Master of Science in Education in Health, Sport, and Exercise Science
Programs in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences (HSES) offer undergraduate and graduate degrees preparing students to work in health, sport, and exercise-related fields. HSES graduates apply their knowledge to serve as teachers, researchers, clinicians, managers, administrators and other professionals in academic, private, and public settings.
The Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences (HSES) offers the Masters of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree with a major in Health, Sport and Exercise Science in the following specialization areas:
- Exercise Science
- Health Education and Psychology of Physical Activity
- Pedagogy
- Sport Management (Online)
Graduate Admission to the School of Education and Human Sciences
Graduate programs in education are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate and graduate degrees whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Applicants must provide evidence of ability to work successfully at the graduate level, including experience in and commitment to the profession.
Each department in the School of Education and Human Sciences sets its own application deadlines and admission criteria. Prospective graduate students should contact the appropriate department for more information.
See Admission in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog for more information.
Admission Requirements for the Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science
The following materials must be submitted for the master's degree:
It is recommended that students applying for a M.S.E thesis option program contact a faculty member in their specialization area for an interview.
- A completed online graduate application.
- 1 official transcript of all previous undergraduate and graduate credit.
- Personal statement
- 3 letters of recommendation
- A vitae or resume.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores are required for master's degree admission into Exercise Science and Health Education and Psychology of Physical Activity
- 150 on the verbal section, 141 on the quantitative section, and 4.0 on the written analytical section
- GRE scores need to be sent directly to us from the Educational Testing Center (KU Institution code 6871, Department code 3909)
Please note: Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program.
All application materials should be submitted online with the graduate application. If there are application materials that cannot be uploaded with the online application, they may be emailed or mailed to the department.
Graduate applicants who are non-native speakers of English must meet English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study. Documentation should be sent directly to the department.
International applicants must also provide some additional documentation, as described on the Graduate Admissions website.
Contact the department for application deadlines.
Questions: krigordon@ku.edu
The University of Kansas
HSES Graduate Admissions
1301 Sunnyside Ave., Room 161
Lawrence, KS 66045
M.S.E. Degree Programs
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences is offered with specializations in exercise science, health education and psychology of physical activity, pedagogy, and sport management. The degree programs require 30 hours for the thesis option or 36 hours for the non-thesis option.
Specialization - Exercise Science
Thesis Option (30 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 710 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| HSES 805 | Laboratory Experiments and Analysis--Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 810 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 825 | Skeletal Muscle Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 872 | Exercise and the Cardiovascular System | 3 |
| HSES 910 | Biochemistry of Exercise | 3 |
| HSES 995 | Field Experience in: _____ (Exercise Science) | 3 |
| HSES 899 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Non-Thesis Option (36 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 710 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| HSES 730 | Advanced Concepts in Nutrition | 3 |
| HSES 805 | Laboratory Experiments and Analysis--Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 810 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 825 | Skeletal Muscle Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 872 | Exercise and the Cardiovascular System | 3 |
| HSES 771 | Internship in Exercise Science (Exercise Science) | 6 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Suggested Electives for Non-Thesis Option - 9 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 804 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| HSES 806 | Stress Management | 3 |
| HSES 812 | Current Issues in Health | 3 |
| HSES 823 | Behavior Modification in Health and Exercise | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 840 | Organizational Behavior in Sport | 3 |
| HSES 842 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| HSES 892 | Psychology of Physical Activity | 3 |
Specialization – Health Education & Psychology of Physical Activity
Courses required for Thesis and Non-Thesis Option
Required Core - 7-8 hours:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 710 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| EPSY 711 | Lab for Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 1 |
| Complete 1 of the following courses: | ||
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| PSYC 790 | Statistical Methods in Psychology I | 4 |
Complete 5 of the following courses - 15 hours:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 803 | Health Behavior Theory | 3 |
| HSES 804 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| HSES 806 | Stress Management | 3 |
| HSES 812 | Current Issues in Health | 3 |
| HSES 814 | Implementing Health Programs | 3 |
| HSES 823 | Behavior Modification in Health and Exercise | 3 |
| HSES 890 | Seminar in HSES | 3 |
| HSES 892 | Psychology of Physical Activity | 3 |
| HSES 824 | Epidemiology and Concepts of Disease Causation | 3 |
| HSES 897 | Independent Study | 3 |
Students completing a Master's Thesis must take courses below in addition to 22 hrs. of core requirements:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 899 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Elective | 2-3 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 30 | |
Students completing the Non-Thesis Option must take 14 hours of electives courses below in addition to the 22 hours of course requirements:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Elective 5 | 2-3 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 36 | |
Electives are chosen in consultation with student's faculty advisor and must be approved by the advisor.
Specialization - Sport Management- (On-Campus Program)
Regardless of which program track a student chooses, the program coursework and electives are in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Courses required for the Thesis and Non-Thesis option:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| HSES 828 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| HSES 830 | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 840 | Organizational Behavior in Sport | 3 |
| HSES 842 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| HSES 884 | Legal Aspects of Sport | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | 27 | |
Additional requirements (Thesis Track)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 899 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Program Hours (Thesis Track) | 30 | |
Additional requirements (Non-thesis Track)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 801 | Sport Facilities | 3 |
| HSES 897 | Independent Study | 3 |
| HSES 880 | Internship in Sport Management | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Total Program Hours (Non-Thesis Track) | 36 | |
Specialization - Pedagogy
Non-Thesis Option
Required Courses (30 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 804 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| HSES 823 | Behavior Modification in Health and Exercise | 3 |
| HSES 830 | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 832 | Physical Education Instructional and Assessment Methods | 3 |
| HSES 836 | Physical Education Curriculum Models | 3 |
| ELPS 830 | Foundations of Multicultural Education (OR) | 3 |
| Multicultural Education | ||
| ELPS 834 | History and Philosophy of Education (OR) | 3 |
| Philosophy of Education | ||
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| SPED 725 | Introduction to the Psychology and Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
Suggested Electives - take 2 of the following courses (6 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 806 | Stress Management | 3 |
| EPSY 704 | Advanced Educational Psychology: Learning Processes in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 705 | Human Development through the Lifespan | 3 |
| ELPS 537 | The Governance and Organization of Schools | 3 |
| ELPS 760 | Integration of Learning Technology | 3 |
| Other advisor-approved elective course: | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours - Non-thesis | 36 | |
Thesis Option
Required Courses (27 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 823 | Behavior Modification in Health and Exercise | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 832 | Physical Education Instructional and Assessment Methods | 3 |
| HSES 836 | Physical Education Curriculum Models | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| SPED 725 | Introduction to the Psychology and Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| ELPS 834 | History and Philosophy of Education (OR) | 3 |
| Philosophy of Education |
Suggested Electives - take 1 of the following courses (3 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 804 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| HSES 806 | Stress Management | 3 |
| HSES 830 | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| ELPS 760 | Integration of Learning Technology ( OR) | 3 |
| C&T 807 | Multicultural Education ( OR) | 3 |
| Foundations of Multicultural Education | ||
| EPSY 704 | Advanced Educational Psychology: Learning Processes in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 705 | Human Development through the Lifespan | 3 |
| ELPS 537 | The Governance and Organization of Schools | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours Thesis Option | 30 | |
Specialization - Sport Management (Online Program)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 830 | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 828 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| HSES 842 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| HSES 884 | Legal Aspects of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 840 | Organizational Behavior in Sport | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| HSES 886 | Sport Fundraising | 3 |
| HSES 885 | Sport Sponsorship | 3 |
| HSES 801 | Sport Facilities | 3 |
| HSES 897 | Independent Study | 3 |
| HSES 880 | Internship in Sport Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Online Master's in Sport Management
The online Master’s in Sport Management consists of 36 credit hours of coursework, a practicum, an exam, and the production of a portfolio that reflects competencies aligned with the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM).
Sport Management - Online Program
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSES 830 | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 831 | Ethics in the Sport Industry | 3 |
| HSES 828 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| HSES 842 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| HSES 884 | Legal Aspects of Sport | 3 |
| HSES 840 | Organizational Behavior in Sport | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| HSES 886 | Sport Fundraising | 3 |
| HSES 885 | Sport Sponsorship | 3 |
| HSES 801 | Sport Facilities | 3 |
| HSES 897 | Independent Study | 3 |
| HSES 880 | Internship in Sport Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |