Kinesiology Master's | College of Health Sciences

The Master of Science degree in Kinesiology provides students with an understanding of how physical activity (including sport and exercise) impact and are affected by various physiological, mechanical, and psychosocial aspects of human health and performance.

The degree prepares students for careers in higher-education, research, and practice through didactic coursework in the areas of Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Motor Behavior, Rehabilitation, and Psychosocial Aspects of Health Behavior.

Knowledge and skills in research-related and discipline-specific coursework helps prepare students to address complex real-world health and performance issues and utilize critical thinking skills to generate knowledge and make sound decisions to support continued personal and professional development.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

Kinesiology is…

“…the academic discipline which involves the study of physical activity and its impact on health, society, and quality of life.”
– American Kinesiology Association

With a master’s in kinesiology, you have endless possibilities. Some of the many occupations you could pursue are physical activity & public health specialist, teacher in higher education or performance director/specialist.

Kinesiology students conducting and experiencing the vertical jump test.

You’ll work closely with mentors to develop individualized programs of study that are uniquely tailored to your educational and career goals.
You’ll benefit from our integrated educational focus that combines multiple kinesiology subdisciplines, and become a professional with a strong knowledge base and skill set.

Student Handbook (PDF) for students who began the program prior to fall 2022.

Successful Alumni

The College of Health Sciences has over 10,000 alumni. These alumni have taken their health sciences degrees and have excelled in their careers.

Visit our Alumni page and be inspired by where a health sciences degree can take you.

To apply to the kinesiology master’s program, you must apply to the UWM Graduate School and meet the admission requirements.

In addition to UWM Graduate School requirements, you must be prepared to meet the following departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

1. Two letters of recommendation and

2. A narrative statement (You should indicate your preferred choice of Option A, B or C in the narrative statement.)

Recommended:

1. GRE recommended for funding considerations

2. The applicant who considers Option A or B is strongly encouraged to identify and contact a potential faculty advisor before they submit an application. If the applicant chooses Option A or B, they will be matched with a faculty member, dependent upon faculty availability. An applicant who does not identify, or was not assigned to, a faculty advisor at the time of admission will be automatically designated to Option C and be advised by the MS Kinesiology program director.

If you are considering UWM for Graduate School, please consult the graduate program director, Scott J. Strath, PhD, ASCM Fellow at 414-251-5834 or sstrath@uwm.edu as early as possible.

Guide to the Application Process (PDF)

Program Curriculum

Credits and Courses

The minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits for Options A (thesis), B (project or internship) and C (comprehensive examination).

Option A students must take no fewer than 15 credits of core courses, 9 credits of elective courses, and 6 credits of thesis.

Option B students must take no fewer than 15 credits of core courses, 9 to 12 credits of elective courses, and 3 to 6 credits of project or internship courses.

Option C students must take no fewer than 15 credits of core courses and 15 credits of elective courses.

All students must take elective courses from KIN courses at the 500-level or higher; 3 graduate credits may be taken from outside KIN courses.

Option A: Thesis Option

Competency Domains
*Statistical Analysis*
KIN 702	Statistical Analysis in the Health Sciences	3
*Kinesiology Research Methods*
KIN 703	Research Methods in Kinesiology	3
*Biomechanics and Motor Behavior*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 520	Introduction to Biomechanics Research
KIN 522	Biomechanics of Athletic Performance
KIN 561	Investigating Motor Behavior in Health, Aging, and Disease
*Exercise Physiology*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 530	Physiology of Performance
KIN 531	Clinical Exercise Physiology
*Sociocultural and Behavioral Aspects*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 556	Multilevel Approaches to Changing Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors
KIN 574	Obesity and Weight Management
KIN 580	Sports Nutrition
Electives (Elective courses must be 500+.)		9
Thesis		6
KIN895	Research and Thesis
Total Credits		30

Students prepare a research thesis, which will earn 6 credits within the required 30 graduate credit minimum. Each student is responsible for initiating contact and dialog with the major professor to identify a thesis committee before completing 12 graduate credits.

Option B: Project or Internship Option

Competency Domains
*Statistical Analysis*
KIN 702	Statistical Analysis in the Health Sciences	3
*Kinesiology Research Methods*
KIN 703	Research Methods in Kinesiology	3
*Biomechanics and Motor Behavior*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 520	Introduction to Biomechanics Research
KIN 522	Biomechanics of Athletic Performance
KIN 561	Investigating Motor Behavior in Health, Aging, and Disease
*Exercise Physiology*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 530	Physiology of Performance
KIN 531	Clinical Exercise Physiology
*Sociocultural and Behavioral Aspects*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 556	Multilevel Approaches to Changing Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors
KIN 574	Obesity and Weight Management
KIN 580	Sports Nutrition
Electives (Elective courses must be 500+.)		9 – 12
Project or Internship		3 – 6
*Capstone Project*
KIN 890
Total Credits		30

Students prepare a capstone project or an internship, which will earn up to 3 or 6 credits (with 12 or 9 credits of electives, respectively), within the required 30 graduate credit minimum. Each student is responsible for initiating contact and dialog with the major professor about their capstone project or internship before completing 12 graduate credits.

Option C: Comprehensive Examination Option

Competency Domains
*Statistical Analysis*
KIN 702	Statistical Analysis in the Health Sciences	3
*Kinesiology Research Methods*
KIN 703	Research Methods in Kinesiology	3
*Biomechanics and Motor Behavior*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 520	Introduction to Biomechanics Research
KIN 522	Biomechanics of Athletic Performance
KIN 561	Investigating Motor Behavior in Health, Aging, and Disease
*Exercise Physiology*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 530	Physiology of Performance
KIN 531	Clinical Exercise Physiology
*Sociocultural and Behavioral Aspects*
Select one of the following:		3
KIN 556	Multilevel Approaches to Changing Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors
KIN 574	Obesity and Weight Management
KIN 580	Sports Nutrition
Electives (Elective courses must be 500+.)		15
Total Credits		30

Students will take a comprehensive examination in the semester in which they apply for graduation. The comprehensive examination will be a 100 multiple-choice exam with 20 items from each core course the student took. Each student is responsible for requesting to take the comprehensive examination to the MS Kinesiology graduate program director by the end of the first week of the semester in which they will apply for graduation.

For information regarding curriculum and course descriptions, visit the UWM Academic Catalog.

Additional Requirements

Major Professor or MS Kinesiology Program Director as Advisor

The Graduate School requires that each student have a major professor to advise, supervise and approve the program of study before registering for courses. Each student in Option A and B will be assigned an advisor upon admission. Students in Option C will be advised by the MS Kinesiology graduate program director.

Thesis, Project, or Comprehensive Examination

The student in Option A (thesis) or in Option B (project) must pass comprehensive oral examination in defense of the completed project. The student in Option B (internship) must write a paper on a related question for the internship and give an oral presentation. The student in Option C (comprehensive examination) must pass the exam.

Time Limit

The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.