grad_com An electronic newsletter from the BSU School of Graduate Studies
	Vol. 3, No. 7				December 2006
The Process Registration: Grad classes Starting the count of seven years to complete a degree Form 1: Applying for admission to graduate studies Completing 13-16 graduate credits after admission Form 2: Applying for candidacy in a graduate degree program Taking the written exam at the end of course work Form 3: Proposing a research paper or thesis Doing the work and writing the results Form 4: Applying for graduation Submitting the research paper or thesis for review Form 5: Scheduling the oral examination Defending your graduate work Diploma	This month . . . · Ins and Outs: Investigating Grad Programs This month: The Sport Studies Program · Q&A: Straight from the PEHS Department…
	Ins and Outs of the Sport Studies Program
	The degree… Master of Science degree in Sport Studies – this degree is guided by NASPE standards for advanced coaching education. It is designed for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in physical education, athletic training, sport science, or sport management and wish to explore a more in-depth variety of sport-related topics. This program provides advanced preparation for teachers with a K-12 teaching license, or for those teaching in a community college, coaching or administering an athletics program, or entering a doctoral program. Preparation This degree requires an undergraduate major in physical education, athletic training, sport science, or sport management. Candidates with a minor in a related field may also be considered.			Competency Requirements All students must demonstrate competency in computer applications in applied statistics. This requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing PSY 5302 Advanced Statistics or SOC 5001 Social Statistics or an equivalent. The Thesis/Research Paper… A thesis paper is required for this degree. Students must first complete PHED 6991 Thesis Topic and PHED 6992 Thesis Proposal Seminar before preparing their thesis. Graduate Assistants must have their thesis proposal completed and approved by the end of the first year if they desire to continue their assistantship positions the following year. Students who are not Graduate Assistants are encouraged to complete their thesis proposal by the beginning of their third semester, or as soon as possible after the PHED 6992 Thesis Proposal.
Q&A: Question of the month? Question from the Physical Education, Health and Sport Department Q: Can a Graduate assistantship count as an internship? Why or why not? A: No, not regularly. There are specific guidelines for the internships. Students must have a focus and be able to complete objectives within that focus. While it is possible to link an internship to the assistantship work, the assistantship itself cannot count as an internship. Advice from the Department Chair: The biggest hang-up for students is the thesis. Set aside about 2-4 hours each week to work on it. Otherwise, you lose so much when you let it go, and it’s going to take more time to get back into it. Also, beat a path to your advisor’s door. Keep them in the loop. ~Dr. Muriel Gilman, Chair PEHS Department Advice from the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. B Kippenhan: It is best to complete your thesis before the end of your 2 years/Graduate Assistantship. If not within the 2 years, the semester after. Otherwise, it becomes increasingly difficult to finish your thesis due to the distance between you and your committee members, as well as the general progressions of life (e.g. employment, family, etc).
	Graduate Program Layout
	First Semester · Students should potentially begin taking the following classes: 1. PHED 6109 Sociology of Sport 2. PHED 6200 Applied Physiology and Nutrition 3. PHED 6991 Thesis Topic Second Semester · Students should potentially begin taking the following classes: 4. PHED 6300 Advanced Principles of Coaching and Administration 5. PHED 6400 Advanced Movement Analysis 6. SOC 5002 Methods of Social Research 7. PHED 6992 Thesis Proposal Seminar · Students who have completed PHED 6109, PHED 6200, PHED 6300, and PHED 6400 need to prepare to take their written exam the following semester. · Graduate Assistants need to have their thesis proposal completed by the end of the second semester if they desire to continue their assistantship positions the following year					Third Semester · Students should potentially begin taking the following classes: 8. PSY 5301 Introduction to Statistics and Research or SOC 5001 Social Statistics 9. PHED 5120 Psychology of Sport (if needed) 10. PHED 5190 Athletic Training (if needed) 11. Required Electives · Students who are not Graduate Assistants should have their thesis proposal prepared near the beginning of the third semester. Fourth Semester · Students should potentially begin taking the following classes: 12. PHED 6970 Internship: Practicum in Sport Studies 13. PHED 6990 Thesis 14. PHED 5110 Motor Learning (if needed) 15. PHED 5309 Legal Aspects of Sport (if needed) 16. Required Electives · Students should complete their thesis.
	The Comprehensive Written Exam
	The Exam All graduate students need to take a comprehensive written exam as one requirement for the Masters degree. The written exam must be satisfactorily completed before the thesis defense may be scheduled. Information Covered in Comprehensive Exam The three-hour exam covers the core classes (PHED 6109 Sociology of Sport (3), PHED 6200 Applied Physiology and Nutrition (3), PHED 6300 Adv. Principles of Coaching and Administration (3), and PHED 6400 Adv. Movement Analysis (3)) and any electives pertinent to discussing the exam topic. It is advised that students take this exam as early as possible after completion of the core requirements.			Format of the Comprehensive Exam Students are randomly assigned two questions one week prior to the exam date, and a coin flip at the time of the exam determines the question they will write about for the exam. Students are asked to prepare a one-page reference list for each question to bring to the exam. They will have three hours to write the exam on a computer, referring to their reference list. Time and Scheduling of the Comprehensive Exam In consultation with the graduate coordinator, students can choose the date they want to take the exam. Students need to notify the graduate coordinator in writing (email is acceptable) four weeks in advance of their intent to take the exam so an acceptable date and time can be arranged. The exam will take place in a computer lab.
	Further Funding for Your Education
	Beck P. E. Graduate Student Scholarship The scholarship was established in the name of Dr. Marjory C. Beck, Professor Emeritus of Physical Education, to foster scholarly achievement among the graduate students of the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Sport. Dr. Beck is a former chair of the Department of Women’s Physical Education and directed the graduate program of the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Sport for many years. During each academic year, the Beck Scholarship is awarded to the graduate student with the best thesis proposal. Each of the graduate faculty members of the department evaluates the quality of all written thesis proposals and oral presentations, as well as the discussion of the proposals. The scholarship offers a monetary award, which may be applied towards tuition, fees, or books.		Graduate Assistantships The department has several graduate assistantships available for students within the Sport Studies program: 1. 100% athletics in games management, athletic training, or compliance, 2. 100% teaching in physical education with an opportunity to work as a volunteer assistant coach in a varsity sport, or 3. 50% teaching and 50% athletics with assistant coaching in baseball, football, soccer, softball, track & field, or volleyball. For more information about the graduate assistantships visit the Sport Studies Website.
	For current information on the PEHS Department, contact Dr. Muriel Gilman at 218-755-2740 ( mgilman@bemidjistate.edu ), Dr. B Christina Kippenhan at 218-755-2076 (bkippenhan@bemidjistate.edu), the Physical Education, Health and Sport Department at 218-755-2940, or visit the Sport Studies website.
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