
RESEARCH
EXPH 65080
PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF EXERCISE AND SPORT
EXPH 65086
NEUROBIOLOGY OF MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE
NUTR 63518
ADVANCED SPORTS NUTRITION
Addtional Electives Chosen in Consultation with Advisor
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:6
EXPH 63098
EXPH 65192
RESEARCH
and INTERNSHIP IN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
EXPH 63199
THESIS I
EXPH 65192
INTERNSHIP IN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:27

Athletic Training Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
ATTR 62010CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ATHLETIC TRAINING 3
ATTR 62012EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION PROCESSES IN ATHLETIC TRAINING 3
ATTR 62014ADVANCED CLINICAL PROCEDURES IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND SPORTS MEDICINE 3
ATTR 62016CLINICAL INQUIRY IN ATHLETIC TRAINING 3
Suggested Electives, choose from the following: 19-12
BMS 60450
MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY II
BMS 68610
HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY I
BMS 68611
HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY II
BSCI 50020
BIOLOGY OF AGING
BSCI 50142
BIOENERGETICS
BSCI 50431
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50432
ENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50433
MAMMALIAN PHYSIOLOGY I
BSCI 50434
MAMMALIAN PHYSIOLOGY II
CHEM 50261
BIOCHEMISTRY: BIOMOLECULE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
EXPH 50612
EXERCISE LEADERSHIP FOR THE OLDER ADULT
EXPH 55065
EXERCISE TESTING
EXPH 55070
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
EXPH 55080
PHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE
EXPH 60610
PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING: IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR
EXPH 63051
QUANTITATIVE AND RESEARCH METHODS IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
EXPH 63098
RESEARCH
EXPH 65075
MUSCLE FUNCTION AND EXERCISE
EXPH 65076
ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND EXERCISE
EXPH 65080
PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF EXERCISE AND SPORT
EXPH 65081
ENERGY METABOLISM AND BODY COMPOSITION
EXPH 65082
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FUNCTION
EXPH 65083
EXERCISE ENERGY METABOLISM
EXPH 65084
CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPIRATORY DYNAMICS DURING EXERCISE
EXPH 65086
NEUROBIOLOGY OF MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE
NUTR 53513
MICRONUTRIENT NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
NUTR 63518
ADVANCED SPORTS NUTRITION
Addtional Electives Chosen in Consultation with Advisor
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:3-6
ATTR 63098
RESEARCH 1
ATTR 63199
THESIS I
Minimum Total Credit Hours:27
1

Students who select ATTR 63098 must take additional coursework to meet the minimum credit hours required for the degree.

Graduation Requirements

Only in rare instances does a student fulfill the educational and research expectations within the minimum credit-hour requirement for this degree. Any deficiencies for a doctoral academic preparation must be corrected very early in the approved academic program.

Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

The Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) Student Outcome Data

Based on COAES Guidelines we present Graduate Student Satisfaction rate below:

Student Outcome Data

Graduate Satisfaction

Year Total # Students Total # Students Who Passed Pass Rate
2021-2022 41 11 100%
2021-2022 36 10 87.5%

Table 1: Number of culminating experiences. The culminating experience may be met by an internship, mentorship or research project. 

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

9.3%

much faster than the average

64,700

number of jobs

$85,600

potential earnings

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

6.1%

faster than the average

138,300

number of jobs

$91,510

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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