The Kinesiology MA Program will emphasize research skills for the students.  

MA Kinesiology students will be able to critically evaluate research articles and make formal presentations. 

A rubric developed by the faculty will be used to determine if students have met this objective. This indicator assesses students' ability to critically evaluate a research article and present the information in a professional presentation. Students are to perform the following tasks in order to demonstrate that they have met the objective.

 Students are to select one research article in their chosen discipline. The article must be from a peer-reviewed, academic journal. Students will then summarize the article in a short paper that addresses each of the key sections of the article (typically: review of relevant literature, method, results, and discussion). Students will then present the article to the class via a formalized research presentation. The presentation will be 12 minutes in length with 3 minutes for questions from the audience. Student presentations will be structured in a PowerPoint setting. Evaluation consists of the professor's assessment of student performance on the research presentation key sections as stated above.

Students must correctly address 3/4 key sections of a research article (review of the literature, method, results, and discussion) on the common embedded assignment.

79% of the students correctly met the target, 11% of the students exceeded the target, and 10% of the students failed to meet the target on the research common embedded assignment.

After the review of student performance on the embedded research assignment, the program faculty identified APA, basic organization, and clarity in writing as the emerging weaknesses of the students that did not meet the target (10%). The faculty have decided to expand the number of required tasks to address APA, basic organization, and clarity in writing. All graduate core courses will require students to do at least two additional assignments to assist students with these short-falls.

The Kinesiology MA Program will produce Kinesiology Graduates with critical thinking skills.

Kinesiology, Sport Management students will be able to apply content competencies and skills relevant to Sport Management using critical thinking.

A common embedded portion of each of the following Sport Management courses will require critical thinking skills and application on common exams and projects developed by the faculty. 

- Legal Issues in Sport (KIN 562)
- Sport Marketing (KIN 570)
- Leadership in Sport Management (KIN 563)
- Sport Ethics (KIN 580)

Students must score at least 80% correct on the common embedded critical thinking exams and projects in KIN 562, 570, 563, and 580.

85% of the students exceeded the 80% target on the common embedded critical skills assessments and 15% of the students met the target.

After a review of students' performance on the embedded critical thinking skills, the program faculty was pleased to note that the students met or exceeded the goal. Therefore, a new goal will be identified and set for the 2010-2011 academic year.