Briene Simmons arrives around 10:30 each morning at the Multi-Sport Complex for practice, hours before any of her teammates show up.

Occasionally, fellow graduate student Shana Cox will be there -- "We might smile at each other," Simmons said -- but more often, it's just Simmons and her coaches.

The class schedules of Simmons and Cox, the two graduate students on Penn State's women's track and field team, preclude the two from working out with the rest of the group.

When the rest of the team arrives for its practice at 2:45 p.m., Simmons is usually off to class, fulfilling a 12-credit schedule in Penn State's health administration Master's program.

One day, Simmons hopes to open up her own medical practice, either as an administrator or using her bachelor's degree in psychology as a stepping stone to pediatrics.

Until that day, Simmons will finish her athletic career as she adapts to practicing aside from the team.

"Practicing alone has helped me become a more mature athlete," Simmons said. "I've learned to become a self-motivator."

The routine for Cox has also been disrupted.

As an undergraduate student, she would attend morning classes and then go to practice.

Her practice schedule is now sandwiched around pursuing a Master's degree in human resources and public relations.

Cox is taking nine credits this semester.

"Everything I do has a purpose, which is the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing," Cox said.

Simmons' father, Jerome, earned his Master's degree, but following in her father's footsteps wasn't a motivating factor. Instead, Simmons' field is beginning to require a Master's degree as an entry-level education requirement.

"I don't really judge my success based on what they've done," Simmons said of her parents. "I look at where I want to be."

Most of the time, that's with her nose in a book.

Simmons' graduate program requires more reading than her bachelor's degree required, and she was up late Tuesday night catching up with her reading assignments.

Simmons also is involved in more group projects.

"There's a lot less busy work, I'd say," Simmons said.

Cox and Simmons have overcome injuries in their careers, yet they still graduated in four years.

Penn State coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said that work speaks "loudly about the type of people they are."

"Not only are they committed to their running and producing here at Penn State, but also to their academics," she said.

"To be able to be in a grad program and run is pretty cool."