Master of Fitness Promotion
Graduate students choosing the Master of Fitness Promotion (MFP) will focus on developing skills and attributes for designing, delivering and evaluating fitness and wellness programs designed to improve the quality of life of the program's participants.
To accomplish this mission, the graduate students in the Corporate Wellness Program will meet the following objectives:
Develop a knowledge base and be able to apply that knowledge to impact areas such as health-related and mental fitness as they relate to hypokinetic diseases and conditions.
Gain a basic understanding of the core disciplines including Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, and Research Methodology.
Gain an understanding of the concepts of marketing and management of a corporate wellness program.
Be able to adjust the workplace environment to decrease the chance of repetitive injuries, which requires a basic knowledge of occupational ergonomics.
Be able to apply exercise prescription for both the general population and for special populations, such as persons with diabetes, poor cholesterol profiles, heart disease, osteoporosis, and other debilitating diseases.
Gain practical experience of a wellness program through the requirement of a minimum of 200-hour practicum in a facility that functions to promote health and wellness and meeting objectives established in conjunction with the student's committee.
Potential Career Opportunities
A person with a professional degree in “Fitness Promotion” can work in a variety of positions and settings in which a specialist is needed to develop programs that combat cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, metabolic disorders, and musculoskeletal problems.
Employment opportunities are commonly found in fitness and wellness centers, hospitals and health care facilities, rehabilitation centers, senior centers, corporations and universities.
- employee wellness director,
- corporate fitness director,
- strength and conditioning coach,
- cardiac rehabilitation technician,
- and exercise director for assisted living facility
For more information visit the USU Catalog or USU Degree Finder.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Melissa Johnson
Program Coordinator II
Kinesiology and Health Science
Program Director
Dale Wagner
Professor
Kinesiology and Health Science
Admissions
Prerequisite Requirements
The MFP degree aims to meet the needs of students who desire to or currently hold a position within the field of health fitness, who do not foresee pursuing a PhD or a career as a researcher. Student’s extensive fieldwork (practicum) experience during the program further ensures a practical benchmark for a career as a health-fitness professional.
Candidates for the MFP program are preferred to have an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as Kinesiology, Exercise or Sport Sciences. If a candidate has earned a degree in another field they could still be considered for admission in this program but may be required to complete prerequisite undergraduate courses such as Human Anatomy & Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, and Anatomical Kinesiology.
Application Requirements
Applicants desiring to enroll in the fitness promotion program must be admitted to the Utah State University School of Graduate studies. As students start an application they will create a log-in that will allow them to come back in and complete their applications. The application has two parts, the initial application and the supplemental items. Students must complete the initial application and pay the application fee before you can access the supplemental materials.
The supplemental materials require the following:
- Provide transcripts from all previously-attended colleges and universities to be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. USU alumni do not need to provide USU transcripts; the School of Graduate Studies have access and will pull them for you.
Transcripts sent by physical mail should be mailed to:
School of Graduate Studies
Utah State University
0900 Old Main Hill
Logan, Ut 84322-0900
Transcripts sent through the electronic clearinghouse should be emailed to graduateadmissions@usu.edu.
- Admission GPA of 3.0 or above. The admissions GPA is calculated based on the last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits taken, not the overall GPA.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation should be professional references and at least two (2) letters should come from faculty members.
- Letters come directly from the referee, not the students. Students will include the contact information for referees in the application. The referees will then be contacted with instructions to submit the letters for the student.
- Statement of purpose responding to and addressing the questions stated in the prompt below:
- Prompt: In 500 words or less, please answer the following questions. Why do you want to pursue a graduate degree in Kinesiology? What are your career goals and how do you foresee a master’s degree in Kinesiology helping you toward that goal? There are literally over 200 graduate programs for Kinesiology in the United States alone. Why do you want to be part of the master’s program at USU (specifically), rather than another program? If you have any undergraduate research experience, please include that in this essay (e.g., what was your role, did you present the research at a conference, is the research published).
- Submission of the Admissions Survey as a portfolio in the supplemental materials of the application.
- International students have additional requirements to meet
- Copy of passport
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Certified English Translations of Transcripts
For more information visit the USU Grad School website, steps to apply.
Admission Deadlines
Fall semester
July 1 domestic students
May 1 for international students
Spring Semester
December 1
Estimated Cost of the Program
$17,626.31*
*Tuition and fees vary based on factors such as residency, student location (zip code), number of credits taken, and student level (undergraduate vs. graduate). Rates also change each year. This estimate assumes a Utah resident studying in the Logan area, completing the program in two years (four semesters), based on the current year’s tuition and fees.
USU Registrar Tuition & Payment 2025-2026 Tuition and Fee Table
Assistanships
The KHS Department offers graduate assistantship (GA) opportunities for students in Logan, Utah, who have been accepted into a KHS graduate program. To be considered for a GA position, students must complete both the GA application (submitted directly to the department) and the Graduate School admissions application by March 1. Assistantship positions are awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters.
More information: KHS Graduate Assistantships
Program Requirements
The primary focus of the degree is to acquire advanced skills specific to a profession in a health fitness setting. In addition to some of the same courses that MS students take (i.e., Advanced Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics), MFP students take courses in ECG interpretation and Health Psychology, as well as health- and wellness-related electives from other departments (e.g., Nutritional Epidemiology, Sociology of Health, etc.).
New Student Orientation
The MFP program organizes an orientation session for its incoming students. Upon acceptance into the program, students can expect to receive an email from the program director containing comprehensive details, including the confirmed date and other essential information about the orientation event.
Advising
Students in the KHS department receive guidance from both the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) and their Major Professor (faculty advisor/mentor). Together, these advisors help students meet program and graduation requirements, offering support throughout their progress toward earning a degree.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Graduate Program Coordinators (GPCs) are an important connection between graduate students, their departments, and the School of Graduate Studies. GPCs assist with graduate school paperwork, registration issues, deadlines, and degree completion requirements. They are often the first point of contact for student questions or concerns. If you're unsure who to contact, start with the GPC.
Major Professor/Faculty Advisor
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor by the program director when they enter the program. The advisor helps guide course selection, supports career planning, and assists with completing program requirements such as the internship and creative project. Advisors typically work with students throughout the program, though changes can be made if needed. Until an advisor is assigned, students can reach out to the program director with any questions.
Practicum Experience
As part of the Master of Fitness Promotion (MFP) degree, students complete an internship that combines coursework with hands-on fieldwork. This includes a total of 6 internship credits, typically spread over two years. During the first year, students complete 2 credits working with USU Employee Wellness, gaining experience in corporate wellness programs and fitness assessments. In the second year, students complete a 4-credit off-campus practicum, which involves at least 200 contact hours at a health or wellness facility.
Students work closely with their faculty mentors to select practicum sites that align with their career goals. The practicum offers valuable opportunities to observe and learn from professionals while gaining practical experience in areas of interest.
Internship
The internship is a vital part of the MFP practicum, giving students real-world experience to apply their knowledge and prepare for careers as health and fitness professionals.
- Students must complete a minimum of 6 internship credits (1 credit = 50 hours).
- Typically 2 credits are completed on-campus with USU Employee Wellness in the first year.
- The remaining 4 credits are completed off-campus during the secondy year.
Students meet with their faculty advisor to discuss career goals and potential internship sites. They are encouraged to find and contact sites themselves, with advisors providing guidance and suggestions.
Before starting the internship, students hold a proposal meeting with their supervisory committee to:
- Present and approve the chosen practicum site.
- Set clear goals and objectives for the internship.
- Decide how to track hours and document the experience.
At the end of the internship, students present a summary of their work, learning outcomes, and how they met their objectives to their committee.
Ultimately, students are responsible for indentifying and securing their own internship placements.
General Program Requirements
To complete the program, students must fulfill all required courses and credit hours. In special cases, the student’s committee may approve elective courses outside the listed curriculum. Students with prior preparation who have completed elements of the core curriculum may substitute a required core course with another course that offers relevant content in physical education teaching.
- At least 15 credits must be at the 6000 level or above.
- Coursework below the 5000 level should be outside the student's graduate field and must be approved.
- Undergraduate or prerequisite courses are not included in the POS.
- Up to 12 transfer credits earned before starting at USU may count toward the program with approval and must be reported to the GPC.
- Credits in foreign languages, continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses below the 5000 level are not accepted.
| Total Credits | 36 |
| Minimum GPA* | 3.0 |
| Minimum Grade* | C |
| Completion of Internship and/or Master Project requirement | |
| Completion of all required Graduate School forms | |
*To earn a 3.0 GPA or higher, students must maintain a B average or better. While grades of C are allowed, they lower the overall GPA. To offset a C grade, students must earn A grades in two other courses with equivalent credits.