Exercise and Rehabilitation Science, MS
Program Director: Marie Hoeger Bement M.P.T., Ph.D.
Exercise and Rehabilitation Science website
Degree Offered
Master of Science
Department of Physical Therapy Mission
To prepare future health care practitioners and researchers with an education rich in clinical experiences, community outreach, and research opportunities to develop leaders guided by the values of “Cura Personalis.”
Learning Outcomes
The exercise and rehabilitation science (EXRS) master's program is designed to help students gain advanced knowledge in exercise physiology principles while developing skills related to research to help transition successfully to a doctoral program or clinical post-baccalaureate programs.
Graduates of the Master's Degree in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science Will be Able to:
- Deliver an effective oral presentation of the thesis or project.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of pertinent literature of the chosen topic.
- Gather, organize, analyze and report data as appropriate for the project and as defined by mentor.
- Adhere to requirements for protection of human subjects.
- Interpret results in a way that relates to the research findings and adds to understanding in the field.
-
Make a contribution to the scholarship or clinical practice in the field of exercise or rehabilitation medicine.
Program Description
The master of science degree in exercise and rehabilitation science is open to those with a related science major interested in strengthening their core undergraduate major with advanced course work in research methods, exercise physiology and rehabilitation science.
A master’s degree may strengthen a pre-professional student’s application for entry into physical therapy, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy or medical school. A student may choose from a variety of areas of emphasis for their degree including: community wellness, exercise physiology, neurologic control of movement, movement disorders, sports medicine including biomechanics or performance enhancement. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin is a major partner with Marquette’s exercise and rehabilitation science program. Marquette’s participation in this consortium expands opportunities for academic, medical and clinical research within Milwaukee. CTSI partner institutions include the Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, the Zablocki V.A. Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin.
General Information
Students applying to the doctoral program must have successfully completed either a master’s degree in a related discipline or a post-baccalaureate clinical degree (D.P.T., M.P.T., M.P.A., M.S.N., M.D., etc.) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 (based on a 4.000 scale). Applicants to the master's program must have an undergraduate degree in a related field with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 (based on a 4.000 scale).
The GRE (if applicable) must have been completed within the previous six years, and official scores must be sent to Marquette University directly from Educational Testing Service.
Academic Standards
A cumulative GPA of 3.000 is required in the exercise and rehabilitation science program. The Policies tab describes the criteria and procedures for academic warnings, probation, removal of probation and dismissal. The exercise and rehabilitation science program strictly follows these policies and procedures.
Exercise and Rehabilitation Science Master of Science
The master of science in exercise and rehabilitation science requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. If a student is admitted with prerequisite deficiencies, completion of prerequisite courses does not apply toward degree requirements. The program of course work and research is determined in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Each student is advised to take courses that are properly related to their academic background and research interests.
Thesis Program (Plan A)
The typical master's student in Plan A must complete 21 credit hours of required core course work and 9 credit hours of electives. In addition, master's students in Plan A complete 6 thesis credit hours, for a total of 36 credit hours. Students must defend their thesis to the satisfaction of their committee.
Non-Thesis Program (Plan B)
The typical master's student in Plan B completes 21 credit hours of required core course work, 12 credit hours of electives, and 3 credit hours in project design and professional project courses for a total of 36 credit hours. Students must develop and submit a project, as approved by their mentor.
Required Course Work for Plan A and Plan B
Advised by the director of graduate studies and/or the student’s mentor, an admitted student creates a program plan of study that fulfills the requirements for a master’s degree in exercise and rehabilitation science within that particular student’s area of interest.
All students are required to take the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BISC 5135 | Clinical Human Anatomy | 4 |
EXPH 5192 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
EXPH 5195 | Advanced Exercise Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
BISC 5145 | Human Physiology | 4 |
EXRS 6001 | Applied and Rehabilitative Systems Physiology | 3 |
HEAL 8015 | Applied Statistics for Health Sciences | 3 |
or MSSC 5720 | Statistical Methods | |
EXRS 6954 | Evaluating and Presenting Scientific Research | 1 |
EXRS 6957 | Inquiry and Scientific Method 1 | 1 |
or EXRS 6960 | Inquiry and Scientific Method 2 | |
EXRS 6958 | Readings and Research 1 | 1 |
Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Project) Option (select one) | 15 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
PLAN A (Thesis Option)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Electives (See Elective options below) | 9 | |
EXRS 6999 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
PLAN B (NON-THESIS Option)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Electives (See Elective options below) | 12 | |
EXRS 6600 | Project Design and Development in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science | 1 |
EXRS 6998 | Professional Project in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
ELECTIVE COURSES
Students select elective courses to develop a plan of study that is consistent with their personal and professional interests. Other graduate-level courses (5000 level or higher) across the university may be taken with approval of the director of graduate studies.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BISC 5140 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
BISC 5155 | Diseases of the Brain | 3 |
BISC 5160 | Molecular Pathology | 3 |
BISC 5340 | Human and Applied Medical Genetics | 3 |
BISC 7130 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 |
BISC 7180 | Clinical Neuroanatomy | 3 |
EXPH 5187 | Clinical Exercise Physiology for Special Populations | 3 |
EXPH 7189 | Nutrition and Exercise Performance | 4 |
EXRS 6020 | Measurements, Tests, and Techniques in Rehabilitation Science | 3 |
EXRS 6030 | Advanced Principles and Instrumentation in Biomechanics | 3 |
EXRS 6130 | Neuromechanical Control and Regulation of Coordinated Movement | 2 |
EXRS 6201 | Neurophysiological Principles in Disease and Rehabilitation | 3 |
EXRS 6250 | Neural Control of Locomotion | 3 |
EXRS 6290 | Brain Dissection | 1 |
EXRS 6320 | Molecular and Biochemical Techniques in Rehabilitation Health Science | 2 |
EXRS 6380 | Contemporary Pain Rehabilitation | 2 |
EXRS 6505 | Aging and Physical Activity | 2 |
EXRS 6510 | Obesity - A Comprehensive Approach | 2 |
EXRS 6515 | Neuromuscular Plasticity in Health and Disease | 3 |
EXRS 6520 | Physiological Adaptations to Environmental Stress | 2 |
EXRS 6530 | Spinal Mechanisms of Motor Control and Implications of Rehabilitation | 2 |
EXRS 6540 | Fatigue in Health and Disease | 3 |
EXRS 6550 | Physiology of Aging | 3 |
EXRS 6560 | Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis | 2 |
EXRS 6570 | Neuromodulation Techniques and Applications in Rehabilitation Science | 3 |
EXRS 6590 | Performance and Rehabilitation | 2 |
EXRS 6650 | Research Methods in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science | 1-6 |
EXRS 6931 | Topics in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science | 1-3 |
EXRS 6960 | Inquiry and Scientific Method 2 | 1 |
EXRS 6995 | Independent Study in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science | 1-3 |
ACCELERATED BACHELOR'S-MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM
The accelerated degree program (ADP) is designed for undergraduate students in related fields at Marquette University (i.e., exercise physiology, biomedical sciences, speech pathology) who wish to complete both their undergraduate degree as well as the master of science degree in exercise and rehabilitation science in just five years.
Students with a GPA of 3.000 or above may apply for admission to the five-year program during their junior year. Students must submit an application to the Graduate School, indicate their interest in the five-year program, and meet all other admission criteria as stated in the Application Requirements section on the Graduate School's ADP webpage.
ADP students complete graduate course work during their undergraduate senior year, which may be applied toward completion of the master of science degree with appropriate approvals. Courses are selected from 5000-level, 6000-level and 7000-level graduate courses based on the student's academic background and with approval from the director of graduate studies. A maximum of 18 credit hours (50%, or 18 of the total 36 credits) can count toward the master of science degree in exercise and rehabilitation science. Note, however, that only 14 of the 18 credits can also count toward the student’s undergraduate degree. The additional 4 credit hours completed while earning the bachelor of science degree count only toward the graduate degree upon transitioning to the master’s program.
University Policies
- Academic Censure - Graduate School
- Academic Integrity
- Academic Misconduct
- Academic Program Definitions
- Accelerated Degree Programs
- Attendance - Graduate School
- Awarding Diplomas and Certificates
- Background Checks, Drug Testing
- Class Rank
- Commencement
- Course Levels
- Credit Hour
- Credit Load - Graduate School
- Faculty Grading
- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act-FERPA
- Grade Appeals
- Grading System - Graduate School and Graduate School of Management
- Graduation - Graduate School
- Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements
- Last Date of Attendance/Activity
- Military Call to Active Duty or Training
- Registration - Graduate School
- Repeated Courses - Graduate School
- Student Data Use and Privacy
- Transcripts-Official
- Transfer Course Credit - Graduate School
- Withdrawal - Graduate School
Graduate School Policies
- Academic Performance
- Advising
- Certificate Concurrent Enrollment
- Conduct
- Confidentiality of Proprietary Information
- Continuous Enrollment
- Courses and Prerequisites
- Cross-listed Courses
- Deadlines
- Doctoral Degree Academic Program Overview
- Graduate Credit
- Graduate School Policies
- Independent Study
- Intellectual Property
- Master's Degree Academic Program Overview
- Merit-Based Aid Registration Requirements
- Research Involving Humans, Animals, Radioisotopes or Recombinant DNA/Transgenic Organisms
- Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program
- Time Limitations
- Working with Minors