The purpose of the program is to provide advanced academic training in exercise science. Special emphasis will be placed on strength and conditioning. This purpose supports the mission of the University of Montevallo by providing an affordable professional program designed for “intellectual and personal growth in the pursuit of meaningful employment.”
Students who complete their degree will be able to pursue graduate level professions in the many fields of strength and conditioning. Positions in this field include but are not limited to: high school strength professional, collegiate strength professional, professional sports strength and conditioning coach, and corporate research/strength and conditioning professional. A student with their degree from this program will also be able to continue their graduate and post-graduate academic pursuit in almostany field related to exercise science.
Admission Requirements
Preliminary selection criteria for acceptance into the UM EXNS graduate program are as follows:
- Completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A degree in Exercise Science is preferred, but not required.*
- Suggested minimum graduation grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
- A concise, two-page personal statement addressing the following:
- The candidate’s interest in the program
- The candidate’s goals and how the degree will support his/her career
- What the candidate hopes to bring to the program in terms of skills and experience
- 3 letters of reference
- A full vita or resume that includes the following:
- Work history
- Professional experiences
- Membership and participation in professional organizations
- Other experiences related to the academic program
If a candidate meets only one of the prescribed standards for admission, they may be conditionally admitted. The candidate must then successfully complete 9 hours of graduate credit achieving a grade point average of 3.0 or above in order to be moved to unconditional status. Candidates with less than the recommended grade point average may be admitted based upon a sliding scale which specifies particular grade point averages and corresponding test scores. Note that the admission process is competitive and applicants who meet the requirements described above are not guaranteed admission.
*Prerequisite course work may be required of candidates that have not completed any exercise science courses.
Retention and Completion
Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher at time of graduation in order to successfully complete the program.
Students will be able to choose between an internship or a thesis experience to complete their graduate work. Both options will require 6 credit hours of study. The internship will include 90 contact hours (30 contact hours per credit hour) at a program-approved internship location.
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