Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology

The department offers courses of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine, and Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology; and an undergraduate minor in Strength and Conditioning. Masters degrees offered are Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Master of Science in Kinesiology, and Masters in Athletic Training.  The Doctor of Philosophy is offered in Educational Psychology. 

The Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology, housed in the College of Education, has excellent facilities for undergraduate/graduate study and research. The department sponsors and hosts several state, national, and international programs.

The Learning and Performance Research Center (LPRC) is home to an array of educational and psychological research projects and houses the three laboratories described below. The LPRC provides leadership, training, consultation, and state-of-the-art solutions to challenging educational research questions at the university, state, national, and international levels. The Psychometric Laboratory is home to an array of educational and psychological measurement projects. The MERIT Laboratory is home to multimedia learning research focused on improving multimedia instruction, learning, and performance, with consideration of both cognition and affect perspectives. The Large-Scale Data (LSD) Laboratory is home to research on large-scale data with expertise in big-data analytics and quantitative methods.

The Exercise Physiology and Performance Laboratory (EPPL) provides research, teaching, and exercise testing opportunities to WSU students, faculty, and the Pullman community. The Gait and Posture Biomechanics Laboratory research is focused on (1) the development of a clinical assessment tool to detect fall-risk in pregnant patients, (2) quantifying and reducing the risk of falls for pregnant individuals, and (3) finding evolutionary links to modern female injury risk. The Psychology of Physical Activity Laboratory includes research about optimizing physical activity experiences, motivation for long-term physical activity, and the psychological benefits of physical activity.  The Concussion and Sports Medicine Laboratory conducts research (a) to understand how head injuries (traumatic brain injury) affect the patient and develop research-based tool for the medical community to evaluate patients post traumatic injury, (b) to evaluate the role neck strength plays in the incidence of concussion, (c) on the biomechanical impacts magnitudes that occur in youth sports, and (d) on the effectiveness of current education in concussion awareness. The Cognitive Motor Neuroscience Laboratory examines the neural processes underlying motor behavior in clinical and typical populations across the lifespan using behavioral, neuroimaging (EEG), and computational approaches. All the labs provide service and research opportunities for students and the WSU community.

Application for Graduate Study

Students who plan to work toward an advanced degree should contact the Office of Graduate Education in the College of Education. Individuals applying for admission to do graduate work must complete an application to the WSU Graduate School, and submit the following materials to the College of Education Office of Graduate Education: Degree Program Application form; a statement of professional objectives; official college transcripts; three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to comment on the applicant’s academic and professional abilities, and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores can be submitted to support an application but are optional. Interested students should directly contact the Office of Graduate Education for specific requirements of each program area.

For those students interested in pursuing the Master’s in Athletic Training degree, this is part of a 5-year comprehensive program which includes the undergraduate degree in Sports Medicine. All application questions should be directed to the Athletic Training Program Coordinator of Clinical Education.  See the website for specific information, requirements, and contact information.

Educational Psychology is the study of how humans learn and retain knowledge, primarily in formal educational settings like classrooms, as well as informal settings like museums and libraries. This includes emotional, social, and cognitive learning processes. Areas of focus might include teaching, testing and assessment methods, psychometrics, classroom or learning environments, and learning, social, and behavioral problems that may impede learning, technology in learning, etc. Graduates work as professors, education specialists, learning analysts, program evaluators, and find positions in research institutions, school systems, the testing organizations, government agencies, and private industry. Our program offers two degree options with a specialization in Educational Psychology; the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Students pursuing a master’s degree can expect to complete the program in two years and doctoral students can expect to finish in three to five years beyond the master’s degree.

Student Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes on which students are rated include:

1. Ability to think critically, evaluate, understand, apply, and communicate scientific research
2. Ability to evaluate and apply research designs
3. Be aware and evaluate how diversity issues and protected populations influence research
4. Development of professional identity appropriate for future career plans

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology

The Kinesiology major leads to the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree. The Kinesiology major is composed of a broad spectrum of courses designed to expose students to a variety of experiences, concepts, and philosophies centered on human movement. A grade of C or better must be obtained in all departmental core courses, elective core courses, and in UCORE courses used as prerequisites for departmental courses. All letter-graded courses specifically required for each major must be taken for a letter grade (i.e., not pass, fail). In order to apply for admission in Kinesiology, students must have 24 semester credits completed, earn a grade of C or better in Human Anatomy (KINES 262) and Motor Development (KINES 199), and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 including the semester of application. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admittance. Applications are accepted in September (1st to 30th) and February (1st to 28th).

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with a degree in Kinesiology will be able to:

1. Identify the central body of knowledge in kinesiology and use scientific literacy, quantitative reasoning and discipline knowledge to analyze contemporary issues.
2. Be continuous, collaborative learners who further their own professional development and use their abilities to contribute to the profession.
3. Demonstrate leadership, ethical reasoning, and social responsibility to improve quality of life for others and ensure equitable access for diverse groups by creating appropriate environments to initiate and maintain a physically active, healthy lifestyle.
4. Communicate effectively to a broad range of audiences using appropriate traditional and emerging technological media.
5. Demonstrate honesty, integrity, and accountability.

Practical application of theory and knowledge in the Kinesiology major is obtained through enrollment in practicum hours (KINES 390) during the third year and through the completion of a 10-12 credit internship at the end of the required coursework. The internship serves as the bridge between the student's college career and opportunities for employment and further education in Kinesiology.

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Kinesiology is the study of human movement. The Master of Science degree in Kinesiology provides advanced education in human movement and foundational research skills that can be applied to its understanding. Our faculty and research labs specialize in areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, and physical activity psychology. Students pursuing a master’s degree can expect to complete the program in two years. There are thesis and non-thesis options. Graduating students may choose to become researchers, technicians, educators, or practitioners in general kinesiology or in a specialized sub-discipline.

Student Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes on which students are rated include:

1. Ability to think critically, evaluate, understand, apply, and communicate scientific research. 
2. Demonstrate advanced kinesiology knowledge in chosen area of focus.
3. Ability to understand and apply research principles.
4. Awareness and understanding of how diversity issues, special and protected populations influence research and practice. 
5. Development of professional identity appropriate for future career plans.

Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and Master's in Athletic Training

This is part of a 5-year accredited comprehensive program which includes the BS in Sports Medicine and the accredited program for a Master’s in Athletic Training degree.  This is a competitive admission program. Upon acceptance into the program students have access to some of the highest quality learning opportunities available.

Athletic training education uses a competency-based approach both in the classroom and clinical setting.  Educational content is based on cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill), and affective (professional behaviors) competencies and clinical proficiencies. Additional policies and procedures are outlined in the Athletic Training Program Handbook.  Given the availability of clinical experiences, students may not be a varsity athlete and an athletic training student.

Certification for athletic training requires the successful completion of a master’s degree in athletic training from an institution that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and successful completion of the national exam given by the Board of Certification.

Student Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates will become proficient in the following knowledge and skill areas in accordance with professional guidelines as articulated by CAATE. Students will:

1. Provide acute care of injuries and illnesses to address planning, examination, immediate emergent or musculoskeletal management, transportation, and education to clients.
2. Be proficient in using knowledge of basic science and research methodology to interpret evidence-based research related to athletic training to answer questions and guide clinical practice.
3. Be prepared, capable, and experienced in working as part of an inter-professional healthcare team.
4. Develop advanced understanding of issues related to athletic training curriculum development, implementation and administration.
5. Demonstrate attitudes, behaviors, and practices that support personal well-being and life-long learning.
6. Become proficient in prevention and health promotion to include general prevention principles, fitness and wellness principles.
7. Be able to integrate aspects of physical and mental health, cultural competence, ethics, and patient and community values to improve the patients’ outcome.
8. Exemplify leadership, professional engagement and advocacy to strengthen the profession of athletic training.

Undergraduate Minors

The Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology offers an undergraduate minor in Strength and Conditioning. Courses for the minor may not be taken pass, fail. The strength and conditioning minor combines field experiences working in a collegiate D1 training environment and coursework on the scientific knowledge to implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs for a diverse range of abilities. The primary goal in programming is targeted performance improvements, which also includes informed decisions about nutrition and injury prevention, and referral to other professionals when appropriate.  Students interested in declaring a minor in Strength and Conditioning should contact the department.