Kinesiology, M.Ed.

Concentration in Kinesiology for Individuals with Disabilities

The master’s program in Kinesiology for Individuals (KID) with Disabilities at the University of Virginia is a one-year program which includes one summer and two semesters (fall and spring). The KID Program is ideal for two groups of students. First, the program helps students who are already certified in health and physical education gain experiences and knowledge that would allow then to become adapted physical education specialists. Second, the program helps students interested in eventually attending graduate programs in occupational or physical therapy. The hands-on experiences and coursework make pre-therapy students stronger candidates when they apply for admission to graduate therapy programs.

The KID Program is best known for its emphasis on practical experiences. Students serve as ½ time adapted physical education specialists and have the opportunity to work with occupational and physical therapists in local Albemarle County Public Schools and at the Virginia Institute for Autism. In addition, students serve as volunteer coaches with our local Special Olympics program. Finally, students have an opportunity to volunteer with other disability sports programs at the VA School for the Deaf and Blind, Challenger Baseball, Wintergreen Adaptive Skiing, Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, and Sportable (Paralympics sports program in Richmond, VA).

Concentration in Exercise Physiology

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Exercise Physiology is a two-year program designed to provide advanced, interdisciplinary training in human physical activity, physiology, nutrition, metabolism, and sport performance. An accelerated option is available to UVA students completing the B.S.Ed. in Kinesiology, allowing qualified students to begin graduate coursework in their fourth year and complete both degrees by the end of a fifth year.

The program emphasizes the scientific foundations and practical application of exercise prescription and physical activity promotion, with appropriate nutritional strategies, to improve health and performance in healthy individuals, athletes, and clinical populations. Exercise physiology intersects with public health, epidemiology, medicine, and athletics, and the curriculum reflects these connections.

Coursework includes metabolism, advanced physiology, nutrition, strength and conditioning, and disease prevention. Students develop competencies in exercise testing and interpretation, including electrocardiography, maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), body composition assessment, vascular function, and clinical biochemistry. The program also provides preparation in dietary assessment across the lifespan, exercise prescription, research design, methodology, and statistics.

Graduates are prepared to provide informed leadership in exercise settings serving both healthy and high-risk populations and to counsel individuals across the lifespan, including children, adults, athletes, and clinical populations, on evidence-based lifestyle practices that promote health and well-being.

UVA students who complete the B.S.Ed. in Kinesiology with more than 120 credits may apply approved graduate coursework toward the M.Ed.; however, a minimum of 24 additional graduate credits must be completed during the second year of the master’s program.

Culminating Experience

All students must complete a master’s thesis under the direction of the Exercise Physiology faculty or pass a comprehensive exam. Students who are not doing a thesis are expected to participate in additional practicum experiences beyond the KINE 5450/5460 series.

1 - Comprehensive examination. Students must successfully display competence in a capstone project and presentation. Students who take this option usually go into fields such as clinical exercise physiology, cardiac / pulmonary rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, or pursue additional training such as medical school. Students pursuing this option can select courses specific to their career paths under the guidance of their academic advisor. This is the default option for the course.

This is completed as part of the second year spring semester seminar course. The course is designed to serve as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their accumulated didactic and practical knowledge. From this acquired knowledge, students are asked to select a topic of interest that will inform/relate to their chosen career. This will be a semester-long mostly independent process in which you will work with a faculty mentor to produce a ~2,000 word executive summary document (including a section on the topic and how it applies to your career) and a 15 minute oral power point presentation.

2 - Thesis option. Students planning on writing a thesis will have to identify an area of research early during their 1st year of the program. They will typically undergo practicum or independent study work with a faculty member on an existing project or a project closely relating to the faculty members area of expertise. The thesis option is at the discretion of the faculty and not guaranteed. Students who pursue the thesis route usually are planning on continuing research beyond the program (PhD or academic medicine) after graduation.

By the end of the 1st semester (or early into the 2nd semester) of the first year, students should develop a thesis project in conjunction with their advisor and begin to prepare a thesis proposal. The student, in consultation with their advisor, should identify the membership of their thesis committee. Potential committee members should be consulted concerning their interest an availability to serve. The committee should be formed before the thesis proposal; the student’s advisor should send an email to the Graduate Program Director (GDP) with the names, affiliations, and roles (e.g., Chair, member, Outside Member) of the proposal committee.

The student should register for thesis proposal credits (3 credits of KINE 8999 Master’s Thesis). As part of the proposal preparation, an Informed Consent Document must be written and approved by the University-level Institutional Review Board as appropriate. Be aware that this approval process may take considerable time (e.g., 3-4 weeks).

Total Required Credits: 36