Physical Activity (online) (PHAO)

Graduate Degree Program
College: Public Health

ABSTRACT

The Master of Public Health (MPH Online) degree with a concentration in Physical Activity is a 45-credit professional degree administered by the Department of Kinesiology. All MPH students with a concentration in Physical Activity will complete six public health core courses, eight courses in the physical activity and related cognate area, a practical experience, and a capstone project.

CONTACT

Professor Valerie Cholet
Director

Department of Kinesiology 
School of Public Health
2351 School of Public Health Building
4200 Valley Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-2611 
Email: vcholet@umd.edu


Website:  https://sph.umd.edu/academics/masters-degrees/mph-master-public-health/mph-physical-activity-online

The Online MPH in Physical Activity program has a two-part application process: applicants must submit the SOPHAS application (www.sophas.org), the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health, and the UMD Supplemental applicationBoth applications must be submitted and verified by the scheduled deadline. Applications will be reviewed when the SOPHAS and the UMD Supplemental applications are completed.

GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • A Bachelor's degree
  • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • At least one undergraduate math course
  • Transcripts from all previous coursework
  • English proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE) (international applicants)
  • Statement of purpose and objectives including career and educational goals, professional experience, and public health areas of interest
  • Response to personal experiences question(s)

PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

  • SOPHAS application & UMD Supplemental application 
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Fit between applicant's goals and expectations and program degree competencies
  • Official GRE Test Score submission is not required
  • Applicants being considered for the program may be invited for a virtual interview via Zoom
  • Response to personal experiences question(s)

Note for applicants with foreign credentials:

  • The SOPHAS application requires that applicants submit a WES credential evaluation
  • The UMD supplemental application requires the upload of unofficial transcripts issued in the original language with a literal English translation. Visit the Graduate School website for additional information
  • Evidence of English Language proficiency is required if the applicant does not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the Graduate School website
  •  Language scores must be submitted both to SOPHAS and UMD supplemental applications

For detailed instructions on how to apply, please visit the School of Public Health Website: https://sph.umd.edu/graduate-application-process

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Type of Applicant Fall Deadline
Domestic Applicants
US Citizens and Permanent Residents N/A
This program admits students for the summer only. See the department's website for information on applying to this program.
International Applicants
F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants N/A
This program admits students for the summer only. See the department's website for information on applying to this program.

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Deadlines: https://sph.umd.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-application-process#deadlines
SPH Program Website: https://sph.umd.edu/academics/masters-degrees/mph-master-public-health/mph-physical-activity-online
OES Program Website: https://exst.umd.edu/professionals-post-baccalaureates/professional-graduate-programs/school-public-health-graduate-programs-online/mph-physical-activity
Application Process: https://sph.umd.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-application-process
Admissions FAQ: https://sph.umd.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-application-faqs

The Department of Kinesiology has three areas of specialization: Cognitive Motor Neuroscience, Exercise Physiology, and Physical Cultural Studies. Laboratories are maintained, which support original investigations in each of the three areas. Laboratories include equipment for measuring metabolic parameters, strength, body composition, postural sway, ground reaction forces, amount of physical activity in daily life, as well as muscle biopsies and movement analysis. The response of the human body to physical activity/exercise can be viewed through ECG, EEG, EMG and systematic behavior observation systems. Each of the three research areas has interfaced computer hardware and software to support data collection and analysis. Collaborations with the School of Medicine at the Baltimore campus and with NIH often result in the availability of other facilities and equipment. All graduate students have access to computers and other forms of technology. Details and pictures of current facilities and equipment are available at our website: www.sph.umd.edu/KNES/.

Last Name First/Middle Name Graduate Faculty Status Academic Credentials Positions
Andrews David L. Full Member B.Ed. Exeter University, 1985; M.S. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1991; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, 1993. Professor, Kinesiology
Professor, Physical Activity
Affiliate Associate Professor, Sociology
Clark Jane E. Full Member B.S., State University of New York-College at Brockport, 1968; M.Ed.,University of Washington, 1970; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976. Professor, Physical Activity
Professor Emerita, Kinesiology
Hagberg James M. Full Member B.A.,Carthage College, 1972; M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1974; Ph.D.,1976. Professor, Kinesiology
Professor, Physical Activity
Hatfield Bradley D. Full Member B.P.E., University of New Brunswick-Fredericton, 1974; B.A.,1975; M.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1976; M.S.A., Ohio University, 1982; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1982. Chair, Kinesiology
Professor, Kinesiology
Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science
Professor, Physical Activity
Hurley Bernard F. Full Member B.A., University of South Florida, 1972; M.A., 1975; Ph.D., Florida State University, 1981. Professor, Physical Activity
Professor Emeritus, Kinesiology
Iso-Ahola Seppo E. Full Member B.S., University of Jyvaskyla-Finland, 1971; M.S., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, 1972; M.S., University of Jyvaskyla-Finland, 1973; Ph.D.,University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, 1976. Professor, Kinesiology
Professor, Physical Activity
Jette Shannon Full Member B.SC., Simon Fraser University, 1998; M.A. University of British Columbia, 2004; Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 2009. Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Assistant Professor, Physical Activity
McDaniel Stephen R. Full Member B.S., Moorhead State University, 1985; M.A., University of South Florida, 1991; Ph.D., Florida State University, 1995. Associate Professor, Kinesiology
Associate Professor, Physical Activity
Miller Ross H. Full Member B.S., Iowa State University, 2003; M.S., Iowa State University, 2005; M.S., Iowa State University, 2006; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2010. Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science
Assistant Professor, Physical Activity
Rogers Marc A. Full Member B.S., State University of New York-College at Cortland, 1976; M.Ed., University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 1979; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1984. Associate Professor, Kinesiology
Associate Professor, Physical Activity
Roth Stephen M. Full Member B.S., University of Montana, 1996; M.A., University of Maryland, 1998; Ph.D., 2000. Professor, Physical Activity
Associate Professor, Kinesiology
Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science