Kinesiology and Sport Administration (KSPA), MS

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Admission Requirements

Admission to Harding University is determined on an individual basis with the following criteria considered: (1) academic preparation, (2) character, (3) educational interests, and (4) academic potential. Effort is made to admit all students who qualify and who can benefit from the unique educational program and opportunities available at Harding irrespective of their religious faith, national origin, sex, race, or color. When applying, students should be aware of the distinct purpose of Harding University and be willing to commit themselves to upholding institutional values.

Applicants for the Master of Science degree program must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 or more, or 2.75 on the last 60 hours, attested by an official transcript; Or, an earned master’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, attested by an official transcript.
   • Applicants with less than a 2.50 GPA can appeal to the Kinesiology Graduate committee for provisional acceptance.
2. Entrance Exam Requirements (each applicant must meet one of the following):
   • Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a target score of 380.
   • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a target score of 300 (Quantitative and Verbal combined).
   • Praxis Health and PE content test with a target passing score of 155.
   • Praxis PLT test with a target passing score (depends on specific grade level test taken).
   • Hold a current teaching license from any state.

Prerequisite(s)

Leveling courses, if required, will not be included within the semester hour requirements.

Application Procedures

1. Complete the online application.
2. Request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to kinesiology@harding.edu.
   *Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.
3. Request official results from one of the following tests or hold documentation of a current teaching license.
   • MAT, GRE, Praxis Subject Content or Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)
4. Request three letters of recommendation.
5. Submit a resume.

Other program requirements

Upon acceptance into the program, students must consult with the director of their program concerning the required course of study, register for classes online through Campus Pipeline each semester, and complete financial registration with the Business Office online.

All requirements of the program must be completed within eight years from the time of acceptance into the program. Coursework taken more than eight years before graduation will not be acceptable.

Transfer and International Students

Correspondence credit will not apply toward the master’s degree. Students may transfer from other graduate schools, subject to the approval of the chair of graduate studies, a maximum of 6 semester hours of resident graduate work in which they have a grade of B or higher. All coursework to be transferred must be completed before a student’s last semester.

Students who (1) speak English as a second language, and have (2) not previously completed an undergraduate degree from an institution within the United States accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation must meet a minimum score on a nationally recognized test of English language proficiency such as the TOEFL or IELTS.

Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission to the university are 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test). The minimum IELTS score is 6.0. Scores must not be older than two years prior to the date of application to the university.

Request for degree

Requests for the degree may be submitted prior to a student’s final semester but must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester. The graduation fee must be paid to the business office the last semester before graduation.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

Ability to Communicate

Because the ability to communicate is such an integral part of teaching, each candidate for the master’s degree must demonstrate above-average competency in written and spoken English.

Advising and Registration

All students must contact the director of the master’s program before their initial registration to plan an individual graduate program upon which subsequent registrations will be based. In addition to the general requirements for admission, all students should:

1. Submit all requested changes in their program of study for approval by the director of the master’s program;
2. Consult frequently with the chair of master’s program concerning the work progress, as it is the student’s responsibility to see all requirements are met; and
3. Know that registration in the graduate program automatically carries with it an obligation on the part of the student to meet all the requirements of the degree as defined by the catalog.

Appeals

A student may appeal any decision of the Kinesiology graduate committee. The student should follow this process:

1. Write a letter to the director of the graduate program stating his/her request.
2. Appear before the Kinesiology graduate committee to make an appeal.

Attendance/Participation

Admission to the University implies the student will observe the regulations of the school in regard to regular and appropriate participation. Regular participation in class activities are necessary for the attainment of a student’s educational objective. The University reserves the right to dismiss a student whenever, in its judgment, the general welfare of the institution seems to require such action.

Course Credit

Courses that are not part of a degree program at Harding University will be given graduate credit, but will not count toward a master’s degree, unless given prior approval by the director of the master’s program. Students may register in approved 5000-level or higher courses for graduate credit. They must reflect, however, a quality of work appropriate to graduate standing, and are assigned additional readings, projects or term papers beyond that which is normally expected of undergraduates. All master’s degrees require a minimum of 18 hours to be taken at the 6000 level. Students who register for an independent study course must show evidence through previously completed work that they are academically able to do the required work as independent study. Only two independent study courses may be part of a master’s degree.

Dropping Classes

To drop a class, a student must submit an official drop form to the director of the master’s program in kinesiology. Failure to attend or submit assignments does not constitute dropping the course. Please contact the director of the master’s program for more information.

No completed class may be dropped.

Email

Communication of important information will be disseminated via Harding email accounts. It is the student’s responsibility to check his or her Harding email account regularly or forward emails sent to that account to another email address.

Examinations

A sufficient number of examinations, including a final, are given during a semester to provide a satisfactory basis for grades. Students are expected to take all regularly scheduled examinations. Students who miss an examination because of extraneous circumstances will need to contact the instructor to receive permission and rescheduling of the examination. A final examination may be taken out of regular schedule only in emergency situations approved by the instructor and the chair of graduate studies.

Grades

In order to determine the student’s scholarship level, the following points are assigned for each hour of the indicated grade: A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; and F=0.

Grades and Reports

Reports of mid-term and semester grades are available to the student online.

Scholarship or achievement of the student in each course is expressed as follows:

A - Excellent
B - Satisfactory
C - Passing
D - Failure
W - Withdrawn
I - Incomplete

“Incomplete” grades for final grades may be assigned only under all of the following conditions:

1. Completion of the course is not possible due to circumstances beyond the student’s control (catastrophic or emergency situations).
2. A majority of the coursework has been completed.
3. Contact the director of the master’s program in Kinesiology for required instructions.

Academic Standing Requirement

An average scholarship level of 3.00 is required in all coursework. No grade below C is acceptable for graduate credit (but will be used to calculate GPA), and only 6 semester hours of C credit may be counted. These must be balanced by 6 semester hours of A credit. Courses in which a grade of C or lower has been received may be repeated. No course may be repeated more than once. If a student receives a grade of F, D, or a third C, the student is placed on academic probation.