Master of Science in Movement Sciences and Health

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The College of Business at the University of West Florida is accredited by AACSB International, the highest level of accreditation available to a college or school of business.  As such, the College believes that it is in the student's best interest to take all junior/senior level BSBA Core, Major, and Major-related courses at UWF.  These courses are typically taught by academically or professionally qualified faculty members as defined in the College's policy on faculty qualifications.

Undergraduate transfer credit for degree programs in the College of Business is awarded consistent with specifications in the UWF Catalog  and the requirements of Florida's Common Numbering System.

Normally, the College of Business will not accept transfer credits as equivalent to UWF 3000/4000 level business-related courses from institutions not accredited by AACSB International.

Students should seek guidance from their College of Business academic advisors on these matters.

Advanced training in communication is more vital than ever as our society is reshaped by access to information, technological advancement and increases in global interaction. Graduate students in the Strategic Communication & Leadership program will gain skills needed to excel in the career of their choice, from health care and business to nonprofit foundations and education, and more.

Why Study Strategic Communication & Leadership at UWF?

In our master's programs, you will begin to understand the ways in which exercise is not only tied to improved fitness and athletic performance but also to physical and psychological health.

The M.S. in Movement Sciences & Health offers two specializations: Exercise Science, and Physical Education and Sports Performance.

The perfect combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience will prepare you to succeed in the workplace. Additionally, you will build a professional network that provides mentoring related to career options within your profession, potential employment opportunities, and furthering your graduate education.

What You Will Learn

You will be guided through the curriculum by faculty who are dedicated to your individualized learning. They will get to know you and work closely with you to achieve your professional goals.

The program is based heavily on hands-on experiences where you will have the opportunity to utilize a variety of state-of-the-art laboratories, research tools and equipment.

In the Exercise Science specialization, you are prepared to successfully acquire nationally recognized certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

In the Physical Education and Sports Performance specialization, you will learn how to lead individuals in various physical activity settings, including education, sports, fitness, wellness and health. You will examine, evaluate and apply research on skill development and learning in physical education, coaching and physical activity.

The University of West Florida is one of only a few institutions in the United States which offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. The program is provided through the Department of Biology. The curriculum includes a series of seven core courses fundamental to all areas of biology. Elective courses emphasize theoretical and practical aspects of aquatic/marine biology. Wetlands and estuarine marshes of the main campus, as well as the nearby Santa Rosa Island campus and the Gulf of Mexico, provide living specimens for study and serve as laboratories supporting elective courses. Graduates may seek careers in marine biology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution biology, and marine toxicology, and find employment in local, state, and federal departments of environmental regulation and education, as well as the private sector. Graduates are also well prepared to pursue advanced degrees. Prospective students need to be aware that some biology lab courses involve the use of live animals; students may wish to seek details from course instructors before enrolling.

Medical laboratory professionals are health care detectives. In this program, you will learn to gather evidence and uncover clues needed to effectively diagnose and treat patients.

Studying medical laboratory science at UWF sets you up for a successful career in a medical lab setting. Many of our students have job offers before they graduate. As the only MLS program in North Florida, hospitals across the Florida Panhandle and the South Alabama area rely on us to help fill positions in this high-demand career.

The M.A. program is designed for students interested in acquiring a broad view of political science or who wish to specialize in international relations. The program consists of 33 semester hours plus successful completion of a comprehensive examination or a thesis. All new students should be advised by the departmental advisor.

The Anthropology Master of Arts program prepares graduates for a variety of professional positions and entrance into doctoral programs. The department’s approach combines a strong anthropological perspective, an active faculty, a vigorous research and contract program, flexibility, and many opportunities to obtain hands-on experience. The department has one of the largest and most active terrestrial and maritime archaeology programs and facilities in the Southeast. There is continuous on-going student-focused research and contracts in prehistoric, historic, coastal, and interior archaeological sites that include graduate students at all levels of responsibility.

Financial assistance includes many research assistantships in terrestrial and maritime archaeology through the Archaeology Institute, grants and contracts, internships, and the Marcus Fellowship for thesis completion.

This program requires a thesis. Students must complete all common core courses, but the remainder of their course work can be structured according to their interests with the approval of their advisor or committee. Up to 6 sh can be taken outside Anthropology.

UWF's Interdisciplinary Humanities programs promote excellence in education, personal growth, civic awareness and unique learning experiences by offering cutting-edge curricula relevant to the needs of employers. Designed for students desiring exposure to issues that transcend a single discipline, interdisciplinary studies offer students the opportunity to raise questions, create new knowledge, and solve problems in ways that are not possible in a singular disciplinary context. In the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies specialization, students critically and creatively explore the significance of gender in all areas of life, examining the social formation of human identities, practices, and institutions. This specialization requires the completion of an approved minor or double major and participation in the university’s annual Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Conference. The combination of this interdisciplinary specialization with a related minor or double major prepares students for a wide array of careers in community relations, law, criminal justice, politics, business, communications, counseling, social work, and teaching and provides students with an enhanced understanding of how gender operates in these professional environments. The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program also offers a host of co-curricular events and activities that help students to cultivate their professional skills and put theory into practice. Beyond the annual Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Conference, the students host art exhibitions, poetry open mic nights and community reading groups and publish a national feminist student journal.

The B.M. in Music is designed to prepare students for careers in the field of music. Permission to major or minor in music is granted by the department and an audition is required.

The B.S. in Physics focuses on the study of matter and its motion.  Ultimately, the goal of physics is to understand how nature behaves from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the entire universe, making it the most fundamental natural science. The various topics covered include electricity and magnetism, electronics, fluids, mechanics, optics, quantum phenomena, concepts of relativity, thermodynamics, waves, and several related laboratory activities.

The Physics Department offers the traditional B.S. program in Physics with specializations in Physics or Engineering Physics.  In addition to graduate school, a trained physicist may enter the employment market as a research scientist. Those with an engineering physics background are eligible for entry-level jobs as engineers in organizations such as the Department of Defense, NASA, and the various national labs.

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach this subject area in secondary education need to contact an advisor in this department to carefully plan the course work to satisfy degree and some teacher certification requirements. A degree in this major is required for participation in teacher education certification options.

The B.A. in Psychology enables students to study human behavior. An understanding of psychological processes entails understanding the multiple influences created by the biological characteristics of the organism, the effects of learning and experience, social and cultural dynamics, and developmental change. As a scientific discipline, the study of psychology requires competence in research methodology and critical thinking. Psychology is also an applied discipline, with applications in behavioral and physical health, business, education, and law, among others. Students completing a major in psychology will be prepared to pursue a wide range of careers at the bachelor's level or to pursue advanced training in psychology or other professional schools (such as medicine and law). Students will attain a high-quality liberal arts degree focused on knowledge in the discipline of psychology, integrity in the application of that knowledge, effective project management, and excellent critical thinking and communication skills.