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Kinesiology M.S.

Kinesiology, School of

College of Education and Human Development

Link to a list of faculty for this program.

Contact Information

School of Kinesiology, 1900 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-5300; fax: 612-626-7700).

Email: kin@umn.edu

Website: https://www.cehd.umn.edu/kin/graduate/kin-ms/

Program Type: Master's
Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2023
Length of program in credits: 30
This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
Degree: Master of Science

Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.

The School of Kinesiology spans a wide range of inquiry connected by the common thread of the study of human movement. Graduate programs reflect a broad study of physical activity ranging from exercise science, movement science, and human performance, to physical activity and sport science and sport management. Much of the research conducted in the school is interdisciplinary in nature and involves collaborative partnerships with life science disciplines such as medicine, neuroscience, and epidemiology and fosters links with business, education, and social sciences. MS students pursue an individualized program with an emphasis in one of the following areas: biomechanics and neuromotor control; exercise physiology; perceptual-motor control and learning; physical activity and health promotion; sport and exercise psychology; sport sociology.

Program Delivery

This program is available:

via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)

Prerequisites for Admission

The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.00.

Other requirements to be completed before admission:

Although prospective masters students generally have an undergraduate degree in kinesiology or the health sciences, others with a baccalaureate degree who have related preparation and a significant background and interest in the scientific study of physical activity may be admitted.

Special Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit a University of Minnesota Graduate Admissions application which includes a written statement of academic interests, goals, and objectives; three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their scholarship and research potential; a scholarly writing sample; and transcripts. Priority deadline for submission of all application materials is December 1 for the following fall admission. Students generally are admitted for the fall semester only.

International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:

TOEFL
- Internet Based - Total Score: 79
- Internet Based - Writing Score: 21
- Internet Based - Reading Score: 19
- Paper Based - Total Score: 550
IELTS
- Total Score: 6.5
- Reading Score: 6.5
- Writing Score: 6.5
MELAB
- Final score: 80

The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.

Key to test abbreviations (TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).

For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.

Program Requirements

Plan A: Plan A requires 14 major credits, 6 credits outside the major, and 10 thesis credits. The final exam is oral.

Plan B: Plan B requires 18 major credits and 12 credits outside the major. The final exam is oral. A capstone project is required.

Capstone Project:The Plan B project is an independent research project with the advisor that meets the following guidelines: Involves a total of approximately 120 hours of work; demonstrates familiarity with the tools of research and scholarship in the field of kinesiology; demonstrates the ability to work independently; and demonstrates the ability to effectively present the results of the investigation.

This program may be completed with a minor.

Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.

A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for students to remain in good standing.

The MS is offered under Plan A and Plan B. Plan A requires 30 credits, including at least 14 course credits in kinesiology, 6 course credits in a minor or related field (either of which must include a minimum of 3 credits in statistics as determined by faculty advisor) and 10 thesis credits (8777). Plan B also requires 30 credits, including at least 14 major course credits in kinesiology, a capstone project of 4 credits in KIN 8995, at least 6 course credits in a minor or related field (either of which must include a minimum of 3 credits in statistics as determined by faculty advisor), and 6 additional credits in any of these areas. For both Plan A and Plan B, students must take KIN 5981 (3 cr), KIN 8980 (3 cr), and in the related field or minor, at least 3 credits of statistics or equivalent as defined by the faculty advisor. A GPA of at least 3.00 is required to maintain good academic standing and to graduate. A maximum of 9 credits of 4xxx-level courses is allowed at the discretion of the faculty advisor.

Required courses

Students must complete the following courses and an area of emphasis listed below.

KIN 5981 - Research Methodology in Kinesiology and Sport Management (3.0 cr)

KIN 8980 - Graduate Research Seminar in Kinesiology (3.0 cr)

Plan A

Plan A students must take 10 credits of KIN 8777.

KIN 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's (1.0-18.0 cr)

Plan B

Plan B students must take 4 credits of KIN 8995.

KIN 8995 - Research Problems in Kinesiology (1.0-12.0 cr)

Emphasis Areas

Kinesiology MS students concentrate their studies in one of the following areas: biomechanics and neuromotor control, exercise physiology, perceptual-motor control and learning, physical activity and health promotion, sport and exercise psychology, or sport sociology.

Biomechanics and Neuromotor Control

The study of human biomechanics with its focus on the mechanical and electrophysiological analysis of human motion is combined with the study of movement neuroscience. This emphasis area provides advanced knowledge for understanding how the human nervous system controls movement and how the neurological disease affects motor function.

Recommended Courses

A minimum of 8 major course credits (not including KIN 8777) are needed outside of the requirements and may be chosen from the following list.

KIN 4441 - Movement Neuroscience (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5235 - Advanced Biomechanics II: Kinetics (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5643 - Applied Motion Capture and Movement Analysis Technology (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5941 - Clinical Movement Neuroscience (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8132 - Seminar: Motor Development (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8135 - Seminar: Motor Control and Learning (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8211 - Seminar: Perception and Action (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8995 - Research Problems in Kinesiology (1.0-12.0 cr)

or RSC 5135 - Advanced Biomechanics I: Kinematics (3.0 cr)

Minor or related field

Either minor or related field is chosen, Plan A and Plan B students must take one statistics course with the consultation with their advisor. Plan A students take an additional 3 related-field (other emphasis areas of KIN or outside programs) credits and Plan B students take an additional 9 related-field credits in consultation with the advisor. Recommended courses for related fields are listed below. Recommended minor is clinical physiology and movement science.

EPSY 8264 - Advanced Multiple Regression Analysis (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8267 - Applied Multivariate Analysis (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 6450 - Biostatistics I (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 6451 - Biostatistics II (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 7405 - Biostatistical Inference I (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 7406 - Biostatistical Inference II (3.0 cr)

or STAT 5021 - Statistical Analysis (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5302 - Applied Regression Analysis (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5303 - Designing Experiments (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5601 - Nonparametric Methods (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5987 - Professional Skills and Grant Writing for Health Sciences (2.0 cr)

-OR-

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology is the study of issues related to acute and chronic effects of physical activity on human physiological systems and health, and how fundamental concepts of human energetics and mechanics apply to exercise, sport, physical exertion, and health promotion. In addition to the MS requirements, students choose courses from the following lists with advisor consultation.

Plan A and Plan B students take a minimum of 8 major course credits chosen from the following list.

KIN 5122 - Applied Exercise Physiology (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5141 - Nutrition and Exercise for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5142 - Applied Nutrition for Sport Performance and Optimal Health (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5328 - International Sport: The Impact of the Olympic Games [HIS, GP] (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5385 - Exercise for Healthy Aging & Disease Prevention and Management (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5435 - Advanced Theory and Techniques of Exercise Science (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5485 - Exercise Testing and Prescription (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8122 - Seminar: Exercise Physiology (2.0 cr)

or EDHD 8300 - Special Topics in Education and Human Development (1.0-8.0 cr)

Minor or related field

EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 6450 - Biostatistics I (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 6451 - Biostatistics II (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 7405 - Biostatistical Inference I (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 7406 - Biostatistical Inference II (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 7430 - Statistical Methods for Correlated Data (3.0 cr)

or STAT 5021 - Statistical Analysis (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5302 - Applied Regression Analysis (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5303 - Designing Experiments (4.0 cr)

or STAT 5601 - Nonparametric Methods (3.0 cr)

-OR-

Perceptual-Motor Control and Learning

Students study the learning of movement skills and the factors that mediate learning as well as the changes in movement behavior over the life span and the processes or factors underlying these changes. In addition to the MS requirements, students choose courses from the following lists with advisor consultation. Registration for KIN 5992 is limited to 3 credits. A maximum of 9 4xxx level courses can be taken at the discretion of the advisor and used to satisfy master credit requirement.

Recommended courses

Plan A and Plan B students take a minimum of 8 major course credits chosen from the following list.

KIN 4133 - Perceptual-Motor Control and Learning (3.0 cr)

or KIN 4134 - The Aging Motor System (3.0 cr)

or KIN 4136 - Embodied Cognition (3.0 cr)

or KIN 4441 - Movement Neuroscience (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5235 - Advanced Biomechanics II: Kinetics (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5643 - Applied Motion Capture and Movement Analysis Technology (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5941 - Clinical Movement Neuroscience (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5992 - Readings in Kinesiology (1.0-9.0 cr)

or KIN 8132 - Seminar: Motor Development (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8135 - Seminar: Motor Control and Learning (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8211 - Seminar: Perception and Action (3.0 cr)

or HUMF 5001 - Foundations of Human Factors/Ergonomics (3.0 cr)

or RSC 5135 - Advanced Biomechanics I: Kinematics (3.0 cr)

Minor or related field

EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

-OR-

Physical Activity and Health Promotion

The emphasis area in Physical Activity and Health promotion is intended to provide students with advanced study in physical activity and health promotion and disease prevention, as well as study designs from an epidemiological approach. The emphasis area provides a solid foundation sufficient to understand and conduct research in this field. In addition to the MS requirements, students choose courses from the following lists with advisor consultation.

Recommended Courses

A minimum of 8-semester course credits with KIN prefix and may be chosen from the following list.

KIN 5202 - Current Issues in Health (2.0 cr)

or KIN 5203 - Health Media, Consumerism, and Communication (2.0 cr)

or KIN 5123 - Motivational Interventions in Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5125 - Advances in Physical Activity and Health (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5126 - Social Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5141 - Nutrition and Exercise for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5385 - Exercise for Healthy Aging & Disease Prevention and Management (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5720 - Special Topics in Kinesiology (2.0-4.0 cr)

or KIN 8126 - Sports Medicine Psychology (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8136 - Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology (3.0 cr)

Minor or related field

EPSY 5247 - Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5262 - Intermediate Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8252 - Statistical Methods in Education II (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 6094 - Interventions to Address Weight-Related Health and Eating Disorders (2.0 cr)

or PUBH 6450 - Biostatistics I (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 6451 - Biostatistics II (4.0 cr)

or PUBH 6636 - Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health Practice (2.0 cr)

or PUBH 6810 - Survey Research Methods (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 6914 - Community Nutrition Intervention (3.0 cr)

-OR-

Sport and Exercise Psychology

The Sport and Exercise Psychology emphasis focuses on the thoughts, feelings, and actions of participants and professionals within physical activity contexts such as competitive sports, sports medicine and rehabilitation, exercise, and physical education. Scholars seek to understand the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and social mechanisms underlying interactions between the psychology of individual participants and influences of psychological climates within physical activity settings.

Recommended Courses

For Plan A and Plan B, a minimum of 8 major course credits are needed and may be chosen from the following list.

KIN 5123 - Motivational Interventions in Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5126 - Social Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5136 - Psychology of Coaching (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5723 - Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8126 - Sports Medicine Psychology (3.0 cr)

or KIN 8136 - Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology (3.0 cr)

Minor or related field

CPSY 5301 - Advanced Developmental Psychology (3.0 cr)

or CPSY 5302 - Cognitive and Biological Development (3.0 cr)

or CSPH 5706 - Lifestyle Medicine (2.0 cr)

or CSPH 5807 - Mindfulness in the Workplace: Pause, Practice, Perform (2.0 cr)

or EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5401 - Counseling Procedures (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5402 - Counseling History and Theories (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5406 - Ethics in Counseling (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I (3.0 cr)

or GRAD 8101 - Teaching in Higher Education (3.0 cr)

or GRAD 8200 - Teaching and Learning Topics in Higher Education (1.0 cr)

or KIN 5371 - Sport and Society (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5511 - Sport and Gender (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5601 - Sport Management Ethics and Policy (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5725 - Organization and Management of Physical Education and Sport (3.0 cr)

or PREV 8001 - Prevention Science: Principles and Practices (3.0 cr)

or PREV 8002 - Prevention Science Research Methodology (3.0 cr)

or PREV 8003 - New Topics in Prevention: Implementation and Dissemination (3.0 cr)

or PSY 5207 - Personality and Social Behavior (3.0 cr)

or PSY 8208 - Social Psychology: The Self (3.0 cr)

or PSY 8617 - Ethical and Equitable Decisions in Clinical Science and Counseling Psychology (3.0 cr)

or PUBH 6020 - Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science (2.0 cr)

or PUBH 6120 - Injury Prevention in the Workplace, Community, and Home (2.0 cr)

or PUBH 6320 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3.0 cr)

-OR-

Sport Sociology

Sport sociology is the scientific study of human behavior and social organization in the sport context, focusing on behavior patterns and social processes that occur in the organizational and management systems in which sport exists. The program is housed in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, an interdisciplinary research institute. In addition to the MS requirements, students choose courses from the following lists with advisor consultation.

Recommended Courses

For Plan A and Plan B, a minimum of 8 major course credits are needed may be chosen from the following list.

KIN 5123 - Motivational Interventions in Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5126 - Social Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5136 - Psychology of Coaching (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5371 - Sport and Society (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5511 - Sport and Gender (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5725 - Organization and Management of Physical Education and Sport (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5801 - Legal Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity (4.0 cr)

or KIN 8136 - Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology (3.0 cr)

Minor or related field

AMST 5412 - Comparative Indigenous Feminisms [GP] (3.0 cr)

or COMM 5221 - Media, Race, and Identity (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5247 - Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I (3.0 cr)

or EPSY 8252 - Statistical Methods in Education II (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 5104 - Transnational Feminist Theory (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 5190 - Topics: Theory, Knowledge, and Power (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 5406 - Black Feminist Thought in the American and African Diasporas (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 8101 - Intellectual History of Feminism (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 8102 - Advanced Studies in Sexuality (3.0 cr)

or GWSS 8103 - Feminist Theories of Knowledge (3.0 cr)

or KIN 5601 - Sport Management Ethics and Policy (3.0 cr)

or PSY 8209 - Research Methods in Social Psychology (3.0 cr)

or SOC 4451 - Sport, Culture & Society (3.0 cr)

or SOC 8801 - Sociological Research Methods (4.0 cr)

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Kinesiology M.S.

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Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
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Typically offered:	Every Fall

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Typically offered:	Every Fall

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Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

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Course Equivalencies:	RSc 5135/RSc 8135
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Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

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Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

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Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer

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Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

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Typically offered:	Every Fall

Credits:	1.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Credits:	2.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer