Health, Physical Education and Recreation

The HPER Graduate Program exists to provide post-baccalaureate study opportunities leading to a Master of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The program provides two areas of emphasis: 1) sports science and 2) sports pedagogy. The sports science program is designed to prepare students for competencies in areas of cardiac, pulmonary and muscle physiology, clinical exercise physiology, and strength and conditioning. Research and clinical experience are coordinated through the Applied Physiology Laboratory. The sports pedagogy program is designed to provide students with opportunities to prepare for careers as athletic directors, in athletic administration, or to improve their knowledge and expertise as coaches and teachers in leadership positions. The goal of the program is to provide students with knowledge and experiences which will make them better professionals or which will prepare them for advanced study at the doctoral level.

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at South Dakota State University has developed a 44 credit entry-level graduate program in Athletic Training. The fundamental philosophy of this program is to allow students to complete the coursework and clinical experience necessary for both BOC certification eligibility and initial entry into the profession of Athletic Training. The program achieved initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in the fall of 2007. This program is not designed for individuals who already have a degree in Athletic Training and/or are eligible for certification in Athletic Training.