Master of Science (MS) Degree in Kinesiology
The MS degree in Kinesiology prepares students for careers in exercise physiology, corporate fitness, life science, recreation and wellness, and strength & conditioning. The MS degree also prepares primary and secondary educators by further developing their physical and adaptive physical education pedagogy. Graduates have gone on to Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Science and gained admission into clinical doctorate programs (e.g., DPT programs). The program consists of 30 units – 16 units of core courses, 12 option-specific electives, and two culminating assignment units (i.e., thesis or project). All students are required to complete a thesis or project to earn their MS degree.
To be accepted, students must have a GPA of at least 2.75 from their last 60 semester units (~2 academic years) and appropriate undergraduate preparation in kinesiology or a related field. We recommend that students from non-science majors take an anatomy and physiology course before applying to the program. Practical and research experiences are also highly valued.
The application deadline for Fall admission is February 15th, 2025. The Fall semester will begin on August 19th, 2025. There is no Spring admission into the program.
Please see our Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the program.
The process of gaining admission to the program involves the following steps:
- Apply to Cal State LA - Students must be admitted to the University by satisfying the University’s requirements. Students must select the Kinesiology MS degree program and provide the secondary application material (see next bullet point).
- Secondary application materials include a resume or CV, statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation (at least one must be an academic reference), and copies of their official transcripts. Students whose undergraduate education was taught in a language other than English should include official scores from an English proficiency exam. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, students with strong GRE scores are encouraged to include them.
- After an initial review, the Graduate Coordinator will contact potential students for a short 15-minute Zoom interview with Kinesiology Graduate Admissions Committee members. This Zoom interview aims to meet the applicant, ask some follow-up questions, and answer any questions the applicant may have about the program.
Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator (Dr. George Crocker; [email protected]) for questions regarding the graduate program in Kinesiology at Cal State LA.