Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science
The Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science offer master’s degrees that are structured around a broad science-based curriculum. Each program includes coursework that covers topics related to physical rehabilitation, human biomechanics, motor learning, and control.
We offer three master’s degree programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) with Thesis (minimum of 30 credit hours);
- Master of Science (M.S.) with Report (minimum of 33 credit hours);
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) without Thesis or Report (minimum of 36 credit hours)
Students can choose to pursue an M.S., which focuses more on research with either a thesis or report.
Alternatively, students can pursue an M.Ed. which focuses on coursework. M.Ed. students will come out of the program ready to work in applied fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or teaching.
Each student will take a set of required courses and electives from within the department. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with their advisor to select supporting coursework from outside of the Kinesiology and Health Education Department.
Specific requirements for each master’s degree program are outlined below. All organized graduate courses (i.e., not including Directed Research or Internship) must be taken for a letter grade. Courses taken outside of MCRS may be taken on a credit/no credit basis (with the adviser’s approval), as allowed by the Graduate School (i.e., no more than 6 credit hours, or 20% of the hours on the Program of Work). All master’s students, except for non-thesis masters students, must enroll in KIN 197/397 MCRS Graduate Seminar every fall and spring semester.
Semester Start: Fall, Spring
Deadline to Apply:
Fall Priority: December 1
Fall Final: May 1
Spring Final: October 1
GRE Required? No
Location: On Campus
Length of Program:
M.S with thesis.: 24 months, 30 hours
M.S with report.: 24 months, 33 hours
M.Ed.: 24 months, 36 hours
Prerequisites
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students should have an undergraduate degree in kinesiology or a related field (e.g. biology, physics, physiology, neuroscience, psychology, biomedical or mechanical engineering, etc.).
All students applying for graduate study are expected to demonstrate competency in each of the following four areas:
- Human Anatomy (e.g., KIN 424K)
- Vertebrate or Human Physiology (e.g., BIO 365S)
- Biomechanics (e.g., KIN 326K)
- Motor Learning (e.g., KIN 335C) or Neuromuscular Control (e.g., KIN 336)
Meeting the Requirements
Competency is typically demonstrated by the completion of specific undergraduate courses taken in kinesiology or other disciplines. Students may be admitted to the graduate program without having completed all of these core courses, with the condition that they are expected to fulfill these requirements either prior to starting their degree for master’s students, or prior to advancement to candidacy for doctoral students.
Students can meet these competencies by taking the necessary course(s) at the University of Texas at Austin, as noted above. Students taking any of these courses at the University of Texas at Austin will also need to fulfill any prerequisites for these courses. These undergraduate competencies are in addition to the required courses in the student’s graduate program.
It is recommended that any deficiencies be completed prior to entering the program. It is typically possible to complete the core competencies during the summer prior to beginning the program. In rare circumstances, a student may begin taking their graduate coursework while also completing a final undergraduate prerequisite. All undergraduate prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill the competency area requirement.
Master of Science with Thesis
KIN 386 Research Methods (choose 1 of 2 options) 3 hours
Either “Proposal Writing” or “Grant Writing” (second year masters students only)
At least one advisor-approved graduate statistics course 3 hours
KIN 698A & 698B – Thesis 6 hours
KIN 382 Biomechanics Laboratory Techniques 3 hours
9 hours of graduate Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science courses, other than seminar.
No more than 6 hours of undergraduate coursework (which must be upper-division and may not include required prerequisites) may be counted
Master of Science with Report
One advisor-approved graduate statistics or research methods course 3 hours
- Either “Proposal Writing” or advisor-approved graduate statistics course
KIN 396T Directed Research & KIN 398R Report 6 hours
KIN 382 Biomechanics Laboratory Techniques 3 hours
12 hours of graduate Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science courses that include:
One of:
- KIN 395 Rehabilitation of Human Memory Systems
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Performance and Learning
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Human Neuroplasticity
One of:
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Neuromuscular Bases
- KIN 395 Neuromuscular Aspects of Fatigue and Training
One of:
- KIN 395 Biomechanics in Clinical Settings
- KIN 395 Biomechanics of Sport
- KIN 395 Neurological Rehabilitation
- KIN 395 Central Questions in Biomechanics and Motor Control
9 hours of adviser-approved coursework, of which:
- No more than 6 hours may be taken outside the department
- No more than 6 hours of undergraduate coursework (which must be upper-division and may not include required prerequisites) may be counted
Master of Education
One advisor-approved graduate statistics or research methods course 3 hours
- Either “Proposal Writing” or advisor-approved graduate statistics course EDP Statistics Course Sequence
Internship or culminating experience (e.g., KIN397P) 3 hours
12 hours of graduate Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science courses that include:
One of:
- KIN 395 Rehabilitation of Human Memory Systems
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Performance and Learning
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Human Neuroplasticity
One of:
- KIN 395 Motor Control: Neuromuscular Bases
- KIN 395 Neuromuscular Aspects of Fatigue and Training
One of:
- KIN 395 Biomechanics in Clinical Settings
- KIN 395 Biomechanics of Sport
- KIN 395 Neurological Rehabilitation
- KIN 395 Central Questions in Biomechanics and Motor Control
18 additional hours of adviser-approved coursework, of which:
- No more than 9 hours may be “Independent Study” (e.g., KIN 396T or 397)
- No more than 6 hours may be taken outside the department
- No more than 6 hours of undergraduate coursework (which must be upper-division and may not include required prerequisites) may be counted
Expectations
A reasonable goal is to complete a master’s degree in two years.
Masters students are expected to produce a thesis that is of quality to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Most students spend their first semester getting trained in the lab and helping with other projects while they develop ideas for their own thesis. They generally take Proposal Writing in their first year and prepare the IRB documents. You are strongly encouraged to have extensive discussions with your advisor during this initial design stage.
Your completed thesis will need to be approved by your advisor and another faculty member Reader within the Department prior to graduation. Please discuss with your advisor the selection of an appropriate Reader for your thesis. Your Reader must be designated at the time of your Application for Graduation which will be at the start of your last semester. Please discuss the timing of your desired graduation date with your advisor so that he/she can assist you with your thesis and will be able to advise you on whether it is a reasonable deadline for completion.
You must have your thesis approved by your advisor before sending it to your Reader. Final approval from your advisor typically involves several revisions after all data and figures have been discussed/revised. Please send your thesis to your advisor a month before sending it to your Reader. It is best to give the Reader two to three weeks to review your thesis. Also, you should request that they give you their comments a couple of weeks before your graduation deadline so that you have time to make any revisions.
It is preferable that the manuscript be submitted for publication prior to graduation. Please note that the graduate school will require a different format than the scientific journal.
Faculty
Studies how biomechanics affect human physiology and locomotion performance. Particularly interested in how body dimensions and muscle-tendon mechanics affect metabolism, fatigue and speed.
Uses repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and fMRI to identify mechanisms that support learning and memory in order to develop targeted therapies for patients suffering from memory loss.
Investigates neuromuscular control mechanisms during fatigue, training, rehabilitation and aging with single-motor unit recording, and designs electrical stimulation protocols for individuals with paralysis.
Studies the biomechanical and neuromuscular control mechanisms of human movement and translates this knowledge into practical solutions that reduce walking-related disability.
Studies neural control of voluntary and skilled movements, development of brain stimulation interventions to promote motor function after stroke, motor learning, neuroplasticity, and brain oscillations.
Studies school and community-based interventions regarding physical activity, healthy eating, and the prevention of chronic disease.
Studies the biomechanics of infants in commercial baby gear and orthopedic devices, and parents/caregivers carrying infants during activities of daily living.
Research Labs
FALCON Lab
Studies the organization of memory systems with the goal of developing targeted treatments for memory disorders.
Human Locomotion Lab
Studies how biomechanics affect physiology and performance.
Neuromuscular Physiology Research Laboratory
Conducts studies specializing in the investigation of neuromuscular control patterns in healthy, clinical and aging populations with the use of intramuscular fine-wire recording and electrical stimulation.
Neurorehabilitation and Biomechanics Lab
Seeks to understand the mechanisms of biomechanical and neuromuscular control of normal and pathological movements and to apply this knowledge to design interventions that improve functional movements.
Sensorimotor Neuroplasticity Lab
Studies the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying control of normal and abnormal human movement.
