Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico
College of Communication and Education

Kinesiology MA

${image.alt}
  • Program Type

    Graduate

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

Request Information About This Program

In the kinesiology master’s program at Chico State, students work to develop, apply, and advance knowledge of human movement and lifelong physical health and well-being.

Dive into the science of how our bodies move in the biomechanics laboratory or the exercise physiology laboratory. Work with adults and teens with disabilities in our Beyond Exercise: Wellness Enhancement for Life program. Inspire others to lead active lifestyles through student-led community runs, clinics, and school programs. When you graduate, you'll be ready for careers in adapted physical activity, biomechanics, coaching, teaching, physiology, and sport and exercise psychology.

Students working on equipment during kinesiology lab

Comprehensive Graduate Curriculum

Our program includes a wide variety of graduate courses in biomechanical analysis, teacher education, exercise physiology, coaching, adapted physical activity, and sport and exercise psychology to prepare you for a variety of careers, doctoral studies in kinesiology or related fields, and professional certifications.

Lay the Groundwork for Your Future

Help promote whole-person wellness in a variety of settings. Our areas of study include:

  • Adapted Physical Education
  • Biomechanics
  • Coaching
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Pedagogy
  • Sport and Exercise Psychology

Career Outlook

Careers related to kinesiology are growing faster than the national average for all other occupations. Graduates go on to have successful jobs as:

  • exercise physiologists
  • clinical rehabilitation specialists
  • adapted physical activity specialists
  • strength and conditioning coaches
  • sport coaches
  • research lab assistants
A person using a pipet in a lab setting

Cutting-Edge Labs for Student Research

Students learn to develop research questions and conduct faculty-mentored research in the Exercise Physiology Lab, equipped with a variety of contemporary equipment and technology for exercise testing (metabolic cart, portable metabolic system, Biodex, treadmills, ECG, core temperature device, hypobaric chamber, analyzers for cholesterol, ect.)

Staff member helping a child play in the autism clinic.

On-Campus Autism Clinic

Under the supervision of a clinician, you can help teach, plan activities, and work with autistic individuals in our on-campus Autism Clinic. The sports equipment ranges from buckets of balls, stacks of Frisbees, and hula hoops to basketball hoops, BOSU balance balls, and a foam pit.

close up student portrait
“
The Chico State Kinesiology Master’s Program provided a wide variety of individualized learning opportunities that could be adapted to my interests and specialization.
Claire Abele (Exercise Physiology, ’21; MA, Kinesiology ’23)

Turn Your Love into a Career

Some kinesiology graduates choose to further their education by enrolling in medical or physical therapy school. On the other hand, many graduates choose to become researchers or teachers in hopes of advancing our society's understanding of human movement.

  • Three students are standing in a lab with a professor while one preforms a test with a pipet.

    Mentorships

    Feedback from recent grads notes the caring, dedicated, and expert faculty that provide individualized attention to graduate students.

  • A person laying on an x-ray table

    Advanced equipment and labs

    Large lab spaces with high-speed infrared cameras, force plates, EMG systems, Biodex, and more.

Students helping a patient do pullups while holding his legs and a wheel chair below the patient.

Supportive and Close Culture Among Students

Many students join one of the department’s clubs to meet like-minded individuals. In addition, the Exercise Physiology Research Forum provides students with an avenue to engage with content experts in the field from across the country and the Campus Research Symposium competition is an opportunity for students to share their work in a public forum.

Discover Stories and More

Chico State Today
/

Additional Information

Ready to earn your MA in Kinesiology? Please review the most common questions to learn more about deadlines, financial aid, and who to contact to learn more.

All prospective students must first apply for graduate admissions through Cal State Apply. Supplementary materials will either be collected electronically via Cal State Apply.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: April 1
  • Spring: November 1 (October 1 for international applicants)

Supplemental Materials

Aubrey Newland
Graduate Program Coordinator
530-898-4896
anewland1@csuchico.edu

ADAPTED Grant (personnel training grant in Adapted Physical Education): This grant funding is for students pursing their added authorization in adapted physical education, or their master’s degree in adapted physical activity. Eligible students can apply for a federally funded grant to cover their education costs (up to $27,000). 

Graduate students can qualify for traditional financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

Scholarship Opportunities

California State University, Chico, provides merit and scholarship awards to deserving students for graduate studies, and many go unfilled. Scholarships are provided based on a variety of criteria, including academic merit, financial need, participation in clubs and activities, volunteer and community involvement, major and career goals, etc.

Assistantships

A limited number of Graduate and Teaching Assistantships are available through the Department of Kinesiology. Graduate Assistants (GAs) are available to qualified students with experience in sport, fitness, or related fields. Teaching Associate (TAs) are also available to qualified students. Positions are posted on Handshake when open.

Contact Graduate Program Coordinator Aubrey Newland at anewland1@csuchico.edu for additional information about GA/TA opportunities.

The typical pool for our graduate students is from kinesiology departments, but you can still pursue this degree if your undergraduate degree was in a different field. You may be required to take some prerequisites depending upon your selected area of emphasis. Frequently, we recommend non-kinesiology majors take human anatomy and human physiology from an accredited college or university as they are applying to the program. Talk to the graduate coordinator for details.

The MA in kinesiology is a 30-unit program that can be completed in two years.

Related Programs