Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science

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Exercise Science Program
363 Hannah Hall (map)
(248) 370-4038 • Fax (248) 370-4227
www.oakland.edu/shs/es/

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Director:
Brian R. Goslin
368 Hannah Hall
(248)-370-4140
goslin@oakland.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science is designed to offer a logical, coherent, yet flexible program of study that will meet the needs of a select group of graduate students seeking to improve their skills in specialized areas of exercise science, such as ergonomics, human performance analysis, sports science and health promotion.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below.

November 15, 2011 for the Winter 2012 semester
March 15, 2012 for the Summer 2012 semester
July 15, 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester
November 15, 2012 for the Winter 2013 semester
March 15, 2013 for the Summer 2013 semester
July 15, 2013 for the Fall 2013 semester

International applicants: International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be received no later than May 1 for fall admission and no later than September 1 for winter admission.

Special Graduate classification: Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but who are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact their department and request Special Graduate temporary admission, provided they submit a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study, as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Application requirements

University graduate application requirements

Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study
Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
Proof of English language proficiency
International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements

Applicants should have a background in basic and applied health sciences and a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Exercise Science Supplemental Program Form which includes a goal statement
The two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms listed above must be from academics familiar with the student’s abilities (preferred) or from employment supervisors
Professional Resume. It is strongly recommended that applicants have suitable work experience in the field of exercise science.
International applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to Oakland University. The institution code for Oakland University is 1497.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 with the appropriate academic background and strong letters of recommendation may be considered for admission with limited standing. Applicants who qualify for this admission status must complete a minimum of 12 credits of graduate-level work, with a GPA of 3.0 or above within the first year of their program, to be advanced to full admission.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Certificate prerequisites

Completion of the following prerequisite coursework is required. Students should have completed the required prerequisite coursework at the appropriate undergraduate or graduate level, prior to beginning coursework for the graduate certificate.

Human anatomy
Human physiology
Exercise physiology
Kinesiology (human motion analysis)
Statistics
First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Four credits of health enhancement (or physical education activity/theory).

While not required, additional coursework in biochemistry, organic chemistry and mathematics through precalculus is recommended.

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 18 credits in an approved program
of study.

Course requirements

A candidate entering the fall or winter semester will spend one full-time academic year to successfully complete the graduate certificate program, which requires completion of the core courses and electives.

a. Core requirements (14 credits)

b. Electives

Students will select 4 credits of elective coursework from

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The required types of monitoring include Time Limit, Completion Rate, Excessive Withdrawals and GPA Requirements. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the applicable program and maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: Students must maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Credit toward the degree will not be given for courses with grades under 2.5.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree program requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception requesting the substitution must be approved.