Kinesiology and Sport Science

Chairperson: Andrew Shim

University of South Dakota
Division of Kinesiology and Sport Science
Patterson Hall, Room 132
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5336
sportscience@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/sportscience

FACULTY

Associate Professors:

Andrew Shim, Exercise Science
Robert Ammon, Sport Management

Assistant Professor:

Bryan Bracey, Sport Management
Shannon Norman, Pedagogy
Veronica Son, Sport Psychology
Jae Yom, Exercise Science

DEGREE:

Master of Arts in Kinesiology and Sport Science, Plan A and B

SPECIALIZATIONS:

Exercise Science
Sports Management

Program Description

Welcome to the Division of Kinesiology & Sport Science at the University of South Dakota. Kinesiology is the study of physical activity as it relates to enhancement of human functioning. The Sport Science program is a graduate program comprised of two specializations and one non-specialization (M.A. in Kinesiology & Sport Science): Exercise Science and Sport Management. The emerging student professional, whether in a laboratory, school, clinical, or business setting, is ultimately involved with improving the health and overall well-being of people. The Kinesiology & Sport Science master’s degree includes courses that explore human development or movement as it affects and are affected by physiological, mechanical, psychological, developmental, cultural, and organizational concepts.

Obtaining an international certification through the National Strength & Conditioning Association can be taken post-graduate. A Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) is available and can create more career opportunities along with your competed program of study. The Exercise Science specialization at the University of South Dakota has been certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association as an Education Recognized Program through 2014.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college are eligible to seek admission to a graduate program at USD. Application materials are available through the School of Education, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, South Dakota, 57069-2390 (605) 677-5437 or through the KSS Division website, http://www.usd.edu/sportscience.

The KSS Division requirements for admission include the following:

• Three letters of recommendation are required, two of these must be from academic professors who can attest to your scholarly abilities.

• A $35 non-refundable application fee.

• An undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or better, based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission.

• Acceptable scores from the any of the following are acceptable: Verbal/Quantitative scores of 290 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or 400 or higher on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Scores more than five years old will not be considered.

• A 500 word applicant-authored essay stating reasons for pursuing graduate study in Kinesiology & Sport Science.

Types of Admission

1. Full Admission. Generally, students will be admitted unconditionally if they have a strong undergraduate record, demonstrate strong communication skills in their admissions essay, receive favorable recommendations, and have met all other minimal conditions for acceptance into the Graduate School. You must be fully admitted to the MA program before you can sit for the comprehensive exam.

2. Provisional Admission. Students who do not meet all of the qualifications for Full admission may be granted provisional admission to the program of study. The student may be admitted with specific provisions necessary for full admission. These are conditions that must be met prior to being fully admitted to the MA program. Failure to complete specified requirements can result in being denied the ability to register for additional coursework until specified conditions are met.

3. Special Student. Special student status allows students to complete six credit hours without applying for admission to a degree program. These liberal admission policies allow students to try out a program without seeking full admission. Students who take classes under this designation can take up to six credits before formally applying to pursue an MA degree. That is, without receiving admission to the program, students may not count more than six credit hours of study toward their degree.

4. Admission Deferment. Students may petition to defer their admission for one calendar year before the next annual review. Students attending the On-Campus program in Vermillion must begin in the fall semester and cannot defer admission until spring of any academic year.

5. Immunization. The University requires that you provide evidence that you have received immunization against various communicable diseases prior to registration.

Due to regulations mandated by the South Dakota Board of Regents and the State Health Department, medically signed proof of TWO properly administered immunizations or immune titers for Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, and Rubella are now required for all new, readmitted and transferred students at all State Institutions. Official documentation from a physician’s office, department of health, high school or other university is acceptable. Students who fail to provide the required proof of immunization will be REFUSED REGISTRATION and WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND. Forms can be downloaded from Student Health at http://www.usd.edu/shs/.

6. Transfer Credit. A student may transfer up to nine hours of graduate credit from outside USD and use these credits toward the MA degree requirements. This transfer of credits requires the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. Approval will be based on the following factors: the credits transferred from a regionally accredited institution of higher education at the master’s level taken fewer than seven (7) years prior to conferring the USD master’s degree. Further, the approval will be contingent on the similarity of transfer courses to USD courses in terms of requirements. Students intending to transfer credits should discuss the issue with a faculty advisor (either the Graduate Coordinator or the Chair of the Academic Division), and requests should be made as soon as possible.

Requests must be accompanied by an official transcript and should be accompanied by a catalog description and a course syllabus for the course the student is petitioning to transfer. The student must be in good standing in the institution from which the credit is being transferred, and the grades must be the equivalent of “B” or better.

The Graduate Coordinator must recommend by letter to the Dean of the Graduate School and by signature on the student’s program of study that such credit is to be used on the student’s Program of Study. The student initiates this request for transfer by completing a form which can be found on the UPortal by clicking the Graduate School Forms link at the following URL: http://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/student-resources.cfm .