Adapted Physical Activity

Why Adapted Physical Activity and SRU?

Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. The Master of Science Degree in Adapted Physical Activity is designed for professionals who want to reinvent the future. Those who want to create and lead programs that help people with disabilities stay active and healthy. It is the only master's degree of its kind in the United States that welcomes undergraduates with degrees in areas such as physical education, teacher education, exercise science, recreational therapy, special education, athletic training or other related fields.

How does SRU prepare its APA grads?

The Master of Science Degree in Adapted Physical Activity provides each student with the tools to be successful in advocating and providing opportunities for persons with disabilities across the lifespan. Health promotion for the health status of persons with disabilities is a critical emerging need in the human service profession. As such, it is an employment market that is growing as quickly as physical activity fields. The SRU APA program believes in empowering persons with disabilities by educating individuals about proper nutrition and fitness, providing vocational services for competitive integrated employment opportunities and advocating for independent living and increased quality of life.

The Master of Science degree in Adapted Physical Activity can help you find your calling by providing hands-on experience through the following programs:

• Kids in Action - An after-school program that specializes in youth with autism between the ages of 5-12 and their siblings.
• Transition Achievement Program (TAP) - APA students help to serve SRU's transition service program that provides job training, physical activity, health and life-skills training that prepare high school students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities for independent living. Possibly leading to integrated employment or post-secondary education.
• Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS) - Through Special Olympics, Slippery Rock has teamed up with regional school districts to provide PIAA sanctioned competition. Students coach high school teams, comprised of athletes with intellectual disabilities and partners without disabilities.
• Veterans with Disabilities (VETS) - Graduate students have an opportunity to help Veterans from the VA hospital in Butler improve skills through fun, organized activities that you help design.
• Rock Life - A fully-inclusive college experience for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Students have an opportunity to serve as a mentor. For more information please click to visit: SRU Rock Life
• And many more opportunities that include working with individuals who are blind or visually impaired through sport, pre-K students, and Special Olympics!

What can you do with an Adapted Physical Activity degree from SRU?

Graduates of the Master of Science in Adapted Physical Activity can find rewarding careers that can separate you from your peers such as specialists in school districts as an adapted physical education professional (APE), advanced recreation therapy positions, fitness center positions, community-based agencies focusing on health promotion and physical activity for persons with disabilities, indoor and outdoor sport and recreation opportunities, and possible job creation due to your unique skills working with individuals with disabilities.

To join our one of a kind 30 credit Master's Program that can be completed in three semesters the following must be completed:

• Online Application
• Application Fee
• 750-Word Essay - describing why this degree will help reach the applicant's career goals
• Two Letters of Recommendation - one must be from an undergraduate professor (student is responsible for sending form link to evaluator)
• Official Transcripts- Undergraduate/Graduate (Official transcripts must be sent by institution via electronic transcript e-share to graduate.admissions@sru.edu or via mail- faxed copies will not be considered official)