Most students begin the graduate program by attending a summer session (begins the second week of June each year). Individuals must successfully maintain a 3.0 G.P.A. while completing 30 units of coursework and then pass comprehensive examinations in the core classes. The core classes are: Kinesiology 200, 205, 220, 230, and 270.

Comprehensive examinations are given at the end of the second summer session for the year-round students and at the end of the third summer session for the summer-based program students. If approved by the faculty, a few students in the 25 month program maychoose to write a thesis in lieu of the comprehensive exams.