MS Degree Program

Program objectives are: (1) to recognize the diverse nature of subject matter embodied in the respective program disciplines; (2) to understand the research findings and theoretical constructs undergirding the corresponding disciplines within the health studies umbrella, including the development of specialized skills needed for systematic inquiry; (3) to understand the critical role of diversity in delivering inclusive health studies services; (4) to develop effective leadership skills; and (5) to understand and embrace ethical standards of the respective disciplines.

Admission Requirements

1. Prospective students must apply to both the Graduate School and the School of Health Studies. In both cases, the applicant must submit an official transcript for undergraduate and graduate studies. Additionally, as part of the application to the Graduate School, an official report of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must be submitted except:
   1. Health Promotion (HPRO): An applicant seeking admission to the HPRO concentration is not required to submit GRE scores. However, official GRE or other standardized test scores may be requested or submitted to support an application.
   2. Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE): An applicant seeking admission to the PETE concentration may opt to submit official scores of the PRAXIS II exams in lieu of the GRE.
2. An applicant must also submit the following to the School: 1) SHS Graduate Admission Application Form, 2) two letters of recommendation, and 3) a 300-500 word statement of goals including identification of the intended area of concentration. (Contact the school’s academic services coordinator for application forms. School of Health Studies application forms are also available on-line at www.memphis.edu/shs/students/grad_admission.php.
3. An applicant must have graduated with a minimum baccalaureate GPA of 2.5.
4. Completion of an appropriate undergraduate major and a strong background in discipline-specific courses:
   1. Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences: anatomy and physiology, health sciences, exercise physiology, anatomic kinesiology, biomechanics, and motor learning
   2. Health Promotion: science-oriented courses such as, but not limited to, nutrition, biology, biochemistry, health sciences, chemistry, and psychology
   3. Physical Education Teacher Education: anatomic kinesiology, anatomy and physiology, biology, exercise physiology, health sciences, motor learning, nutrition, and sport psychology
5. Completion of undergraduate work deemed by the concentration committee as prerequisite to graduate courses.
6. Student admissions to the respective programs within the Health Studies (HS) major are differentially restricted to enable Graduate Faculty within each concentration to closely mentor their students. To ensure maximum consideration for admission into a specific SHS concentration, the following dates are provided: May 1 for summer and fall and November 1 for the spring semester. The admission committee may request a personal interview. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission, including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE/PRAXIS II scores, personal goals statement, relevant employment history, and letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 30 hours is required for the major although respective concentrations may require additional credit hours.

Concentration Requirements:

Guided electives selected with approval of the advisor:

Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (6 hours)

Culminating Experience (3-9 hours)

(Consult Graduate School Calendar for submission deadlines - ):

Other Requirements

1. Successful completion of an oral or written comprehensive examination (successful defense of the Research Laboratory Residency in ESMS, Applied Project, or Thesis may serve this purpose). (Consult Graduate School Calendar for submission deadlines)
2. Consult Graduate School Calendar for Apply to Graduate submission deadlines

(Accelerated BS/MS)

1. An Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) Program is offered by the School of Health Studies:
   1. BS, Health Studies with a concentration in Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (ESMS)/ MS, Health Studies (HS) with a concentration in Exercise, Sport and Movement Science (ESMS)
      
      The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) degree program HS EXSS)/ HS (ESMS) provides qualified UM senior undergraduate students the opportunity to satisfy course requirements, including elective hours, for the bachelor’s degree in HS with a concentration in EXSS that also may be subsequently applied on a prearranged basis to the master’s degree in HS with a concentration in EXSS that may satisfy some of its degree requirements.

For students who work closely with their advisors in planning their course of study in the School of Health Studies, this option offers the opportunity of simultaneously satisfying partial degree requirements for a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated program of study. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree with a satisfactory undergraduate grade point average and a grade of “B” or better in all graduate courses completed, the student may move to full graduate student status, and the preapproved graduate courses taken as an undergraduate may be applied toward the pre-specified graduate program of study.

Students may use up to nine credit hours of designated courses in meeting the requirements of both the HS/EXSS bachelor’s and HS/EXSS master’s degrees.. Courses considered for this purpose may include 4000/6000-level cognates and/or 7000-level courses. Undergraduate students will register for the 6000- or 7000-level courses, but fees will be levied at the undergraduate rate. Students applying for this program must:

1. Have completed at least 18 hours of course work at UM before taking courses as part of the ABM program;
2. Have a UM GPA of 3.25 or better
3. Be within 30 semester hours of graduation
4. Have written approval of the SHS Director, the program coordinator(s) of both the respective undergraduate and graduate programs, and the SHS Academic Services Coordinator in order for specific graduate courses being acceptable for dual credit in the undergraduate and master’s degree programs;
5. Meet all requirements for admission (including the GRE) into the specified graduate program (except for receipt of the undergraduate degree); and
6. Submit an application for admission to the ABM Degree Program, along with all necessary admissions documentation to the Graduate School by the deadline dates listed below.

A maximum total of nine semester hours of preapproved graduate coursework may be considered for dual credit in the undergraduate and graduate degree programs and a maximum total academic load of 15 hours during the semester in which any of the graduate courses are taken.

Students interested in this option must concurrently meet in person with the SHS Director, the program coordinator(s) for respective undergraduate and graduate programs in question, as well as the SHS Academic Services Coordinator, and receive their written approval of the application. Final acceptance into the ABM program is contingent upon approval by the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs. Approvals apply only for the specific programs and courses designated in the application. Stipulated graduate courses for the ABM program are the only ones for which students in the undergraduate program are eligible to enroll, and completion of all allowable graduate courses is optional.

For application materials, contact the SHS Academic Services Coordinator at 901-678-5037 or go to www.memphis.edu/shs/students/admission_advising.php. Students may not apply online for this program. Submit application materials to the School of Health Studies no later than the following dates, after which school-approved applications will be submitted by the school to the Graduate School for consideration:

April 15 for fall term admission

October 15 for spring term admission

April 15 for summer term admission

Subsequent to admission into the ABM program and satisfactory completion of stipulated coursework approved for the designated programs of study, a maximum of 9 credit hours from the following graduate courses may be applied to the respective programs of study for both the undergraduate and graduate levels as follows:

Program Retention Policy

All MS degree students are regularly monitored for completion of any entry-level deficiencies by graduate faculty.

Program retention committees, comprised of selected graduate faculty within the corresponding programs of study, monitor the academic progress of all MS degree candidates in the respective programs. Each committee determines whether or not the student is making sufficient progress and, in case of deficiencies, may recommend additional work or the dismissal of the student from the program. For any student recommended for dismissal, an appeals process is available.