Purpose of the Degree

The Master of Science in Education degree with a major in Physical Education offers two programs of study options. The Master of Science in Education degree in Physical Education is designed to provide a quality professional program in the field of Physical Education that meets standards at the graduate level.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission into the Master of Science in Education degree program in Physical Education must meet the admission requirements of Graduate Admissions and specific program requirements. In addition, applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 semester hours of professional education courses including the requirements for a valid teaching certificate based on a four-year teacher education program. Applicants who do not meet the requirements for a valid teaching certificate based on a four-year teacher education program will be required to complete the undergraduate courses required for such a certificate. These courses may be completed concurrently with graduate work, but must be completed before the degree is awarded. In addition, undergraduate deficiency course removal must be sequenced in order to provide the student with the appropriate background knowledge before enrollment into the respective graduate level course will be allowed.

Applicants must present evidence of potential ability to perform academic work at the advanced graduate level. Past grade performance will be used to provide the primary data for judging academic ability. Other indicators, such as quality of writing in the Applicant’s prepared statement and faculty references, will also be considered. Based on past academic performance, an applicant must qualify for either unconditional or conditional admission status.

For unconditional admission, students are required to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or 3.25 GPA during the last 60 credit hours of university work.

For conditional admission, students are required to have a 2.75 cumulative GPA or 3.0 GPA during the last 60 credit hours of university work.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Official transcripts as verification of all coursework and degree(s).
• A formal Statement of Goals which should explain in at least 500 words why he/she is seeking admission into the program and what plans he/she has following the attainment of the degree.
• A current resume.
• At least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential and professional capabilities. Applicants must have at least one recommendation from a university faculty member who is familiar with the applicant’s work as a student. The professional recommendation should come from a supervisor in which he/she has evaluated the applicant’s current or prior work.

Lastly, faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process. In addition to the above requirements, admission to the degree program may require completion of specific prerequisite undergraduate courses. Applicants will be considered for admission during a given review cycle only if all of the above materials have been received by the Graduate Admissions application deadlines. After the initial review of admission materials the committee members can either choose to reject the candidate without an interview or decide to proceed with an interview. Following the interview phase, the Admissions Committee makes its final recommendation to accept the candidate for admission or to deny admission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.