• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

When a good performance is achieved in a sport, this is due in part to the athlete's physical condition. But in part it is also due to the athlete's technique: to the amount of skill in the athlete's motions. The main goal of sport biomechanics is to understand the cause-effect mechanisms that make some sport techniques better than others, and ultimately to find the optimum technique.

New graduate Biomechanics students (both M.S. and Ph.D.) are admitted only every other year.  They start attending classes in the Fall of even-numbered years; the application process should be started during the Fall Semester of the previous year.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 35 credit hours is required for the biomechanics program.  The Master of Science in Kinesiology degree must include a minimum of 20 credits from the Department of Kinesiology.  A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C– is required in each course. All electives for completing the degree must be approved by the advisor.

Complete each of the following courses (12 cr.):

• HPER-T 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 591 Interpretation of Data in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 530 Mechanical Analysis of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 535 Physiological Basis of Human Performance (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following three courses (3 cr.):

• HPER-K 541 Nature and Basis of Motor Skill (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 542 Neuromuscular Control of Movement (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 543 Cortical Control of Human Movement (3 cr.)

Complete 9 credits from the following courses:

• HPER-K 531 Measurement and Analysis of Physiological Signals — EMG (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 532 Clinical Biomechanics — Gait (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 630 Biomechanics of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 631 Quantitative Mechanical Analysis of Human Motion (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 601 Readings in Physical Education (1 cr.)
• HPER-K 602 Independent Study and Research (2 cr.)

Complete remaining electives to reach the required minimum 35 credits from the following:

• HPER-K 705 Experimental Laboratory Techniques: 3D Filming (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 600 Master's Thesis (credits arranged)
• HPER-K 541 Nature and Basis of Motor Skill (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 542 Neuromuscular Control of Movement (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 543 Cortical Control of Human Movement (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 641 Topics in Motor Integration (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 690 Seminar in Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 636 Cardiopulmonary Assessment Lab (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 533 Advanced Theories of High Level Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 650 Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 524 Exercise and Physical Activity for People with Disabilities (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 598 Ergonomics (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 599 Cognitive Ergonomics (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 592 Statistical Techniques of Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 691 Multivariate Statistical Analysis (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 693 Experimental Analysis and Design (3 cr.)
• CSCI-A 592 Introduction to Software Systems (3 cr.)
• CSCI-A 593 Computer Structures (3 cr.) CSCI-A 594 Data Structures (3 cr.)
• CSCI-A 597 Introduction to Programming I (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

The main research tool in sport biomechanics is motion analysis, in which the three-dimensional (3D) locations of a number of anatomical points are obtained through film, video, or other optical/electronic methods during a sports activity, and then used as input to computer programs for the calculation of other mechanical information.

At the Biomechanics Laboratory in the HPER Building, we develop new research methodologies for biomechanics, investigate the techniques used in a variety of sports, and apply the information obtained through this research to the improvement of the techniques of elite athletes.

Our work on methodology development has included 3D motion analysis methods, computer graphics, calculation of mechanical parameters of human motion, and computer simulation. We have analyzed the techniques used in running, jumping, and throwing in track and field, pitching and batting in baseball/softball, the tennis serve, and soccer kicking, among other sports activities. Our laboratory has received funding from USA Track and Field, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee to analyze the techniques of elite track and field athletes in various events and to provide advice to their coaches. For further information, see: http://www.indiana.edu/~sportbm/research.html.

How to find the Biomechanics Lab (HPER 071): Turn left as you walk out of the HPER Library. At the end of the hallway, turn right, and walk through the green doors. HPER 071 is the next-to-last door on the left.

Careers

• Careers for the M.S. degree—Preparation toward Ph.D. programs; coaching
• Careers for the Ph.D. degree—University researcher/faculty member; gait analysis; sport technique consultation