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

Description of Program

The program in motor learning and control focuses on the neuromuscular aspects related to the execution of human movement and learning. Students take a variety of neuroscience courses related to the control of human movement. General research topics include strength acquisition, goal-directed movement control, and the effects of human aging on movement execution with emphasis given to postural control and balance.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 35 credit hours is required for the motor learning/control 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.

Core Courses (23 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• HPER-K 530 Mechanical Analysis of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 535 Physiological Basis of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 542 Neuromuscular Control Movement (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 543 Cortical Control Movement (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 600 Master's Thesis (5 cr.)
• HPER-T 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 592 Intermediate Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)

Elective Courses (12 cr.)
Complete electives from the following list of courses to complete the minimum 35 required credits:
(Others may be substituted with permission of advisor.)

• COGS-Q 500 Intro to Cognitive Science (3 cr.)
• COGS-Z 551 The Brain and Cognition (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 525 Psychological Foundations of Exercise and Sport (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 601 Readings in Physical Education (ARR)
• HPER-K 630 Biomechanics of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 641 Topics in Motor Integration (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 690 Seminar Human Performance (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 702 Research in Human Performance (3 cr.)
• MED-M 555 Medical Neuroscience (3 cr.)
• NEUS-N 500 Neural Science I (4 cr.)
• NEUS-N 501 Neural Science II (4 cr.)
• PSY-P 503 Complex Cognitive Processes (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 504 Learning and Motivation (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels can assist in a wide variety of ongoing research experiments in the motor control laboratories.

Careers

Careers for the M.S. degree—Students pursuing the M.S. degree are well prepared for research-related positions at research laboratories and/or research rehabilitation clinics. The M.S. degree also serves as preparation for pursuing the Ph.D. degree.

Careers for the Ph.D. degree—Students earning the Ph.D. in motor control are well prepared for faculty research and teaching positions at colleges and universities.