Master of Science
Physical Education

You must first make application for admission to Graduate Studies and be accepted by Graduate Studies before enrolling for any courses in these programs. Basic admission requirements include:

-- A bachelor's or master's degree
--GPA of 2.75 or higher on the last 60 hours of course work
--Acceptable GRE score or TOEFL minimum score of 550 (Internationals).
--Three (3) letters of recommendation
--Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended
--Current resume

Students seeking Mississippi AA Teacher Licensure must presently have an A Mississippi Standard Teacher Licensure and must select this emphasis within the Human Performance degree. An undergraduate degree in Physical Education or a recognized teaching field from an NCATE accredited institution is required in the AA licensure program.

Course requirements (36-hour minimum)
(Revised Curriculum 2006-2007)

Core Components (30 hrs.)

REF 602: Introduction to Educational Statistics
HPR 604: Advanced Motor Development
HPR 677: Legal Aspects of Sport or EDA 710: School Law
HPR 680: Research Techniques
HPR 684: Sport Skill Analysis
HPR 704: Tests and Measurement of Teaching Physical Education
HPR 723: Advanced Methods of Teaching Physical Education
HPR 742: Program Design in Human Performance
HPR 744: Foundations and Trends in Human Performance and Recreation
HPR 745: Analysis of Teaching and Supervision in Physical Education

Approved Electives

HPR 501: Corrective and Adaptive Physical Education
HPR 509: Psychological and Sociological Aspects of Motor Performance
HPR 534: Faciity Design and Maintenance
REF 601: Educational Research: Interpretation and Application
REF 607: Developing a Student-Centered Curriculum
HPR 691: Research (1-6 hrs.)
HPR 694: Field Problems (1-6 hrs.)

Students will choose of one (1) of the following options.

Thesis Option

HPR 698: Thesis

Practicum/Elective Option

HPR 696: Practicum (3-6 hrs.) or advisor approved electives (3-6 hrs.)

Core Course Descriptions

REF 602: Introduction to Educational Statistics (3 hrs.)

Basic Concepts and computations in descriptive statistics. Introduction to sampling procedures and inferential processes in educational research.

Textbook(s): Check with the department of Research and Foundations for information of textbook

HPR 604: Advanced Motor Development (3 hrs.)

Study of the motor aspects of the human growth and development process. The course is intended to provide a background on physical and cognitive development's impact on motor performance across the life span. Implications for working with people of different ages in physical education, sport, and other movement settings will be addressed throughout the course.

Textbook(s): See below

Malina, R. M., Bouchard, C., & Bar-Or, O. (2004). Growth, Maturation, and physical activity. (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

HPR 677: Legal Aspects of Sport (or EDA 710: School Law)

Concerns legal concepts and ethical issues impacting sport management and coaching policy formation and practice.

Textbook(s): See below

Cotten, D. J., & Wolohan, J. T. (2003). Law for recreation and sport managers. (3rd ed.). United States: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

HPR 680: Research Techniques (3 hrs.)

Graduate level statistics course or permission of instructor. Introduction to methods and design problems specific to research in human performance and recreation. Designed to promote an understanding of theory, tools, and processes involved in designing human performance and recreation research studies.

Textbook(s): See Below

HPR 684: Sport Skill Analysis (3 hrs.)

Provides the mechanical concepts underlying sport techniques and examines models for qualitative and quantitative analysis of human movements. It includes use of current video and computer technology to apply a variety of qualitative models to selected sport skills.

Textbook(s): See below

Carr, G. (2004). Sport mechanics for coaches. (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Knudson, D. V. (2002). Qualitative analysis of human movement. (2nd. ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

HPR 704: Tests and Measurement of Teaching Physical Education (3 hrs.)

Tests of fitness, skills, and abilities, Administration and interpretation of tests and measurements.

Textbook(s): No assigned Textbook. There will be assigned course readings.

HPR 723: Advanced Methods of Teaching Physical Education (3 hrs.)

Advanced teaching functions in the physical education contextual framework. Styles of teaching, reflective experience, and systermatic observation techniques introduced.

Textbook(s): See below

HPR 742: Program Design in Human Performance (3 hrs.)

Fundamental principles and bases of curriculum construction for physical education programs in school and nonschool instructional settings.

Textbook(s): See below

HPR 744: Foundations and Trends in Human Performance and Recreation (3 hrs.)

Historical trends and current issues surrounding the development of the subdisciplines within human performance and emerging professions.

Textbook(s): See below

HPR 745: Analysis of Teaching and Supervision in Physical Education (3 hrs.)

Prerequisite HPR 723 or instructor approval. Issues and techniques in supervision of teaching in physical education. Advanced methods in analysis of teacher/student behavior and content development.

Textbook(s): See below

Approved Electives

HPR 501: Corrective and Adaptive Physical Education (3hrs.)

Recognition of and corrective exercises for functional abnormalities. Adapted techniques in instructional settings.

Textbook(s): See below

HPR 509: Psychological and Sociological Aspects of Motor Performance (3 hrs.)

The analysis and study of human behavior patterns as they relate to sport-related performance.

Textbook(s): See below

HPR 534: Facility Design and Maintenance (3 hrs.)

The principles and applications of design and maintenance concepts as they apply to indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities.

Textbook(s): See below

REF 601: Educational Research: Interpretation and Application (3 hrs.)

An orientation to the information, skills, and competencies necessary to understanding research in education, along with a rudimentary introduction to conducting action research.

Textbook(s): Check with the department of Research and Foundations for information concerning the textbook.

REF 607: Developing a Student-Centered Curriculum (3 hrs.)

A comprehensive study of planning and procedures for developing, structuring, implementing, and evaluating school curricula.

Textbook(s): Check with the department of Research and Foundations for information concerning the textbook.

HPR 691: Research (1-6 hrs.)

Master's level students only. Prerequisite permission or school director. Topics to be approved by graduate advisory committee.

Course undertaken by a student under the supervision of one or more faculty members. The academic work/topic chosen or designed by the student must be approved by the professor. It is a method of study which requires a minimum amount of external supervision from the professor and which requires the student to be self-directed, self-reliant, and develop research on his or her own with guidance from the supervising professor or professors. A culminating course project/paper is required as evidence of the research and study performed.

Textbook(s): Those relating to research topic required by supervisors or obtained by student.

HPR 694: Field Problems (1-6 hrs.)

Prerequisite permission of the instructor. Readings and guided experience dealing with problem situations in the field and related institutional settings.

Textbook(s): Those relating to research topic required by supervisors or obtained by student.

HPR 696: Practicum (3-6 hrs.)

Prerequisite permission of instructor. Designed to provide Master's level students opportunities for practical application of relevant theories in professional field settings.

Gives the student the opportunity to apply their learned academic principles of sport coaching to the day-to-day realities of jobs in the sport industry. Practicum/Internship allows students to earn academic credit toward their degree while they explore career job interest areas. It also provides the student the opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job training and knowledge; work directly with sport management professionals and being to develop a networking relationship with those in the field; and answer that all important job question, "What experience do you have in the field?"

Academic credit hours earned may vary from one to a maximum of six. The number of credit hours is based upon 40 hours of actual quality work experience per one academic credit earned. The student must arrange and obtain approval for the practicum prior to the semester of work experience and register for appropriate number of credit hours.

HPR 698: Thesis (1-6 hrs.)

For a total of 6 hrs. Credit deferred until thesis completed.

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