For whom is the Online Master’s degree in Kinesiology appropriate?
May I use these online courses to meet teacher certification requirements?
How do I apply and what are the general admission criteria?
Must I have an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology or Physical Education?
May I transfer in graduate work already completed at other universities?
Whom do I contact to get specific admission details?
How much will it cost?
What are the technological requirements for participating?
What type of student tends to do well in the distance education environment?
Will my employer accept the Online Master’s degree in Kinesiology as a "real" degree?
What resources will faculty use in the program to provide students with experiences that are comparable to residency programs?
Where can I get research materials, books and other tools for this degree?
Who is developing and teaching the online courses?
How can I be assured that these are quality courses taught by quality graduate faculty?
How many semester credit hours are required to complete the degree plan?
What is a "home" campus and a "host" campus?
Will I have to visit any of the participating campuses?
How will I have access to the courses in which I am enrolled?
Besides taking courses, what are the other degree requirements?
I’m interested, but I’m not sure it’s for me. What should I do next?
For whom is this Online Master’s degree in Kinesiology most appropriate?
The initial courses being developed for the online Master’s degree in Kinesiology will be most appropriate for athletic coaches and physical education teachers. Certainly, the program may appeal to others interested in kinesiology, the science of people in motion; however, the courses are primarily designed to meet the needs of coaches and physical educators.
May I use these online courses to meet teacher certification requirements?
Teacher certification requirements vary greatly from state to state. Your state education agency (in Texas it’s the Texas Education Agency) has procedures by which they can determine what you would need to do beyond your bachelor’s degree to be certified to teach in the public schools. In Texas, a deficiency plan is developed by the University for the student. If you wish to be certified to teach physical education in Texas, we can develop your deficiency plan, and you will know what kinesiology and education courses you will need to take to be certified. In other states, the student interacts directly with the state education agency. After you have found out what you must do to be certified in your state, look at the courses offered to determine whether you could use them to satisfy all or some of your teacher certification requirements.
How do I apply and what are the general admission criteria?
Students must apply to and be accepted by The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) and the Kinesiology faculty in order to pursue the online Master’s degree. The admission procedures and requirements are the same for on-campus (resident) and online students. Application and admissions information is available on this website. Click here to go directly to admissions criteria and procedures.
Must I have an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology or Physical Education?
While desirable, an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, Physical Education, or a related discipline is not required for admission to the master’s degree. Your transcripts will be evaluated to determine what, if any courses, you will be expected to complete prior to taking certain graduate courses. This decision is made as part of the application process, and you will be notified in your letter of acceptance to the master’s degree program.
May I transfer in graduate work already completed at another university?
Credit for graduate courses completed at another accredited institution may be applied toward a master’s degree at UTPB. The University’s transfer policies are the same for resident and online students. Each student’s transcript is evaluated individually, but up to six hours of graduate credit, if appropriate to the degree and approved by your graduate faculty advisor, is generally accepted. Up to twelve credit hours may be accepted by petitioning the University’s Graduate Council with the support of your graduate faculty advisor. For other policies related to transfer credit, refer to the UTPB Graduate Catalog.
Whom do I contact to get specific admission details?
Dr. Lois S. Hale is the initial graduate faculty advisor for all students interested in the online Master’s degree in Kinesiology at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). Contact her first. She will be able to answer many of your questions, and she can direct you toward the appropriate University information resources.
Lois S. Hale, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Behavioral Science and
Coordinator of Kinesiology
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Hale_L@utpb.edu
Phone: (432) 552-2334 (has voice mail)
Fax: (432) 552-3325
How much will it cost to take a course?
For fall 2000, tuition and fees for Texas residents will be approximately $580 per 3-hour graduate course. Tuition and fees for non-resident students will be approximately $1,222 per 3-hour graduate course.
What are the technological requirements for participating?
In addition to a confident level of computer literacy, certain technical requirements must be met to enable a successful experience. Technical requirements include but are not limited to a Pentium II processor or the equivalent; a 28.8K or faster modem (56K is recommended); 32 MB system RAM; 200 MB free hard disk space memory or sufficient storage; Internet access with Netscape 3.2 or better or MS Explorer 4.0 or better and CD-ROM capabilities; a reliable Internet provider. Some individual courses may have additional software and/or hardware requirements.
What type of student tends to do well in the distance education environment?
Certain people are better suited to distance learning than others are. The statements below tend to describe the profile for those who are likely to succeed within this environment:
- meets the necessary technical requirements and is comfortable with the equipment
- has the time and resources to dedicate to graduate-level course work
- is comfortable with the written word and use of e-mail as a communication form
- is self-disciplined, self-guided and committed to earning the degree
- has the ability to prioritize responsibilities and work independently – unlikely to procrastinate
- will ask for assistance when needed to build academic and social support systems
- has much to benefit from this delivery method vs. residence programs (Examples: variable work hours, busy lifestyle, geographic isolation from campus, parenting requirements or restrictions, physical disability)
Will my employer accept the Online Master’s degree in Kinesiology as a "real" degree?
All of the degree programs offered by The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The high quality of the online Kinesiology program is ensured through the Academic Affairs Committee. This committee is made up of Kinesiology faculty and/or administrators from each participating University of Texas campuses. Its priority is to ensure that the online degree meets the same standards as our on-campus degree programs. For a general description of Academic Affairs Committees and a list of the current members of the Kinesiology Academic Affairs Committee, please visit the UT TeleCampus.
What resources and activities will faculty use in the program to provide students with experiences that are comparable to residency programs?
Class sizes will be limited, and courses are designed to enhance interaction between faculty and students. Chat rooms, threaded discussions and email will be used to facilitate discussions. Team projects and small group discussions will be used to help students share their teaching, coaching, athletic, and other professional experiences with each other as part of the learning process.
Where can I get research materials, books and other tools for this degree?
The U.T. System Digital Library (accessible through the TeleCampus Library building) provides students with access to all of the digital library resources for each university within The University of Texas System. It includes an extensive listing of reference resources, databases, and news sources. The UTPB Library has an ever-growing number of resources available online and off-campus. Distance education students can purchase required books from several sources listed within the TeleCampus Student Services building and on the U.T.P.B. Kinesiology website. A Campus Enterprise Agreement has been established giving U.T. System students, faculty, and staff access to Microsoft's popular computer software, including operating systems, desktop productivity tools, and infrastructure server and messaging products. With this contract, every U.T. System student, faculty member, and staff employee has access to the latest versions of this important suite of software, for use both on the campuses and in their homes.
Who is developing and teaching the online courses?
One of the most exciting aspects of this online Master’s degree is that the courses are being developed and taught by graduate faculty from six University of Texas component institutions. Besides The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, faculty from U.T. Arlington, U.T. El Paso, U.T. Pan American, U.T. San Antonio, and U.T. Tyler are involved in this collaborative venture. A complete list of the faculty can be found on this website.
How can I be sure that these are quality courses taught by quality graduate faculty?
In addition to the academic oversight provided by the graduate faculty on each individual UT System university involved in the program, the Kinesiology online program has an Academic Affairs Committee. This committee is responsible for the quality of all courses associated with the program and takes a pro-active role in ensuring that all content, prerequisites, and faculty are appropriately selected and properly utilized. The Kinesiology Academic Affairs Committee also has a strategic role in that it sets the overall strategy and goals for the online program. For a general description of Academic Affairs Committees and a list of the current members of the Kinesiology Academic Affairs Committee, please visit the UT TeleCampus.
How many semester credit hours are required to complete the degree plan?
The Master of Science in Kinesiology is a 36-credit-hour degree. All courses taken from other participating universities or "host campuses" in the online Kinesiology program can be transferred to a student’s "home campus" to fulfill degree requirements. Depending on course load and other responsibilities, you may be able to complete the program in as few as two years or as many as eight.
What is a "home" campus and a "host" campus?
The home campus is the one where a student is admitted into the degree program. If you were admitted to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, UTPB would be your "home" campus. All admissions, financial aid, and degree plans are coordinated through the home campus. A student’s graduate faculty advisor is also located at the home campus. The host campus is any of the other University of Texas participating universities from whom the student takes online graduate courses as part of the degree program.
Will I have to visit any of the participating home or host campuses?
Students are not required to visit or attend the home or host campuses at any time. The online Master’s degree in Kinesiology will be offered using the Internet. Courses may include the use of supplemental materials such as video/audio tapes and CD-ROM, but these will be available without coming to campus.
Some students may come to campus. For example, some students may choose to take online courses during the fall and spring semesters, but come to campus for courses in the summer. Local students may take on-campus courses and mix-and-match them with online courses to meet degree requirements, with graduate faculty advisor approval.
How will I have access to the courses in which I am enrolled?
Online Kinesiology students access their courses through the TeleCampus Classrooms building from the Internet. Because all of the courses are developed using the same courseware construction tool, they have a common look and feel regarding navigation and icons. Back to top
Besides taking courses, what are the other degree requirements?
As part of the degree requirements for the Master of Science in Kinesiology, all students complete either a master’s thesis or a project. These two options are described under degree requirements on this website. Under the guidance of a graduate faculty member, students may also engage in contract or independent study work or participate in practicum experiences as part of their degree program. Back to top
I’m interested, but I’m not sure that it’s for me. What should I do next?
Take a good look at the information on this website. If you are still interested, telephone (432) 552-2334 or email Dr. Lois Hale. Talk with her directly. Describe your situation and your professional goals. Ask her your questions. This online world a new adventure for us all, but Dr. Hale has been advising graduate students for over 25 years. So, talk with a faculty member who has been involved from the beginning. Whatever you ultimately decide, we wish you the best in your academic and professional endeavors.
4901 E. University . Odessa, Texas 79762 . (432) 552-2020