Graduate Studies

Kinesiology (MA)

Areas of Study

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

Application Deadlines

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

Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and an article critique.

Program Coordinator
Aubrey Newland


A student reaches out her arm while another smiling students takes vitals

Is the MA in kinesiology for you?

Do any of the following describe you?

  • Love doing research.
  • Curious about the science of human movement from many different perspectives such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, and/or sport/exercise psychology.
  • Excited about human movement from the pedagogical perspective such as coaching, physical education, fitness/wellness, and/or adapted physical education.
  • Interested in being a professor or instructor in post-secondary education in the future.

Students gathered around a table examine a person lying prone in a lab.

Do these jobs sound interesting to you?

Our alumni are:

  • Head coaches at junior colleges
  • Fitness specialists at Google and Apple
  • Elementary and high school PE teachers
  • Professional baseball player

Other possibilities are:

  • CEO of Seattle Storm and Force 10 Sports
  • College/university instructors
  • Medical center cardio rehab specialist
  • Assistant strength and conditioning coach, Anaheim Ducks (National Hockey League)

A woman on an exercise mat raises her hand above the ground in a pose.

Is this the kind of salary you are seeking?

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows the following outlook for Athletic Trainers(opens in new window):

Median Pay
$48,420 per year

Job Outlook
17% (Much faster than average)

Environment
Many athletic trainers work in educational settings, such as colleges, universities, elementary schools, and secondary schools. Others work in hospitals, fitness centers, or physicians’ offices, or for professional sports teams.


Students conduct a variety of lab skills

What if my bachelor’s isn’t in kinesiology?

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. In that case, you’ll be required to take some prerequisites in human anatomy, human physiology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology to bring you up to speed. 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.

Students gather around department sign

How long will it take?

  • The MA in kinesiology is a 30-unit program that can be completed in two years.
  • The length of study often depends on which culminating experience you choose. Typically, if students choose comprehensive exams, they can graduate within three to four semesters. With the thesis/project, it can take two more semesters to complete—sometimes longer. At the same time, we have had committed students complete their research project and move on to PhD studies in two years.

What is it like to be an kinesiology master’s student?

A student intently watches and takes vital signs while a subject with breathing tubes exercises.

Advanced equipment and labs

  • Use cutting-edge technology and equipment in biomechanics and exercise physiology labs. 
  • Large lab spaces with high-speed infrared cameras, force plates, EMG systems, Biodex, and more.

Faculty member instructs student with participant in a lab.

Engaged faculty 

  • Faculty guidance to actively engage in research and creative projects.
  • Present at regional, national, and international conferences.
  • Cross-disciplinary exposure to the study of human movement.

Two smiling students work in a lab with instructor feedback.

Hands-on learning

  • Training in laboratory and field research.
  • Preparation to take on the challenges of research, teaching, and leadership.

Here's What Our Students are Doing

Danielle Jones gets her MA

Leading the way

Graduate student Danielle Jones teaches an exercise physiology lab and is the president of the Strength and Conditioning Club.


Child mobility research

Research on children's mobility

Master’s alum and University of British Columbia doctoral candidate Negin Riazi is conducting research on children’s independent mobility and evaluating population-level physical activity initiatives and policy-level interventions.


XiaoPing Fan master's student

Assistantship in program

Master’s alum XiaoPing Fan received an assistantship to University of Northern Colorado PhD program in sport pedagogy.