MS Research-Based Named Option Requirements
Students complete the program over 2-3 years, earning a minimum of 30 credits.
For all current requirements to complete your degree (e.g., credits, courses, milestones, learning outcomes/goals, etc.), see your specific Named Option page in The Guide:
Graduate Seminar (KINES 900) Requirement
All students are required to register for the Kinesiology 900 Seminar each semester that they are enrolled in the program. Any requests for a seminar waiver (due to TA course conflicts, research activities outside the Madison area, etc.) must be made to the Graduate Studies Committee a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the start of the semester when the waiver is desired.
Research in Physical Activity-Theory and Design (KINES 991) Requirements
All students in the MS and PhD research-track programs are required to enroll in KINES 991.
Thesis Requirement
Selecting a Topic
Your advisor can provide guidance on selecting your topic. If you find that your topic and/or mentoring needs no longer align with your advisor, see “Advising & Mentoring” section on how to change advisors. Note that your committee composition may or may not need to change as well in this scenario, depending upon your new advisor’s guidance.
Form & Content
The Department of Kinesiology does not impose a specific format for thesis documents. You will work closely with your advisor and committee to determine the appropriate structure and style for your thesis. However, you must follow the Graduate School’s formatting guidelines, and you are required to submit the final thesis to Memorial Library upon completion.
Proposal
Graduate students in research-based named options are required to complete both a written and oral thesis proposal.
- Enrollment: You must be enrolled in KINES 742-990 (Research or Thesis) during the term in which the proposal is presented.
- Proposal Forms: You must submit the date, time, location, and title of your proposal to the Graduate Program Manager (GPM) at least one week in advance. The GPM will send the required evaluation forms to your committee members on the day of your proposal.
- Written Proposal: Submit your written proposal to all committee members at least seven days before the oral presentation.
- Oral Presentation: The format of the oral proposal and written document is determined by your advisor, with input and approval from your full committee. In general, the oral presentation includes approximately 30 minutes of presenting, followed by up to 90 minutes of discussion and questions from the committee.
- Purpose: The goal of the proposal is to receive committee feedback and approval before moving forward with the research.
Defense
A final oral defense of your thesis is required to complete the program.
- Enrollment: You must be enrolled in KINES 742-990 (Research or Thesis) during the term in which you defend.
- Defense Announcement: Provide the date, time, location, and title of your defense to the GPM at least one week in advance so the announcement can be shared with faculty and graduate students.
- Thesis Distribution: A complete written copy of your thesis must be provided to all committee members at least seven days prior to the defense.
- Format: The structure and format of your defense presentation will be determined by your advisor, with approval from the committee. In general, the oral presentation includes approximately 40 minutes of presenting, followed by up to 80 minutes of discussion and questions from the committee.
- Warrant: The GPM will request a warrant from the graduate school for your committee members to sign on the date of your defense. A signed warrant is the program’s recommendation that a student be granted a degree.
Thesis Committee
For Master’s Thesis Committees:
Master’s committees advise and evaluate satisfactory progress, evaluate a thesis, and sign a degree warrant.
- The chair or one of the co-chairs of the committee must be graduate faculty from the student’s program. Affiliate appointments may be used to satisfy this requirement.
- The committee must be comprised of at least three members.
- Two of the committee members must be UW–Madison graduate faculty or former UW–Madison graduate faculty within one year of resignation or retirement.
- The third member and any additional members may be from any of the following categories, as approved by the program executive committee (or its equivalent): graduate faculty, faculty from a department without a graduate program, academic staff (including emeritus faculty), visiting faculty, faculty from other institutions, scientists, research associates, and other individuals deemed qualified by the executive committee (or its equivalent).
- All committee members have voting rights. To receive a master’s degree, students cannot receive more than one dissenting vote from their committee on the final degree warrant.
Your advisor chairs your committee and provides individualized guidance on how to select committee members.
Typical MS Degree Timeline – Example
Year |
Semester |
Milestones |
| Year 1 | Fall | Attend department orientations
Begin Coursework Begin lab work and discuss thesis topics |
| Year 1 | Spring | Continue coursework
Narrow down thesis topic Start identifying potential committee members |
| Year 1 | Summer | Continue thesis planning and work
Begin literature review or pilot work |
| Year 2 | Fall | Continue coursework
Finalize committee members Draft thesis proposal Schedule thesis proposal meeting |
| Year 2 | Spring | Finish coursework
Hold thesis proposal meeting |
| Year 2 | Summer | Continue data collection and analysis |
| Year 3 | Fall | Complete data collection
Analyze data Begin writing thesis |
| Year 3 | Spring | Finalize thesis draft
Hold thesis defense Graduate! |
Master’s Degree Checklist: Deadlines
One Week Before the Proposal
- Request Paperwork: Provide the following information to the Graduate Program Manager to request the official warrant from the Graduate School:
- Title of your thesis
- Names and emails of all committee members
- Expected proposal date
- Room Reservation
Three Weeks Before the Defense
- Request Warrant: Provide the following information to the Graduate Program Manager to request the official warrant from the Graduate School:
- Title of your thesis
- Names and emails of all committee members
- Expected defense date
- Room Reservation
At Least One Week Before the Defense
- Announce Defense: The Graduate Program Manager will announce your defense to the department. You’re also welcome to announce it yourself through other channels.
- Distribute Draft: Submit the final draft of your thesis to your entire thesis committee.
After the Defense
- Warrant Completion: You will receive a copy of your signed warrant from the Graduate Program Manager.
- Deposit Thesis: Submit the final version of your thesis to Memorial Library.
- Complete Graduate School Degree Completion Requirements: Make sure to complete all remaining steps and requirements outlined by the Graduate School. You can find detailed information on these requirements and their deadlines here.