Department of Kinesiology

Academic Unit Head, Janet K. Wigglesworth
Phone: (540) 568-6145
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/kinesiology
Email: jmukinesiology@jmu.edu
Location: Godwin Hall, Room 331

Graduate Program Director – Kinesiology M.A.T., PHETE, Susan B. Nye

Graduate Program Director – Kinesiology M.S., Exercise Physiology, Nicholas D. Luden

Professors
S. Carson Sackett, N. Luden, S. Nye, M. Saunders, C. Womack

Associate Professors
E. Edwards, T. Hargens, C. McKay, T. Moran

Assistant Professors
S. Kurti

Admission

In addition to The Graduate School qualifications for admissions, potential candidates must meet the requirements of the Department of Kinesiology. Contact the department for more information.

Mission

The Department of Kinesiology is dedicated to the development of future leaders in professions that maximize the potential of individuals and society through physical activity, exercise and sport.

Goals

Program goals are to help students:

Identify and describe important issues relevant to physical activity, health, and exercise and sport science.
Educate others about the relevance of physical activity, healthy, exercise and sport to individuals and to society.
Develop and administrate safe, effective and scientifically based physical activity, healthy, exercise and sport programs that address individual, community and societal needs.
Enable students to evaluate the quality of information germane to the disciplines of physical activity, health, and exercise and sport science.
Develop the skills needed to conduct quality research.

The Department of Kinesiology offers a Master of Science degree with a focus on exercise physiology that includes both a thesis and non-thesis track. The department also offers a five-year program leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) designed for initial licensure to teach physical and health education.

In all programs, courses must be selected with the approval of the adviser in accordance with the professional goals of the student. Students applying to kinesiology are expected to have satisfactory Graduate Record Examination scores and adequate undergraduate preparation.

Some undergraduate courses may be taken concurrently with graduate work.

Overview of Programs

The Department of Kinesiology is home to two graduate programs. Refer to the specific program for admission criteria and deadlines.

Master of Science (M.S.) with a focus on exercise physiology

Students may choose from a thesis or non-thesis track
Electives are selected with approval of the advisor in accordance with the professional goals of the student

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) with a concentration in Physical and Health Education

This is a 5-year undergraduate to graduate program leading to a designed for initial licensure to teach physical and health education.