Master of Science with a Major in Kinesiology

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 30-semester-hour Master of Science with a major in Kinesiology (MSK) degree. The MSK is an advanced degree designed for students with an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology or a related field, or are working in-field and have necessary prerequisite courses. The program provides an advanced degree opportunity for physical educators (and related fields) who hold a teaching certificate in physical education OR have a degree in exercise science and non-certification physical education. The MSK provides students with advanced experiences and study in content areas specific to health and physical education and exercise science. The program further develops the abilities of students to conduct research and critically assess professional practices within educational and sport-related settings.

The MSK requires a professional core of 12 hours that includes a research class and a measurement/evaluation class and offers the student the choice of completing an additional 15 hours of coursework in either a concentration in exercise science OR health and physical education. As a final requirement in this program, students will be required to complete a three hour action research project in a professional area of interest.  

This program does not provide a certification upon its completion.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the Kinesiology website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Subsequent notification will be sent from the Graduate Admissions Office to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted but do not enroll within three semesters following acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned.

Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission: 

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Only those test scores that are less than five years old will be considered. An applicant may exempt an entrance test (GRE or MAT) with evidence of a graduate degree or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, individuals must have:

1. Baccalaureate in health and physical education or a related field from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a grade point average of at least 2.75 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of at least 301 (verbal and quantitative combined), or official scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of at least 391, or evidence of a graduate degree, or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures. 

Provisional Admission

A student who does not meet the regular admission criteria stated above may be granted provisional admission pending a successful admission appeal (see Appeal of Graduate Admission). Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than six hours total of graduate credit. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following completion of six hours. A provisionally admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate courses taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MSK program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the College of Education Graduate Office and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students may are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who is interested in taking graduate physical education courses, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the College of Education Graduate Office before enrolling in courses and may earn no more than a total of 12 semester hours of graduate credit under this status. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis. 

The following documents must be received prior to admission: 

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.50. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower will subject to a program review to determine the student’s eligibility to enroll in coursework for the subsequent semester. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the MSK degree program must notify the College of Education Graduate Office, submit a new application for the program to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements. All credits to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the College of Education Graduate Office.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the College of Education Graduate Office before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis. 

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Letter of good standing or transient permission form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at the student’s home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at UNG.
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Transient admission is for one semester only. An individual who wishes to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent semester must apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission.

International Applicants

Because of Homeland Security guidelines, an F1 visa cannot be issued for online programs. Individuals living and working in the United States whose visa status permits graduate enrollment may be considered for admission. Refer to the admission requirements in the Admission Requirements and Procedures  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. An appeal must be made in written form to the College of Education, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A student whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally. Provisional students are not eligible for federal financial. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Master of Science with a major in Kinesiology degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The College of Education Graduate Office must approve all transfer education credit. In addition, no more than six semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the MSK requirements. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form to the College of Education Graduate Office for approval.

Academic Policies

Program of Study

A program of study must be completed and on file in the Registrar’s Office before the completion of 15 semester hours. A program of study shall consist of those graduate courses for which graduate credit is granted toward a degree. No change may be made in the program of study without the advance approval of the College of Education Graduate Office and an amendment attached to the program of study.

Incomplete Grades

The MSK program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog. Non-academic incompletes must be finished by the beginning of the second semester after which the incomplete was awarded. There are three semesters within the course of the academic year; fall, spring, and summer. Incompletes that are not finished by the beginning of the second semester will automatically become an F.  No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved incomplete grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Academic Standing Policy

MSK students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation – Student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a grade of C or lower.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0.  Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. Only grades of D or F must be repeated in order to receive degree credit. Students who are on probation may not register until advised. 
    
2. Suspension – Student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades of C or lower.
   b. Student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.
   
   No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. After serving a suspension period of three semesters, a student seeking to reapply to the program must submit to Graduate Admissions a letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Education presenting a rationale for readmission and a new application for readmission. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Education and the College of Education Graduate Office. If readmitted, the student will have the same grade requirements for progress. Readmission will not be considered for students who have received four grades of C or lower. 

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At any point during the program, the program faculty or the College of Education Graduate Office may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the College of Education Graduate Office with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Education.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Science with a major in Kinesiology program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Degree Requirements

Graduation requirements for the Master of Science with a major in Kinesiology degree include:

1. Completion of 30 designated semester hours of study.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no more than two grades of C.
3. Completion of at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than six semester hours of transfer credit.
4. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credit, within a six-year period.