Kinesiology Accelerated Program

The goal of the program is to produce graduates with an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of kinesiology and a broad set of professional skills. The curriculum includes both coursework and laboratory research experience. Program options include:

B.S. Kinesiology / M.S. Kinesiology
B.S. Integrative Physiology/ M.S. Kinesiology
B.S. Public Health/M.S. Kinesiology

Graduates will be well-equipped either to seek applied professional positions or pursue advanced degrees. The advantages of the combined degree to students seeking private sector employment will be entry level positions with higher-level responsibilities, higher pay, and opportunities for more rapid advancement. The rigorous training and combined B.S./M.S. will offer a competitive advantage in the admissions process to students interested in pursuing doctoral (PhD), professional (MD, PT, PA, MPH, Chiropractic) or combined (MD/PhD) degrees.

Conditions include:

The student must complete 30 (thesis) or 36 (coursework) graduate credit hours with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
The student must complete all B.S. KIN undergraduate requirements with the exception that up to 9 credit hours taken for graduate credit can also count toward his/her undergraduate degree requirements. These 9 credits must be declared by email to the Graduate Program Coordinator before the semester of graduation of your undergraduate program, and before requesting a graduation check for the BS degree.
At least 18 of the graduate credit hours on the Graduate Program of Study must be in classes at the 700 level or above.
Graduate courses in the KIN Department must be at or above the 600 level.
Graduate courses outside the department must be at or above the 500 level.
A student pursuing a thesis format must complete at least 6 credit hours of Masters Thesis (KIN 899).

In the first semester after acceptance into the accelerated degree program, the student will select a major professor from the membership of the Graduate Faculty in Kinesiology. The student will work closely with the major professor to form a supervisory committee and file a program of study by the end of the second semester of the junior year. The undergraduate advisor will advise the student in academic progress toward the B.S. degree, and the major professor will supervise the student's academic progress, and research project for the thesis option, for the M.S. degree. Research toward the M.S. thesis should typically begin during the junior year.

The format for these programs are as follows:

	Thesis	Coursework
KIN 815 Research Methods	3	3
Statistics course (STAT 703)	3	3
Other Courses and Electives	18	30
Thesis	6	0
TOTAL GRADUATE CREDITS	30	36

*Actual degree requirements will be summarized on an approved plan of study

Admission Requirements

Students may apply for the accelerated B.S./M.S. program from the second semester of the sophomore year through the second semester of the junior year (when they have accumulated 45-90 credit hours toward the B.S degree). Students may apply during the senior year with special permission from the chair of the Kinesiology program and/or the coordinator of the Graduate Programs.

*Students must have completed the Kinesiology core courses (KIN 220, 310, 335, 336, 345).
*Minimum standards for regular admission and for retention in the program require a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in required courses.
*Actual degree requirements will be summarized on an approved plan of study.

Application process

The application process will be the same as for the traditional M.S. degree except that completion of the B.S. degree is not required. Application is made through the CollegeNet system at the Graduate School. The following steps are required:

KSU graduate application form completed online before semester of enrollment. Application fee of $65 (personal check, money order, or cashier's check payable to Kansas State University Graduate School) submitted. However, do not submit application fee until all parts of the application have been uploaded (except letters of recommendation. Once application fee has been paid, you will not be able to upload or update any part of your application. Make sure you specify 'Accelerated B.S./M.S.' as the program you are applying to.
Statement of Academic Objectives and preferred primary adviser(s) must be uploaded (see below for instructions).
Names and contact information for three individuals to provide a letter of recommendation. These should be current or former PhD level professors who can comment on your ability to handle the rigors of graduate school.
Current Official KSU transcript of all undergraduate work. This can be scanned and uploaded directly by the applicant.

The graduate program processes the application of the student and forwards it to the Graduate School, as currently occurs for students applying to the normal program. Upon approval by the Graduate Faculty in Kinesiology, provisional admission will be granted, pending the award of the B.S. degree. The B.S. degree may be awarded at any time following the completion of the undergraduate degree requirements (but see additional information below). Alternatively, the B.S. and M.S. degrees may be awarded concurrently.

Statement of Academic Objectives:

Prepare a typed narrative statement of two to three pages in length written in the style of a letter. Include the following:

Discuss why you are interested in pursuing a master’s degree or Ph. D. in kinesiology, the strengths you have at the time of application for admission, and those areas in which you would like to increase your expertise, competencies, and personal development.
Outline your professional goals, both immediate and long-term.
Comment on an area of emphasis in either exercise physiology or physical activity public health behavior and a major professor.
Describe the one academic experience that has meant the most to you in your educational career.

*Actual degree requirements will be summarized on an approved plan of study.