What to expect
Prerequisites, required courses, and degree requirements
Prerequisites
Physiology
Biology of cells and organisms: 1 semester
Chemistry: 1 semester
Human anatomy and physiology: 2 semesters
Human biomechanics: 1 semester
Exercise physiology: 1 semester
Psychology of Exercise
Although there are no specific prerequisites, the ideal candidate will have successfully completed coursework in psychology and/or sport/exercise psychology.
Biomechanics
Although there are no specific prerequisites, the ideal candidate has some experience in a research laboratory and has successfully completed coursework in biomechanics, statistics, physiology, anatomy, and experimental design during their undergraduate studies.
Required Courses
Physiology
KN 500: Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition
KN 545: Advanced Exercise Programming Assessment
KN 550: Applied Exercise Physiology
Psychology of Exercise
KN 500: Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition
KN 511: Intervention Design and Evaluation in Kinesiology and Nutrition
KN 521: Physical Activity Interventions in Diverse Populations
Biomechanics
KN 500: Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition
KN 472: Movement Neuroscience
KN 561: Biomechanics of Human Locomotion
KN/P 571: Biomechanics of Normal and Abnormal Movement
Degree Requirements
Completion of the KN MS degree requires 36 credits at the graduate level:
Students enrolled in research-based tracks (Exercise Physiology, Psychology of Exercise, or Biomechanics) are expected to complete a project or thesis. Students will work with their mentors to determine whether to pursue a project or thesis.
- Project track. Students who complete the project track are required to take at least 5 hours of KN597 Master’s Project Research. Project guidelines below.
- Thesis track. Students who complete the thesis track are required to take at least 5 hours of KN598 Master’s Thesis Research. Thesis guidelines below.
*Only 500-level classes with A-F grading are counted towards this required minimum (thus KN596, KN597, KN598 and any other class with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading do not count). Moreover, only 400- and 500-level classes count towards the MS. Any 100-, 200- or 300-level class (for example classes taken to fulfill prerequisites) will not count towards the required total credits or GPA calculation.
Project guidelines
Committee Composition
A three-member committee is required.
- At least one member must be tenure-track faculty.
- At least one member must be clinical faculty.
Students must establish their committee and formally propose their project via presentation, typically during the second semester.
Innovation
- The project must offer new insights, propose a novel solution, or apply existing knowledge in a creative and innovative way.
- It should demonstrate originality and independent thought, supported by a well-organized structure and a clear rationale.
Written Report
A comprehensive written report must summarize the project’s significance, objectives, methodology, and conclusions or recommendations. The report format can be:
- A rough draft of a manuscript.
- A long abstract format.
Oral Defense
Students must present and defend their project findings to their committee.
Examples of eligible projects:
- Original scholarship
- Participation in an ongoing research project
- Analysis of data obtained from previous research projects
- Writing a scientific review article
Thesis guidelines
A thesis must be based on original scholarship and its completion must fulfill Graduate requirements as indicated at https://grad.uic.edu/academic-support/exams-defense/masters-thesis-defense/