Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, Master of Arts in Education
Offered by Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences
The Kinesiology and Sport Sciences Master’s program has two areas of emphasis: Sport Management or Coaching and Sport Performance. Students may select one to pursue.
4+1 Option
The Kinesiology and Sport Sciences Master’s program offers two separate options for entry and matriculation through one graduate program. The first option is to complete a 4-year undergraduate program, plus a 1-year graduate program (4+1). The undergraduate degrees available within this option are in Exercise Science or Sport and Recreation Management. Students in the Exercise Science program will apply for the Coaching and Sport Performance emphasis for their graduate degree. Students in the Sport and Recreation Management program will apply for the Sport Management emphasis for their graduate degree. All planning to do the 4+1 program will apply for it in their junior year (6th or 7th semester). Those admitted will begin 6 dual credits of graduate work in their senior year. These credits count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students will complete their 1-year graduate program after completing the undergraduate degree.
Traditional MAE Option
The second option is a traditional Master’s degree that includes 2 years (30 credits) of post-baccalaureate work. A baccalaureate degree is needed for admission to this degree option.
Program Information and Admission Requirements
Admission to degree work is contingent on
- Evaluation of the candidate's undergraduate transcript.
- Submission of a personal essay regarding the student's career goals directly related to the specific program of study (and emphasis area of appropriate).
Graduate students in the department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences must select either a thesis or a non-thesis option.
Thesis Option
In addition to academic coursework, students must complete a 6 hour thesis project (KSS 896) under the direction of a thesis advisor. At the time a student elects to write a thesis, the advisor and the Chair of the KSS Graduate Program Committee shall obtain approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach on the composition of the committee by submitting a "Proposed Supervisory Committee" form. This committee will approve a thesis proposal and guide the student in the writing of the thesis. The committee will also examine the student in the required oral examination at the completion of the project. The time and place of the examination will be determined by the Chair of the Committee.
Thesis and Thesis Committee
A completed thesis must be submitted for the approval of the thesis committee within two years from the completion of the course work. This time requirement may be waived at the discretion of the majority of the Department's Graduate Committee. The thesis committee shall consist of a minimum of three members:
- The candidate's thesis professor who will serve as chair,
- A member representing the candidate's major discipline (generally from the degree granting institution),
- A third member representing a related field selected at large from the University of Nebraska Graduate Faculty. This member cannot be a member of the candidate's department.
Non-Thesis Option
In addition to their coursework, students pursuing the Masters Degree with a Non-Thesis Option must successfully complete a comprehensive examination prior to graduation. Comprehensive examinations are to be taken on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney unless an off campus site and a waiver for the on campus requirement are approved by a majority vote of the KSS graduate faculty. Comprehensive examinations will be offered the last week of March, June, and October. The comprehensive written examination will consist of at least three questions.
- one question relating to research techniques
- one question relating to content from their graduate coursework
- one question relating to the student's area of focus/emphasis
Scoring of the comprehensive written exam will be scored as
- Pass - no further examination is required
- Conditional Pass with an oral examination required - Following the oral exam the student can then be granted a Pass or No Pass with remediation required. Students earning a No Pass must then take another written comprehensive examination within a time period specified by the examination committee.
- No Pass - the committee will then recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach that the candidate be reexamined after a specified interval. Means for improvement shall be recommended to the candidate by the committee.
After a student takes a second comprehensive examination, the student will be given the same scoring as above, except in any situation in which the student receives a score of No Pass the committee will then recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach that the candidate be refused graduation.
Comprehensive Examination Committee
The comprehensive exam committee will consist of two graduate faculty members of the student's choosing within their field of study, with the Graduate Program Chair (or another graduate faculty member if the Graduate Program Chair is on the exam committee) serving as a third member if arbitration of grading is needed.
This program is offered on campus and/or online. A total of 30 credit hours is required to complete this graduate program.
Two options are available: the Sport Management specialization and the Coaching and Sport Performance specialization.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| KSS 800 | Philosophy of PE, Sport, and Coaching | 3 |
| KSS 801 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| KSS 830 | Management and Leadership in Athletics and Coaching | 3 |
| KSS 881 | Applied Project in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KSS 850 | Research Method in Kinesiology & Sport Sciences | 3 |
| or KSS 879P | Research Methods in Exercise Science | |
| Specializations | 15 | |
| Select one of the following specialization options: | ||
Sport Management | ||
Take the following: | ||
| Sociological Aspects of Sport | ||
| Governance and Ethics in Sport | ||
Choose 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Financial Management of Sport | ||
| Sport Coaching Methods/Techniques | ||
| Social Media Strategies in Sport | ||
| Facilities for Sports and Recreation | ||
| Sport and Recreation Law | ||
| Marketing in Sport and Recreation | ||
| Program Design: Strength Training & Conditioning | ||
| Essentials of Sports Nutrition | ||
| Activities Director | ||
| Readings in American History (Must be Sports History) | ||
| Internship | ||
or KSS 896 | Thesis | |
Coaching and Sport Performance | ||
Take the following: | ||
| Applied Biomechanics of Sport Motion | ||
| Essentials of Sports Nutrition | ||
or KSS 866P | Sports Nutrition | |
| Applied Physiology of Exercise | ||
or KSS 870 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | |
Choose 6 hours from the following: | ||
| Sport Coaching Methods/Techniques | ||
| Social Media Strategies in Sport | ||
| Strength Program Implementation | ||
| Marketing in Sport and Recreation | ||
| Program Design: Strength Training & Conditioning | ||
| Foundations of Injury Care and Prevention | ||
| Motor Development and Learning | ||
| Fitness Testing | ||
| Advanced Testing in Exercise & Sport Science | ||
| Thesis | ||
or KSS 895 | Internship | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |