Kinesiology and Sport Science

Division Chairperson and Graduate Program Director: Robert “Robin” Ammon, Ed.D.

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

FACULTY

Associate Professor:

Robert Ammon, Ed.D., University of Northern Colorado. Specialization: Sport Management.

Assistant Professors:

Bryan Bracey, Ph.D., University of Maryland. Specialization: Sport Management.
Brett Comstock, Ph.D., University of Connecticut. Specialization: Exercise Science.
Veronica Son, Ph.D., Michigan State University. Specialization: Sport Psychology.
Jae Yom, Ph.D., University of Georgia. Specialization: Exercise Science.
Suzanne Williams, Ph.D., University of Kansas. Specialization: Health Education.

DEGREE

Master of Arts Plan A and Plan B

SPECIALIZATION

Exercise Science
Sport Management

Division of Kinesiology and Sport Science

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, Exercise Science and Sport Management; and one non-specialization (M.A. in Kinesiology and Sport Science). 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 and 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 2017.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://usd-web.usd.edu/apps/grad-app/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
One official transcript verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic departments retain the right to require an Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES) evaluation for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Applicants to the Exercise Science specialization must have completed a minimum of 16 credit hours in the prefix of exercise, sport, or fitness related area. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. Applicants from or who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from these English-speaking countries (UK, Australia, Canada [except Quebec], Ireland, or New Zealand) are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score if their academic records indicate that English was the classroom language for the majority of their schoolwork.
Applicants are required to submit a 500-word statement of purpose stating reasons for pursuing graduate study in Kinesiology and Sport Science, future goals, and how USD would enable this success.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

Acceptable scores from any of the following are acceptable: A minimum combined score of 290 on the verbal and quantitative section 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.
Three (3) professional letters of recommendation from academic professors who can attest to scholarly abilities are required.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.