The degree is designed for physical education teachers, administrators, dance educators, sport theorists, and exercise specialists.  It meets the specific needs of students who are preparing to pursue an advanced degree, those who are seeking certification to teach physical education, and those who wish to continue their professional development.  The degree also provides appropriate preparation for specialists working in fitness programs in corporate and medical settings as well as for business personnel in the sports industry.

ADVISOR ASSIGNMENT

Every applicant admitted into the Master of Education in Physical Education degree program will be assigned a faculty advisor.  The department will make every attempt to assign advisors that match the needs and career goals of the applicant.  The applicant will receive a letter from the College of Education detailing the faculty advisor assigned to the student.  The faculty advisor will serve to assist the student in progress in the degree program.

TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS

Transfer students must complete at least 27 semester hours at the University of Houston after admission to the graduate degree program.  Upon the recommendation of the faculty advisor, up to 9 semester hours from one semester or 6 across two semesters of transfer credit may be accepted before starting the Master of Education in Physical Education degree.

DEGREE COURSEWORK

To obtain a Master of Education in Physical Education, students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours and successful completion of the Masters of Education Comprehensive Examination.  These hours will be derived from:

Education Core (9 semester hours)
These courses must be taken in order to fulfill the Education Core component of your degree plan.

• Historical/Cultural/Philosophical area (3 sh)
  • PEP 6321 Sport in Contemporary Society (online)
• Human Growth/Learning area (3 sh)
  • PEP 6340 Principles of Motor Learning (online)
• Inquiry area (3 sh)
  • PEP 6305 Measurement in Health and Physical Education (online)

Other courses can be taken at UH in person to fulfill the Education Core.  However, these courses are not offered online. They are listed below.

• Historical/Cultural/Philosophical area (3 sh)
  • HLT 6323 Cross Cultural Aspects of Health
  • CUST 6360 Foundations of Educational Sociology
  • CUST 6370 Cultural Foundations of American Education
• Human Growth/Learning area (3 sh)
  • EPSY 6330 Human Growth and Development
  • EPSY 6340 Principles of Human Learning
• Inquiry area (3 sh):
  • CUIN 6378 Instructional Evaluation
  • EPSY 6300 Introduction to Educational and Psychological Measures
  • EPSY 6310 Introduction to Educational Research

Department Core (6 semester hours)
Two of the following three courses must be taken in order to fulfill the Department Core component of the degree plan.

• PEP 6306 Gender and Cultural Issues in Physical Activity and Fitness
• PEP 7303 Urban Fitness Program Development and Implementation
• PEP 7312 Physical Activity Across the Lifespan

Program Emphasis (21 semester hours)
The courses listed below can fulfill the Program Emphasis component of your degree plan taken in consultation with your faculty advisor.  Other courses are added to the program as created by faculty.

• PEP 6301 Physiology of Exercise
• PEP 6304 Biomechanics
• PEP 6309 Policies & Governance of Sport Organizations
• PEP 6310 Sports Conditioning & Nutrition
• PEP 6331 Strength Training Anatomy
• PEP 6332 Introduction to Strength & Conditioning Program Design
• PEP 6333 Advanced Strength and Conditioning Program Design
• PEP 7309 Sport Finance
• PEP 7310 Instructional Models: Physical Education & Health
• PEP 7311 Analysis Teaching Physical Education

Note: The student must complete all semester hours within five years from semester of admission, prior to the date of graduation.

MASTER OF EDUCATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

For information regarding the Master of Education Comprehensive Exam, click here.  Briefly, the M.Ed. Comprehensive Exam will test you in 4 courses/content areas, including one question from the Education Core Inquiry section (PEP 6305), one question from the Department Core section (either PEP 7303 or PEP 7312).  The other 2 courses/content areas tested are in consultation with your faculty advisor.  See www.hhp.uh.edu for examination dates.  They are offered each fall and spring semester.

4-C RULE (see graduate catalog)

A student who receives a grade of C+ or lower in 12 semester hours of credit attempted at this institution for graduate credit or for application toward the graduate degree, regardless of the student's classification, whether or not in repeated courses, is ineligible for any advanced degree at this institution and will not be permitted to re-enroll for graduate study. The Termination of Enrollment section specifies other regulations.

CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT IN THE DEGREE PROGRAM

In general, graduate students are expected to be enrolled in consecutive long semesters (i.e., fall and spring semesters) until the degree program is completed and the degree is awarded.