Kinesiology

Adapted Physical Education

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Specialization provides graduates with the competencies needed to develop functional physical, motor, and leisure skills for individuals with mild, moderate, or severe disabilities. This program is offered in cooperation with Albemarle County Schools. The program is founded on an achievement-based curriculum model. Inherent in the program design are the following principles: the core of the program is an integrated sequence of course work in physical education and special education; hands on applications are emphasized; students complete extensive, well-supervised practicum experiences as one-half time adapted physical education teachers in local schools; students are trained to use a variety of assessment tools and techniques; and students use computer and video technology to analyze and improve teaching effectiveness. The doctoral program in adapted physical education prepares researchers and teacher trainers.

Athletic Training

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Specialization provides M.Ed. graduates with competence and knowledge in the area of athletic medicine, including an understanding of the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological implications of training, as well as the principles, procedures, and techniques of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Students gain practical experience by working with intercollegiate and interscholastic athletic teams and sports clubs. The athletic training program is one of a select group of NATA accredited graduate programs and has a prerequisite of NATA certification (or certification eligibility) prior to admission.

Exercise Physiology

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Specialization acquaints graduate students with physiological concepts related to the acute and chronic effects of exercise on human subjects. Special areas of emphasis include interactions between exercise and health status, adult fitness, human performance, aging, environmental conditions, and nutrition. There are currently three areas of study in Exercise Physiology at the Masters degree level: 1) a Masters degree specialization which prepares students for advanced graduate study in Exercise Physiology and potential academic/research careers; 2) a Masters degree specialization which prepares students for clinically oriented careers in Adult Fitness, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Strength and Conditioning, and Health Promotion; and 3) a Masters degree specialization which allows students to combine options 1 and 2. At the Ph.D. level the specialization in Exercise Physiology is designed to prepare students to conduct original research in human and clinical aspects of Exercise Physiology and interpret and communicate the results of this research as authors, university professors, and/or governmental or research agency officials.

Master’s students in exercise physiology must complete a two-part comprehensive examination. Part one is taken during the spring semester of the first year and is a basic examination in exercise physiology that must be completed satisfactorily for students to remain in the program. If failed once, a student may petition for a reexamination during the summer. If failed a second time, enrollment is terminated. Part two is either a thesis or an advanced written exam at the end of the second year of study.

Graduates in exercise physiology have a thorough knowledge of exercise and applied physiology with an emphasis on metabolism and cardio-respiratory function; the ability to provide leadership for exercise classes involving healthy and high-risk patients; a thorough knowledge of, and practical experience in, procedures for exercise testing; and a working knowledge of research design, research methods, and basic statistics. This course of study can lead to employment in community, corporate, and university exercise programs or to advanced study and research in the field of applied physiology. The doctoral degree in exercise physiology is designed to prepare students to conduct research in human exercise physiology. Program content includes extensive work in physiology, computer applications, and research procedures, as well as interdisciplinary experiences in the School of Medicine.

Motor Learning

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Specialization prepares students to design and implement optimal learning environments for both the acquisition and performance of motor skills. The foundation of this specialization is based on the psychology of motor skill learning. The process of motor skill acquisition is explored by analyzing the early perceptual-motor development of children and the problems of motor skill acquisition and retention for individuals of all ages.

Graduates are able to identify factors that affect motor skill acquisition and performance. Specific emphasis is on understanding the theoretical basis of motor learning and investigating practical questions related to stimulus input, integration, and output. Research is conducted to determine optimal learning environments, practice strategies, and elements that affect the performance of skills. Although closely related to sport psychology, this program emphasizes the acquisition of motor skills, while sport psychology focuses on the performance of well-learned skills. At the doctoral level, emphasis is on developing research skills and applying them to current problems in motor skill acquisition and retention. Doctoral students participate in either the ongoing research projects of the laboratory or in their own research inquiry during each semester of study. Current research interests include the effectiveness of mental practice and cognitive/psychological skills training on motor skill acquisition, the impact of knowledge of results and augmented information feedback on motor skill acquisition, parameters affecting the use of models, and visualization.

Pedagogy

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Specialization is for students who already possess bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching physical education. This specialization prepares individuals to assume positions of leadership in teacher education training institutions at university or college levels. Academic experiences include preparation in the pedagogical knowledge base related to effective teaching; the utilization of both classroom and field experiences to train future physical education teachers; and research skills for investigating questions about effective teaching practices. Doctoral students participate in both ongoing research (focused on goal setting and case study teaching methods) and original research, and strive to demonstrate mastery of supervisory techniques in field-based practicum experiences.

Physical Education Teacher Education (M.T.)

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Specialization is for an individual interested in the study of physical education teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. The individual is prepared to assume a position as a physical education teacher (grades K-12, or at a major university that requires the development of a research program in teacher education).

Sport and Exercise Psychology

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The area of sport and exercise psychology addresses the social influences and individual factors related to participation and performance in a variety of physical activity endeavors. Two major categories of investigation comprise the focus of this field: (1) how participation in sport and exercise contributes to the personal development of participants; and (2) how psychological factors influence participation and performance in sport and exercise. The first category includes such topics as self-esteem, character development, intrinsic motivation, and the ability to cope with anxiety and stress. Some topics under the second category include social support, motivation, self-confidence, goal-setting, arousal control, and mental imagery.

This program emphasizes both the research and application of sport and exercise psychology principles. The research program focuses on developmental sport and exercise psychology, an area that investigates age-related patterns and variations in psychological factors related to sport and exercise participation across the life span. Central topics include determinants of self-esteem through sport and exercise participation; motivational factors related to participation behavior and performance quality (i.e., contextual and individual factors); and social influences on physical activity participation and performance level (i.e., parents, peers, coaches). The applied aspect of the program entails opportunities for translating theory and practice to a variety of practical settings such as athletics, exercise and fitness management, injury management, and youth organizations.

The Sport and Exercise Psychology Program is committed to providing graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences that provide a theoretical and practical background essential to their desired careers in research, teaching, athletics, or health and fitness. Students who pursue terminal master’s degrees are prepared for positions as teachers, coaches, or professionals in fitness or athletic clubs. Students are also well-prepared to continue into a Ph.D. program to pursue research and teaching careers in higher education through their study of the breadth and depth of the field and through ample opportunities to engage in research, teaching, mentoring students, collaborative grant writing, and professional service activities.

Sports Medicine

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The doctoral degree option in sports medicine is designed to prepare candidates to conduct research within athletic medicine and sports science.

Research experiences are gained by assisting with ongoing projects in the Exercise and Sports Injury Laboratory, by developing independent research projects, and by assisting with master’s theses in the athletic training specialization.

Teaching assistant opportunities are available in the undergraduate specialization in sports medicine and the NATA approved graduate program in athletic training. Clinical work in athletic training and/or physical therapy is available through the on-Grounds athletic training clinic, as well as through several local private schools.