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M.S. in Kinesiology

This will be a generalist masters in kinesiology. Students may choose to specialize their course content in areas specific to sports medicine, biomechanics, exercise physiology or physical activity. The projected enrollment of this program is 30 full-time students. This program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits, including at least 6 thesis credits.

This program will educate the best-prepared leaders who have rigorous training in emerging research areas such as sports medicine, biomechanics and physical activity. The kinesiology master of science is a popular degree as either a terminal degree or together with a doctoral degree in biology, neuroscience, exercise physiology or physical education.

Employment opportunities

The need for trained kinesiology professionals is continuing to grow. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of exercise physiologist is expected to grow by 13% from 2016 to 2026, faster than average for other fields. Individuals trained as athletic trainers are expected to have a 23% increase in positions from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than average for many professions. There is a demand for well-trained individuals in all fields of kinesiology. This is especially true with the aging of the current workforce in this area and the aging of the baby boomers.

Admission to the Kinesiology Master of Science program

The School of Public Health welcomes students with diverse academic backgrounds to apply for the Kinesiology MS program. To be successful in the program, applicants should have completed the following undergraduate courses/contents.

Basic courses/contents

• Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and/or other science-related courses (at least 6 credit hours)
• Anatomy, Physiology, Applied Kinesiology, Health & Wellness (at least 6 credit hours)

Priority consideration will be given to the applicants who have completed the following advanced Kinesiology-related courses

• Human Biology, Exercise Physiology, Human Biomechanics, Physical Training, and Conditioning

Fall admission

• February 1: deadline for priority consideration for graduate assistantships, fellowships, and merit graduate student awards
• June 2: final deadline

There is one cohort admitted each year. If you miss the deadline and would like to discuss enrolling in graduate special coursework that could be applied to the program or have any questions about the program, please contact Nicholas Murray, Ph.D., M.A., at nicholasmurray@unr.edu.

How to apply

Applicants to the M.S. in Kinesiology should apply via the Graduate School. 

Your application should include:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale: If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 but higher than 2.75 your application will be considered if your GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is 3.0 or higher. If you graduated from an international college or university, please contact The Graduate School for approval of your undergraduate degree for graduate studies at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno.
2. GRE scores (recommended): Test scores should be official scores from an exam taken within the past 5 years. 
3. Duolingo, TOEFL,  or IELTS Test Scores (required if education history is from a non-English Speaking Country).  OFFICIAL Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS test scores are required if your educational history is from a non-English speaking country.  Minimum scores: TOEFL: 550 (paper) or 79 (internet); IELTS: 6.5 (academic version); Duolingo: 115.
4. Resume or CV: Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) that demonstrates professional and/or educational health-related experience.
5. A statement of purpose includes:
   • Why you wish you attend the program
   • What skillsets you can bring to the program
   • Which faculty member you would prefer to work with and why (advisor will be declared within the first year of the masters program)
6. Three letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant's motivation, academic capability, scholarship potential, and personal goals for graduate study.