The Sports and High Performance Materials emphasis area is collaboration between two of the universities premier research schools, the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials and the School of Human Performance and Recreation. The educational objectives of the program are to create multidisciplinary scientists who have the specific advanced research skills in polymer science, exercise physiology and biomechanics, and who are capable of developing new materials that significantly improve athletic and human performance.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the master’s program is based upon previous academic performance and official scores on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination. Requirements include the following: a minimum grade point average of 2.75 or better on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, a 3.0 GPA in major, three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study (letters should be sent to the school), and submission of scores on the GRE.
Degree Requirements
Specific details of the admission and program requirements are outlined in a separate handbook provided by the Sports and High Performance Materials Program.
Graduation is based upon
- completion of 33 hours of graduate work including the 27 hours of PSC and HPR core courses with a GPA of 3.0 or better;
- satisfactory development of an original research project and a thesis (6 hours of 698 required);
- satisfactory completion of the final comprehensive examination
- Arrange for graduate advisor by the end of the first semester.
- Continuous enrollment - Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.
Plan of Study. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study Form to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study Forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/planofstudy.php - click on the “Plans of Study” link.
Responsible Conduct of Research Training
All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete RCR training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the RCR training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester there are enrolled in graduate school. The RCR policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page – www.usm.edu/graduateschool. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.
