Admission Standards

Admission to the program is competitive and requires a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as health science or nutrition, from a regionally accredited college or university. International students are eligible to complete this degree program.

General Admission Requirements

All students will be reviewed prior to admission to the program and admitted based on the following criteria:

• Completed application
• Official transcripts of all previous college work, received directly from each institution
• Two professional reference forms completed by individuals who attest to the applicant's professional background and academic potential 
  • This requirement can be waived for UT alumni that meet the 3.0 GPA requirement and are in good academic standing.
• Résumé
• Personal statement
  • Why did you choose UT?
  • Why did you choose this program?
  • Why is this program a good fit for you?
  • What do you bring to the program?
• Completed bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Consent to background check if required for practicum position

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students with a related baccalaureate degree may be permitted to take up to two graduate-level courses at the discretion of the program director. Non-degree seeking students are permitted to take classes on a space-available basis, with priority registration going to current degree seeking students. Those interested must apply to the University as a non-degree seeking student. Being granted permission to take classes as a non-degree seeking student does not assure admission into the M.S.-ENS program. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for University or federal financial aid. International students are not eligible for non-degree seeking student status.

Advising

Each student will be assigned to the program director or one of the program faculty for advising purposes pertaining to class selection and professional guidance. For matters related to registration, withdrawal and other administrative issues, students should contact their advisor in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

Program and Course Requirements

Satisfactory completion of the M.S.-ENS curriculum requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and no more than one grade of "C." Students who fall below a 3.0 GPA are placed on academic probation and will have an 8 credit probationary period in which to raise their grades to a 3.0 GPA. Students failing to do so will be dismissed from the program. No grade below a "C" will be accepted towards a graduate degree. Students must earn "Satisfactory" in Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory courses. Any course resulting in a second grade of "C", a grade below a "C" or "Unsatisfactory" must be repeated for credit, and any course may be repeated only one time.

A student is allowed seven years from the time graduate work begins, whether at UT or elsewhere, in which to complete the degree. Under certain circumstances, the student, with approval from the program director, may retake outdated courses.

Degree Requirements

A detailed list of degree requirements can be found in UT’s catalog.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination, consisting of oral and written parts, must be passed by every M.S.-ENS student to graduate. The exam may be repeated two times. The exam requires students to integrate and apply material acquired from all previous courses.

Practicum Component

The practicum component of the degree is offered in the fall, spring and 12-week summer terms. This 3-credit-hour practicum requirement may be undertaken simultaneously with the student’s coursework. Practicum opportunities depend on availability and students’ schedules. The practicum provides students experiential opportunities outside of the classroom by working with local, regional and national organizations. See below for a list of examples of practicum sites for former and current students:

• UT Human Performance Lab
• UT Athletics
• Powerhouse Gym
• Tampa General Hospital
• Anytime Fitness
• Crossfit 813
• Verizon Health and Wellness
• Baycare Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Empower Physical Therapy
• Fast Twich
• Saddlebrook Tennis Academy