MS in Kinesiology

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Complete transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field Applicants for graduate study may come from the entire spectrum of undergraduate fields, or from other health professions such as medicine or nursing. A degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science or from a related area is preferred for applicants to the Clinical Exercise Physiology concentration. Some applicants may not meet all course prerequisites without having to take selected additional undergraduate course work. Minimum prerequisites for full admission to graduate study can be obtained from the department.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study and 3.50/4.00 for all graduate work
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
    • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
  • Letters of Recommendation Two required.
  • Personal Statement Required.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 32 for thesis or project options. 40 for course-work-only.
  • Course Work
    • MS students completing a thesis or project will generally take 27 hours of course work and independent research and then earn 5 hours for the thesis or project.
    • Students who complete the 40-hour, course-work-only option are required to take at least 12 hours at the 500 level.
Required Course for All Students (irrespective of concentration)
Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition
Concentration-Specific Curriculum a
Exercise Physiology
Required Courses:
Advanced Exercise Programming and Assessment
Applied Exercise Physiology
The remaining hours are met by a combination of relevant electives and/or independent study
Psychology of Exercise
Required Courses:
Intervention Design and Evaluation in Kinesiology and Nutrition
Physical Activity Intervention in Diverse Populations
The remaining hours are met by a combination of relevant electives and/or independent study
Biomechanics
Required Courses:
Aging and the Motor System
Movement Neuroscience
Biomechanics of Human Locomotion
Biomechanics of Normal and Abnormal Movement
The remaining hours are met by a combination of relevant electives and/or independent study
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Required Courses:
Foundations and Organization of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
Advanced Electrocardiography
Graded Exercise Testing and Interpretation
Advanced Exercise Programming and Assessment
Exercise Pharmacology
Applied Exercise Physiology
Human Bioenergetics
Clinical Rotations in Exercise Physiology
Internship in Kinesiology
The remaining hours are met by a combination of internships, relevant electives, and/or independent study
Performance, Sports, and Exercise Psychology
Required Courses:
Foundations of Positive Psychology b
Sociocultural Perspectives in Performance, Sport and Exercise Psychology b
Business Branding in Performance, Sport and Exercise Psychology
Mental Health in Athletics b
Professional Preparation
Applied Performance, Sport and Exercise Psychology
Cultural Humility
Consulting Theories and Skills
Professional Ethics in Performance, Sport and Exercise Psychology
Practicum in Health, Exercise and Sport Behavior Applications
Internship in Kinesiology
The remaining hours are met by a combination of internships, relevant electives, and/or independent study
a

Grades lower than B in the required concentration courses will not be counted toward the degree. In addition, students cannot graduate with a grade of less than B in any of the required concentration courses; students earning less than a B must retake the course until a grade of B or higher is earned, but receiving two grades lower than B in the same concentration course will result in dismissal from the graduate program. 

b

If students have already taken an aligned course at another institution, this course can count as an elective.

  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Students in the concentrations in Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, or Psychology of Exercise can select the thesis, project, or course-work-only option. The concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology and the concentration in Performance, Sports, and Exercise Physiology are course work only.
    • Thesis: A minimum of 5 hours of KN 598 is required; generally 6 hours are taken.
    • Project: A minimum of 5 hours of KN 597 is required; generally 6 hours are taken.
    • Course Work Only: 40 hours course work only.