Master of Science

This program is direct response to the emerging recognition of the importance of physical activity and health among an aging population, and in the growing appreciation of skills of trained clinical professionals. 

Who Should Enroll

• Individuals seeking employment in cardiac rehabilitation, preventive, and disease management programs.
• Baccalaureate graduates who want to continue their education through obtaining a graduate degree.
• Professionals currently working in the field of exercise and sports science who want to obtain a professional certification as a clinical exercise physiologist. 
• Experienced clinical employees who want to receive their master's degree.

Key Features 

• Meets accreditation standards of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Commission on Accreditation of the Exercise Sciences (COAES). Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is pending. 
• All students will complete a capstone internship in a cardiac rehabilitation setting at a regional hospital or rehabilitation center where they will put into practice the concepts learned in the classroom.
• Full-time students can complete their degree within two years; part-time students will finish in three years
• Classes are scheduled in the evenings to accommodate working professionals.

• Tuition is the same for all students, regardless of residency.

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Admission Requirements 

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, or an average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or an average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate school
• Completed application received with $56 processing fee (see Application Process)

Prerequisites

For applicants with a bachelor's degree in exercise science or equivalent:

• A three-credit undergraduate or graduate statistics or tests and measurements course. (Students without this course may be admitted provisionally but would need to complete this prerequisite before enrolling in EXSS 710 - Statistical Methods in Health and Human Performance.).
• A three-credit  undergraduate or graduate physiology of exercise class course. (Students without this course may be admitted provisionally but would need to complete this prerequisite before enrolling in EXSS 701- Advanced Physiology of Exercise.)

For applicants without a bachelor's degree in exercise science or equivalent:

• Statistics or tests and measurements course (3 credits)
• Physiology of exercise (3 credits)
• Exercise testing and prescription (3 credits)
• Exercise for special populations (3 credits)

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Application Process 

Applicants will apply online and submit the following additional materials:  

• Official transcript(s) listing undergraduate and graduate degree(s) sent directly from the degree-granting institution to the Graduate Admissions Office;  
• Three letters of recommendation;  
• Statement of interest (a two or three page essay describing career goals, reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, and how the student plans to use the degree); and  
• Professional resume or vita. 

All documents are submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, 112 South Hall, 410 S. Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022.

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