College: School of Education
Designation: Department
Majors and degrees offered: M.A., M.S., Ph.D. in Kinesiology; M.S. in Occupational Therapy; M.S. in Therapeutic Science
Other: Ph.D. Minor in Kinesiology
Program Internal Tracks: Biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor control and behavior, occupational therapy, physical activity epidemiology, physical activity pedagogy, therapeutic science (for occupational therapists)
Faculty: Professors Ji (chair), Dempsey, Lazarus, Morgan, Schneider; Associate Professors Diffee, Edwards, Gruben, Koltyn, van Kan; Assistant Professors Benedict, Colbert, Cook, Larson, Mason, Schrage, Wilbarger
The mission of the Department of Kinesiology is to create, interpret, transmit, and apply knowledge related to movement, exercise, and human occupation with the ultimate goal of enhancing human health, productivity, and quality of life.
The M.S. and Ph.D. in kinesiology are offered with specializations currently available in biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor control and behavior, physical activity epidemiology, physical activity pedagogy, and therapeutic science (and a PhD degree in kinesiology with specialization in therapeutic science is offered for occupational therapists who have completed a master's degree).
The M.S. in occupational therapy prepares students for entry into the occupational therapy profession. This professional degree is offered to students who have a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university.
The post-professional M.S. in therapeutic science is for graduates of an accredited program in occupational therapy or physical therapy.
Graduate training in kinesiology can be directed toward the degrees of M.S. and/or Ph.D. in kinesiology or the M.S. in therapeutic science. Each of these degrees combines advanced course work with an intensive research experience. Department research facilities are well equipped, and faculty and graduate students have access to other specialized research facilities across campus. Faculty and graduate student research is currently supported by funding from the state and federal government, research foundations, and private industry. Faculty are affiliated with the Institute on Aging; Cardiovascular Research Center; Center for Neuroscience/Neuroscience Training Program; departments of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Neurology, Population Health Science, and Psychology; Eye Research Center; Harlow Center for Biological Psychology; interdepartmental graduate program in Nutritional Sciences; Trace Research and Development Center; VA Geriatric Research and Education Center; Waisman Center; and Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute.
Admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. kinesiology graduate programs is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the department's general prerequisite courses listed below, or their equivalent. A degree in occupational therapy or physical therapy fulfills the department's prerequisites for therapeutic science. If deficiencies in these courses exceed 12 credits, generally the student would enroll as a non-degree special student or make up the deficiencies in some other way before graduate admission would be considered. If the deficiencies do not exceed 12 credits, the student may be considered for admission (and may retain eligibility for financial aid consideration). Graduate students in kinesiology are given priority for assistantship support from department funds, and students from other departments are not supported by department funds unless there are no eligible students in kinesiology. Individual specialization areas may have specific course requirements in addition to the following department prerequisite courses. Please contact the department for information or see the Web page noted below.
Prerequisite courses and credits (or courses to be taken as deficiencies) are:
Chem 103, General Chemistry, 4 cr
Anatomy 328, Human Anatomy, 3 cr
Anatomy 329, Human Anatomy-Kinesiology, 2 cr
Physiol 335, Physiology, 5 cr
Two of the following courses, or equivalents:
Kines 314, Physiology of Exercise, 4 cr
Kines 315, Measurement of Motor Behavior, 3 cr
Kines 318, Introduction to Biomechanics, 3 cr
Kines 350, Introduction to Exercise Psychology, 3 cr
Kines 360, Introduction to Motor Development, 3 cr
Kines 361, Motor Learning and Performance, 3 cr
The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work for admission, although the different areas of specialization in the kinesiology graduate program may require a higher GPA. An applicant must submit official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, official academic transcripts from each institution attended, a minimum of three letters of recommendation, and a statement of reasons for graduate study. The statement must name the applicant's intended area(s) of specialization. Faculty in the intended specialization will decide whether the applicant is acceptable for the graduate program in the Department of Kinesiology. If a professor in the area of specialization agrees to serve as the prospective student's advisor, then the department's graduate office recommends the applicant for admission to the Graduate School.
All doctoral students in the Department of Kinesiology must satisfy the Ph.D. general field requirement by completing at least two graduate-level kinesiology courses of at least 2 credits each (4-6 credits total) at UW-Madison, in two different areas outside the student's area of specialization. These courses must be completed on the UW-Madison campus and must not have been used to fulfill an undergraduate deficiency or requirements for the master's degree.
Admission to the master of science program in occupational therapy is contingent upon a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited school of higher education by the start of the program; official transcripts from each college, university, or technical college attended showing work completed and in progress; Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores; documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of paid, volunteer, or observation experience under the supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant (in at least two different occupational therapy settings with at least two different populations); a minimum of three letters of recommendation; a personal statement/essay describing life experiences and how these will promote success as an occupational therapist; and at least a "C" or better in the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent:
Psych 509, Abnormal Psych, 3 cr
HDFS 362, Development of the Young Child, 3 cr or
Ed Psych 320, Human Development in Infancy and Early Childhood, 3 cr or
Psych 560, Child Psychology, 3 cr
HDFS 363, Development from Adolescence to Old Age, 3 cr
(Applicants who complete a lifespan/ human development course should complete a second course in child or adult development.)
Physiology 335, Human Physiology, 5 cr
Statistics 201 or 301, 3 cr
Prospective students should consult the Occupational Therapy Program Web site at www.education.wisc.edu/kinesiology/ot for further details.
Admission to the post-professional master of science program in therapeutic science is contingent upon the undergraduate academic record, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, official academic transcripts from each institution attended, a minimum of three letters of recommendation, a statement of reasons for graduate study, and a professional degree from an accredited program in occupational therapy or physical therapy education.
For more information: Department of Kinesiology, Graduate Admissions - Room 1001 Natatorium (Gym Unit II), 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1189; 608/262-8730; kinesgrad@education.wisc.edu;
www.education.wisc.edu/kinesiology;
To go directly to the Occupational Therapy web site: www.education.wisc.edu/kinesiology/ot/.