Exercise Physiology
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Designed For
This program is designed for students seeking an advanced, science-based understanding of how the body responds and adapts to exercise. It supports both career-focused learners and those aiming to pursue research or doctoral study in exercise physiology.
Career Objective
Graduates are prepared for roles in clinical rehabilitation, sport science, nutrition and health performance. The program also equips students with the research experience and academic foundation needed for Ph.D. study and careers in applied or academic research, industry and government.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall, Spring
Deadline to Apply:
Priority: December 1
Fall Final: May 1
Length of Program: 24 months
Program Location: On Campus
GRE Required? No
Advance Health Through Exercise Science
The Exercise Physiology master’s programs offer flexible pathways grounded in a rigorous, science-driven curriculum. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, neuromuscular and endocrine responses to both acute and chronic exercise—preparing them to address health and performance challenges across populations.
Degree Options
- M.S. with Thesis (minimum 30 credit hours) – A research-intensive track culminating in original, independent research and a formal thesis.
- M.Ed. (Non-Thesis) (minimum 36 credit hours) – A coursework-based program designed for applied careers in clinical and professional settings.
Research-driven M.S. students work closely with a faculty mentor to conduct a thesis project – see Labs and Research Areas for specific areas of study. Those planning to pursue a Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to select the thesis track and connect early with faculty whose research aligns with their interests. Across all programs, students benefit from personalized advising and the flexibility to tailor coursework within and beyond the department to meet their career goals.
Program Director
Hirofumi Tanaka
Graduate Program Administrator
Phillip Salazar
Program Details
Admission Requirements
All prospective students must demonstrate competency in kinesiology or a related discipline on their application by showing they have completed at least two of the three requisites listed below. All three prerequisites must be completed by the end of their first semester.
- Human Anatomy (e.g., KIN 424K)
- Exercise Physiology (e.g., KIN 425K)
- Vertebrate or Human Physiology (e.g., INB 365S)
Completion of a two-semester sequence in Anatomy and Physiology (I and II) will satisfy the prerequisites for both anatomy and human physiology.
Prerequisites are taken in addition to required graduate coursework and must be completed for a letter grade.
Program Requirements
Which Degree Fits My Goals?
Choose the M.S. with Thesis if you:
- Want to conduct independent research
- Plan to pursue doctoral study or research-focused roles
- Prefer a program with a formal thesis completed across two semesters
Choose the M.Ed. (Non-thesis) if you:
- Prefer a practice-focused program
- Do not want to complete a thesis or report
- Want to apply your learning through an internship or culminating experience
All classes must be taken for a letter grade.
Core Exercise Physiology Courses (Minimum 15 Credit Hours)
Students take the following required courses:
- KIN 395 Cardiovascular Responses and Adaptations to Exercise
- KIN 395 Human Cardiovascular and Autonomic Physiology
- KIN 395 Musculoskeletal Physiology
- KIN 395 Endocrine Physiology
Students select from the following courses in consultation with their advisor:
- KIN 395 Conditioning for Competitive Athletes
- KIN 395 Exercise as Medicine
- KIN 395 Aging and Cardiovascular/Disease Risks
- KIN 395 Environmental Physiology
- KIN 395 Ergogenic Aids for Exercise
- KIN 395 Exercise and Preventive Medicine
- KIN 395 Human Anatomy Dissection
Research Methods and Statistics
M.Ed. (3 credit hours)
Complete one advisor-approved graduate statistics or research methods course:
- KIN 386 Proposal Writing
- KIN 395 Statistical Methods in Education and Health
- Or another advisor-approved graduate statistics course, e.g., EDP 380C Fundamental Statistics
M.S. with Thesis (at least 3 credit hours)
Complete one of the following:
- KIN 395 Statistical Methods in Education and Health
- Or an advisor-approved graduate statistics course such as:
- EDP 380C Fundamental Statistics
- EDP 480C Statistical Analysis for Experimental Data
- EDP 482K Experimental Design and Statistical Inference
- EDP 480C Correlation and Regression
- EDP 380C Survey of Multivariate Methods
- SSC 382 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
- SSC 385 Topics in Applied Statistics: Experimental Design
- SSC 385 Topics in Applied Statistics: Applied Regression
Degree-Specific Requirements
M.Ed. (Coursework/Internship Option)
Advisor-Approved Coursework (15 credit hours)
- Up to 9 credit hours may be Independent Study, e.g., KIN 396T or KIN 397
- Up to 6 credit hours may be taken outside the department
Culminating Experience (3 hrs)
- KIN 397P Internship or other approved culminating experience
Internship expectations:
- Typically completed in the final semester
- Supervised by a faculty advisor and site supervisor
- Requires a minimum of 9 hours per week
- Internship host must sign the approval form
M.S. with Thesis
Laboratory Techniques (3 credit hours)
- KIN 382 Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology
Research Methods (3 credit hours) Complete one of the following:
- KIN 386 Research Methods: Proposal Writing
- KIN 386 Research Methods: Grant Writing
Thesis (6 credit hours)
- KIN 698A & KIN 698B Thesis
Thesis expectations:
- KIN 698A and KIN 698B must be taken across the final two semesters. They cannot be taken in the same semester.
- Students are responsible for the original final product, including data collection and analysis.
- The thesis must be approved by the faculty advisor and a second faculty reader.
- Students must present their research at the Kinesiology and Health Education Thesis Presentation Day.
Courses Outside the Department
Students may take advisor-approved coursework outside the department to support their degree plan.
Examples include:
- ANT 391L Analysis of Primate Anatomy
- ANT 392L Physical Anthropology: Morphology/Evolution
- BCH 395J Genes/Genomes/Gene Expression
- BIO 365S Human Systems Physiology
- BIO 382K Informatics/Data Analyses Life Science
- BIO 384K Human Variation
- BME 385J Advanced Oral Communication for International Engineering Students
- BME 385J Advanced Written Communication for International Engineering Students
- N 382 Sociocultural Influences on Health
- N 396C Advanced Pathophysiology
- NEU 185D Responsible Conduct of Science
- NEU 383C Functional Neuroanatomy
- NEU 383T Principles of Neuroscience II
- NEU 385L Neurobiology of Disease
- NEU 394P Career Development for Neuroscientists
- NEU 394P Grant Writing in Behavioral and Biological Science
- NEU 394P Sensory Motor Systems
- NEU 482T Principles of Neuroscience I
- NTR 390 Molecular Nutritional Science
- NTR 390 Principles of Epidemiology in Nutritional Science
- PGS 384S Introduction to Epidemiology
- PGS 384T Advanced Epidemiology
- PGS 386C Cellular/Systems Physiology I
- PGS 386D Cellular/System Physiology II
- PGS 388C Intro Bioorganic Chemistry
- PSY 184R Data Analysis with R
- PSY 387S Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience
- SOC 389K Human Mortality
- SOC 395J Gender, Health, and Society
- SOC 395L Race and the Body
Faculty
Investigates the potential mechanisms for elevated sympathetic activation in patient populations such as type 1 and 2 diabetes and racial disparities in vascular function and blood pressure responses during exercise in health and disease.
Accepting new students
Exploring neuro/biological mechanisms driving physical activity motivation to develop interventions that enhance long-term exercise participation and human well-being.
Accepting new students
Takes an integrative physiology approach to environmental and behavioral determinants of bone health with a focus on bone-immune interactions.
Accepting new students
Autonomic control of circulation during exercise in health and disease, specifically in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Effects of vascular dysfunction due to aging, and the lifestyle habits that can prevent or reverse dysfunction. Role of peripheral vascular dysfunction in the pathogenesis of cognitive and cerebrovascular dysfunction Reduction in physiological functi...
Accepting new students
Labs and Research Areas
Our research laboratories are state-of-the-art. In addition to individual faculty’s laboratory space, the program is enriched by the Health and Integrative Physiology Laboratory and The Fitness Institute of Texas as they provide additional resources for phlebotomy, biochemical assays and exercise intervention studies. Combined, these resources provide the opportunity for cutting-edge research and coursework, allowing students the opportunity to invest in the future of exercise physiology.
Autonomic Control of Circulation Laboratory
Investigates the effects of type 1 and type 2 diabetes on the neural control of circulation during exercise.
Cardiovascular Aging Research Laboratory
Investigates the influence of aging and lifestyle modifications on vascular function and disease risks.
Provides clinical research services for health/fitness research and conducts the popular “Get FIT” program. Outcome measures include body composition, bone density and cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal health assessments.
Health and Integrative Physiology Laboratory
Provides resources to perform phlebotomy and biochemical assays to investigate mechanistic research questions.
Neuro Cardiovascular Control Laboratory
Investigates the underlying mechanisms for attenuated vascular function and heightened sympathetic activation in clinical populations including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The Physical Activity Motivation Lab
Investigates neuro/biological drivers of physical activity motivation to help people enjoy and sustain physically active lifestyles for lasting health benefits.
Translational Osteoimmunology Lab
Investigates environmental and behavioral determinants of lifelong bone health using an integrative physiology approach.
Additional Information
The application opens in early August. Apply and check MyStatus for updates.
