Graduate Program

"***NOTICE: As of  January 1, 2021, the GRE examination is no longer required for review and admission into the HES graduate programs*** 

The Department of Health and Exercise Science offers seven graduate degrees:

1. Master of Science in Health and Exercise Science [≥ 32 credit hours]
2. Master of Science in Exercise Physiology [≥ 30 credit hours]
3. Master of Science in Health Promotion [≥ 30 credit hours]
4. Master of Science in Sports Data Analytics [≥ 36 credit hours]
5. Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology: Exercise Physiology [≥ 90 post-baccalaureate credit hours]
6. Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Physiology [≥ 90 post-baccalaureate credit hours]
7. Doctor of Philosophy in Health Promotion [≥ 90 post-baccalaureate credit hours]

Admission to the MS and Ph.D. programs is based on the willingness and ability of a graduate faculty member to accept a new student. Therefore, graduate student applicants must schedule an "interview" (or several interviews) with a faculty member with who they wish to work. This is required to establish contact with a potential faculty mentor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science that will serve as the student's advocate and advisors. A faculty member must be willing to accept a new graduate student for a student to be considered for acceptance into either the MS or Ph.D. program. If a faculty member is willing to accept a new student and several students apply for a limited number of positions, then the application process is competitive and is based on the compatibility of the applicant and their chosen mentor, research interests, letters of recommendation, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, cover letter statements, and professional goals.

An undergraduate degree in Health and Exercise Science or an equivalent allied field such as biological sciences, health education, kinesiology, human performance, or health psychology is generally required. Applicants holding equivalent degrees and other baccalaureate degrees (e.g. Sports Management) will be evaluated by the department for course deficiencies. If course deficiencies exist, a student may be admitted conditionally, but all deficiencies and conditions must be removed fore a student can be fully admitted. Removal of deficiencies is required prior to taking the comprehensive/general examination or enrolling in thesis/dissertation hours. 

A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and/or graduate work as defined by the Graduate College Bulletin is required for full admission. Applicants with less than a 3.0 may be admitted conditionally. Students may complete and report scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) prior to admission, but GRE scores are not required.

Applicants who would like to have their GRE scores reported can use the institutional and departmental codes for sending the official scores:

University of Oklahoma Institutional Code: 6879

OU Health and Exercise Science Departmental Code: 0699

International students must also satisfy the English Proficiency Requirements. 

In addition to graduate program admission requirements, applicants for graduate teaching assistantships must also indicate their desire to seek a graduate assistantship (check the box on the application form) and complete the Personal Appraisal of Activity & Instruction Skills form in the application packet.

Graduate assistantships are available annually for MS and Ph.D. students in the Department of Health and Exercise Science and are contingent upon available faculty and departmental funding. Students who have been admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Health and Exercise Science are eligible for consideration.

Graduate assistants receive a stipend of approximately $17,500 to $20,000 for the academic year (9-month appointment). Graduate assistants also receive a full tuition waiver (fees still apply). Funding is normally available for two (2) years for MS students and four (4) years for Ph.D. students, the normal length of both programs. 

Ph.D. graduate assistants have the opportunity to teach lecture and lab classes identified on the Personal Appraisal of Activity & Instruction Skills form, while MS graduate assistants are eligible to teach activity-based classes listed on the Personal Appraisal of Activity & Instruction Skills form, HES 2131 Introduction to Health & Exercise Science, or HES 2212 First Aid.

The Department of Health and Exercise Science is located in the west wing of the S. J. Sarkeys Complex, which opened in 1981. The department houses and maintains classrooms and research laboratories, as well as faculty, staff, and graduate student offices. The east wing of the building houses the Sarkeys Fitness Center. The department recently acquired approximately 3,500 square feet in the south end of the Collums Commissary building for additional teaching and research laboratories. 

The department encourages interdisciplinary study and research. Faculty and students frequently interact with members of other university academic units in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, Price College of Business, Jeannie Rainbolt College of Education, Gallogly College of Engineering, College of Medicine, Hudson College of Public Health, and College of Allied Health.

Admission
The University of Oklahoma's Graduate College oversees all matters pertaining to general admission to the university. Enrollment in the Graduate College is governed by the Dean of the College (Dr. Randall Hewes). When applying for admission, applicants must submit a completed application form and official transcripts of all college work completed at the time of application to the Graduate College. The Graduate College application can be completed online at https://www.ou.edu/gradcollege/apply. 

To be eligible for enrollment, the student must have been admitted to the Graduate College prior to the beginning of the registration period for any given semester.

Deadlines
It is recommended that applicants have all required materials submitted as early as possible and no later than February 1 to maximize the possibility of being accepted with funding. 

Types of Admission
Undergraduates in their final semester at accredited colleges and universities may apply for admission to the Graduate College. Such admission is contingent upon the recommendation of the Graduate Dean and the major department of the University of Oklahoma, the presentation of an undergraduate degree or the equivalent, an overall grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher, and a supplementary transcript of all courses not previously reported. Those with advanced degrees will be evaluated for admission primarily on the record of their previous graduate work.

Applicants are admitted to the Graduate College in one of the following categories:
A. Full Standing: 3.0 GPA over the last 60 hours of undergraduate work or 3.0 GPA in 12 or more hours of graduate work. Both require acceptance by the department or program unit. International students must also satisfy English Proficiency Requirements.

B. Conditional: Any student who has earned a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent but whose grade point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work is below 3.0 and/or who has coursework deficiencies in the relevant field of study may be conditionally admitted to a degree program or to unclassified status. Conditional admission to a degree program is contingent on the recommendations of the department or program unit and the approval of the Graduate College Dean. Conditional status is generally approved only if the GPA ranges between 2.75 and 3.0. 

C. Unclassified Status: A student admitted not as a candidate for a degree. A student in this classification is academically eligible but does not intend to work toward any graduate degree. Credits earned under this unclassified status are acceptable toward a degree if approved by the major department. All graduate courses taken while in unclassified status will be used in calculating the grade point average for purposes of satisfying degree or retention requirements.

D. Certification Status: A student admitted to fulfill requirements for a professional certificate. Credits earned under this status may be accepted as degree credits if approved by the major department.

An applicant not eligible under one of the above four categories will be denied admission to the Graduate College. Students who hold baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges and universities who fail to meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate College and are denied admission may seek admission as a "special" student. Credits earned under the "special" student status will not count towards a graduate degree.

Retention
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Those who fall below 3.0 will be on probationary status until 9 further graduate hours are completed, at which time a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is required. A student who goes on probation a third time, including the probationary admission period, will be denied further enrollment.

Transfer Credit
As many as twenty-five percent of the credit hours accepted toward a master's degree may be transferred from other institutions.

The transferability of courses for credit toward graduate degrees at the University of Oklahoma is determined by the graduate faculty in the department or program unit. For the Department of Health and Exercise Science transferability is based on the following criteria: (1) the course was graduate level and taken for graduate credit; (2) the institution offering the course was accredited to offer work at the graduate level for which the transfer is to apply; (3) the credit must not be more than six years old at the time of admission to the degree program; (4) the credit must carry a grade of A, B, or S (satisfactory); and (5) the credit must be related to the MS and/or Ph.D. program of study that has been approved by the faculty advisor/mentor.

The applicability of transfer credit toward the degree being pursued is determined by the student's department and/or advisory committee and the Dean of the Graduate College. Transfer credit is considered neutral in the computation of the University of Oklahoma grade point average for the purpose of determining continued admissibility and graduation.