Thank you for your expressed interest in our Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies. Howard University is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most distinguished institutions of higher education in the United States . I believe that it could be an ideal place for you to continue your education.

The Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies at Howard University is focused on preparing highly skilled, well-educated professionals who can choose from a variety of career options, ranging from medical school to corporate management to teaching. In conjunction with the Howard University College of Arts and Sciences, the Department provides an inter-disciplinary approach to school/community health, physical/teacher education, exercise physiology, sports management, urban recreation, and sports medicine.

As you may know already, Howard takes full advantage of the many educational and cultural resources in Washington, D.C.---one of the great national cities in the world---in offering its numerous graduate and research programs.

Howard University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Doctoral/Research University- Extensive, the foundation's highest classification for doctoral granting universities. Howard University is ranked 90 among 248 universities categorized as “Best National Universities” by the U.S. News and World Report 2005 Edition of “ America 's Best Colleges.” This ranking places Howard among the top 100 national research universities in the country and represents a continuation of its rise in these annual rankings. More importantly, among this same group of the best national research universities, Howard ranks number 28 under the category “Great Schools, Great Prices”. Howard is the only Historically Black College/University Research I University. Our libraries rank among the top 100 research libraries in the nation. Howard's Graduate School faculty is world class, multicultural and diverse in research interests and academic expertise. Many of our more than 10,000 graduate alumni have assumed positions in national and international prestige and influence in the academic, research, and professional world.

The mission of The Department of Health, Human Performance, and Leisure Studies (HHP&LS) Graduate Program is to facilitate:

• Research and scholarly inquiry,
• the preparation of professionals, and
• the provision of services in health, human performance, andurban recreation.

The Department of (HHP&LS) offers graduate programs in the theoretical and practical study of Human Performance in Exercise Physiology, Sport Studies, Health Education, and Urban Recreation. The faculty is committed to research, scholarship, teaching leadership, service and creative work.

GOALS

Research

To facilitate the opportunity for students to engage in research and scholarly activity of the highest quality.

Teaching/Gaining Knowledge

To take care that students obtain the finest professional preparation and career development experiences available.

Service

To facilitate the opportunity for students to engage in professional service to the University, the community and to the profession at large.

Leadership

To provide effective leadership in the achievement of the mission of Howard University, The College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies, the profession and the community.

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To be accepted into the Graduate Program in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies, students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a GPA of at least 3.0 or B. In addition, students must meet the University requirement to take the Graduate Record Examination (and the TOEFL if applicable), have submitted letters of recommendation from persons in position to evaluate their academic work, and forwarded a sample of their analytic writing (preferably a graded critical paper).

Students entering the program without an undergraduate major in health, physical education, or recreation must take 9 hours of deficiency courses or the equivalent, as determined by their graduate adviser.

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of interest, official transcript(s) delivered and/or mailed in a sealed envelope by the Registrar of the college/university attended, and the most recent Graduate Record Examination scores.

General Degree Requirements

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Master's Thesis Required for all programs.

• A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 for graduation
• Minimum number if credits- 30
• Submission of a thesis in partial fulfillment of requirements for M.S.
• Passing of the Proficiency in Expository Writing Examination

All students must take the following core courses: 246-300, 246-301, and 246-303. Students must also choose one of the areas of concentration listed below and take the accompanying required courses. Health and Education; Leisure Studies and Recreation Sports Sciences: 246-360, 246-365, and 246-370.

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A student should file for admission to candidacy after 12 hours of work has been completed and this student has satisfied the GSAS writing proficiency requirement. Forms provided by the dean should be filed a semester before graduation and approved by the student's thesis committee and the Executive Committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciencec.

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Students in the Ph.D. program are required to spend at least three semesters in full-time residence, two of which must be consecutive.

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The Board of Trustees of Howard University on September 24, 1983, adopted the following policy statement regarding applications for admission: "Applicants seeking admission to Howard University are required to submit accurate and complete credentials and accurate and complete information requested by the University. Applicants who fail to do so shall be denied admission. Enrolled students who as applicants failed to submit accurate and complete credentials or accurate and complete information on their application for admission shall be subject to dismissal when the same is made known, regardless of classification."

All credentials must be sent to:

 
Howard University Graduate School
Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
4th and College Streets, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20059

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