Admission
Admission to the Online M.S. in Kinesiology program is based on a comprehensive review of each applicant’s potential for success in graduate study and the profession. The admissions committee evaluates applicants holistically, considering a variety of factors beyond minimum eligibility criteria. These include the applicant’s personal statement, which should clearly articulate academic and professional interests, motivation for pursuing graduate study in our program, and alignment with the program’s mission. Additional factors include the applicant’s academic preparation, relevant professional or research experiences, and letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic ability, professional competence, and potential for success in advanced study. Overall, admission decisions reflect a careful assessment of each candidate’s capacity to thrive in a rigorous, research-informed, and applied learning environment. Students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds are welcome to apply.
Applicants with a strong foundation in human movement, behavioral science, and research methods are best prepared for graduate-level study. The following sections outline both minimum eligibility requirements and preferred preparatory coursework that can strengthen an application and ensure readiness for graduate coursework.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission, applicants must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Kinesiology or a related field from an accredited four-year college or university.
- Have completed coursework in biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control/learning, applied kinesiology, or functional anatomy, as well as a course in sport or exercise psychology, each with a grade of C or better.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units of undergraduate coursework.*
*If you do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement, your application may still be considered with a GPA of 2.75 or better.
Applicants who do not meet all admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission upon approval by the Graduate Program Director and the Admissions Committee. In such cases, specific criteria will be established on an individual basis, and students must fulfill these requirements to advance to classified standing in the program.
Conditional Admission
Preferred Coursework Preparation Pathway
Applicants whose undergraduate degree is not in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or a related field are encouraged to complete the following preferred preparatory coursework prior to application. This pathway is designed to help students from other disciplines (e.g., psychology, biology, public health) develop the necessary scientific and methodological foundation for graduate study in Kinesiology.
Completion of this coursework is preferred but not required for admission.
Lower-Division Preferred Coursework (Community College or University Level)
Students are encouraged to complete lower-division courses that build a foundational understanding of human biology, anatomy, and basic statistics—subjects that provide the biological and quantitative basis for understanding movement and exercise. Recommended lower-division coursework includes human anatomy and physiology (with labs), introductory statistics, general psychology and introduction to kinesiology.
These lower-division courses develop essential competencies for advanced study in Kinesiology, such as understanding the structure and function of the human body, interpreting behavioral and psychological principles, and performing basic data analysis. Students who have completed an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Kinesiology will typically satisfy most or all of these lower-division recommendations.
Upper-Division Preferred Coursework (University Level)
Upper-division coursework provides a deeper understanding of how biological, mechanical, and psychological principles apply to human movement and exercise. Students are encouraged to complete courses in exercise physiology, biomechanics or kinesiology, motor learning or motor control, measurement and evaluation or research methods, and sport and exercise psychology. These courses are typically completed at a four-year university (e.g., through Open University, post-baccalaureate enrollment, or non-degree registration at a CSU or UC campus).
Additional coursework in health promotion, behavioral science, or human nutrition is recommended to broaden understanding of health behavior, wellness, and performance. These courses collectively prepare students for graduate-level study by developing analytical skills, research competence, and applied knowledge of human movement and behavior.
