Emphasis: Sport and exercise psychology
The sport and exercise psychology emphasis area explores the thoughts, feelings, and actions of people in physical activity contexts. Research in this area focuses on participants of competitive sport, exercise and fitness, sports medicine and rehabilitation, physical education, and health and wellness.
Students will seek to understand the underlying cognitive, affective, behavioral, and social mechanisms. Specifically, those that happen between the psychology of individual participants and the influences of psychological climates within physical activity settings.
Associated labs and faculty
- Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, directed by Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD
- Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Lab, directed by Candace Hogue, PhD
The PhD requires 36 to 48 course credits and 24 thesis credits. A minimum total of 60 credits and a maximum total of 72 credits are required to complete the program. Course credits include a minimum of 15 major program credits (including 3 credits of KIN 8980 Graduate Research Seminar), 6 credits in a supporting program or 12 credits in a doctoral minor, 6 research skills course credits, and 9 credits of mentored research experience. At least 6 major course credits, 6 research skills course credits, and 6 mentored experience course credits must be taken as a U of M enrolled student. A GPA of at least 3.00 is required to maintain good standing and to graduate.
Required courses
- KIN 8980 - Graduate Research Seminar in Kinesiology (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8995 - Research Problems in Kinesiology (1-12 Cr.)
Emphasis area courses
- KIN 5126 - Social Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5136 - Psychology of Coaching (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5723 - Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8126 - Sports Medicine Psychology (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8136 - Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology (3 Cr.)
Research skills courses
- KIN 5981 - Research Methodology in Kinesiology and Sport Management (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5247 - Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8252 - Statistical Methods in Education II (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8264 - Advanced Multiple Regression Analysis (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8265 - Factor Analysis (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8266 - Statistical Analysis Using Structural Equation Methods (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 8268 - Hierarchical Linear Modeling in Educational Research (3 Cr.)
Minor courses
- CPSY 5301 - Advanced Developmental Psychology (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- CPSY 5302 - Cognitive and Biological Development (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- CSPH 5706 - Lifestyle Medicine (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- CSPH 5807 - Mindfulness in the Workplace: Pause, Practice, Perform (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- EPSY 5401 - Counseling Procedures (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5402 - Counseling History and Theories (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5406 - Ethics in Counseling (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- GRAD 8101 - Teaching in Higher Education (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- GRAD 8200 - Teaching and Learning Topics in Higher Education (1 Cr.) Online may be available, Topics Course
- KIN 5123 - Motivational Interventions in Physical Activity (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- KIN 5371 - Sport and Society (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5601 - Sport Management Ethics and Policy (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5725 - Organization and Management of Physical Education and Sport (3 Cr.)
- PREV 8001 - Prevention Science: Principles and Practices (3 Cr.)
- PREV 8002 - Prevention Science Research Methodology (3 Cr.)
- PREV 8003 - New Topics in Prevention: Implementation and Dissemination (3 Cr.)
- PSY 8208 - Social Psychology: The Self (3 Cr.)
- PSY 8617 - Ethical and Equitable Decisions in Clinical Science and Counseling Psychology (3 Cr.)
- PUBH 6020 - Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- PUBH 6120 - Injury Prevention in the Workplace, Community, and Home (2 Cr.)
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PUBH 6320 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 Cr.) Online may be available
The MS is offered under Plan A and Plan B. Plan A requires 30 credits, including at least 14 course credits in kinesiology, 6 course credits in a minor or related field (either of which must include a minimum of 3 credits in statistics as determined by faculty advisor) and 10 thesis credits (8777). Plan B also requires 30 credits, including at least 14 major course credits in kinesiology, a capstone project of 4 credits in KIN 8995, at least 6 course credits in a minor or related field (either of which must include a minimum of 3 credits in statistics as determined by faculty advisor), and 6 additional credits in any of these areas. For both Plan A and Plan B, students must take KIN 5981 (3 cr), KIN 8980 (3 cr), and in the related field or minor, at least 3 credits of statistics or equivalent as defined by the faculty advisor. A GPA of at least 3.00 is required to maintain good academic standing and to graduate.
Required courses
- KIN 5981 - Research Methodology in Kinesiology and Sport Management (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8980 - Graduate Research Seminar in Kinesiology (3 Cr.)
Plan A: students must take 10 credits of KIN 8777
- KIN 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's (1-18 Cr.)
Plan B: students must take 4 credits of KIN 8995
- KIN 8995 - Research Problems in Kinesiology (1-12 Cr.)
Emphasis area courses
- KIN 5123 - Motivational Interventions in Physical Activity (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- KIN 5126 - Social Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5136 - Psychology of Coaching (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5723 - Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8126 - Sports Medicine Psychology (3 Cr.)
- KIN 8136 - Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology (3 Cr.)
Minor or related courses
- CPSY 5301 - Advanced Developmental Psychology (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- CPSY 5302 - Cognitive and Biological Development (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- CSPH 5706 - Lifestyle Medicine (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- CSPH 5807 - Mindfulness in the Workplace: Pause, Practice, Perform (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3 Cr.)
- PUBH 7406 - Biostatistical Inference II (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5401 - Counseling Procedures (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5402 - Counseling History and Theories (3 Cr.)
- EPSY 5406 - Ethics in Counseling (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I (3 Cr.)
- GRAD 8101 - Teaching in Higher Education (3 Cr.) Online may be available
- GRAD 8200 - Teaching and Learning Topics in Higher Education (1 Cr.) Online may be available, Topics Course
- KIN 5371 - Sport and Society (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5511 - Sport and Gender (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5601 - Sport Management Ethics and Policy (3 Cr.)
- KIN 5725 - Organization and Management of Physical Education and Sport (3 Cr.)
- PREV 8001 - Prevention Science: Principles and Practices (3 Cr.)
- PREV 8002 - Prevention Science Research Methodology (3 Cr.)
- PSY 5207 - Personality and Social Behavior (3 Cr.)
- PSY 8208 - Social Psychology: The Self (3 Cr.)
- PSY 8617 - Ethical and Equitable Decisions in Clinical Science and Counseling Psychology (3 Cr.)
- PUBH 6020 - Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science (2 Cr.) Online may be available
- PUBH 6120 - Injury Prevention in the Workplace, Community, and Home (2 Cr.)
- PUBH 6320 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 Cr.) Online may be available
How to apply: MEd or PhD
Before you apply
Before you apply review the MS vs MEd information. All master's programs are designed to educate students in their chosen degree path and prepare them for professional or academic work. Read through the MS versus MEd comparison page to decide which program is the best fit for you.
It is highly recommended that applicants contact the professor they are interested in working with before applying online. It helps facilitate the application process and familiarizes the professor with applicants and their interests.
Apply
All required materials need to be submitted by the application deadline, December 1.
Applications received by December 1 will be given priority consideration for admission and financial support. The majority of applications are reviewed in January for admission for the following fall semester. A few applicants with exceptional credentials or exceptional situations may be considered for admission outside this review period or for semesters other than fall, but these are rare and are subject to faculty advisor availability.
Graduate school application requirements
You will apply online through the University of Minnesota Graduate School.
- Graduate application instructions
- Admission requirements
School of Kinesiology application requirements
Applications must be completed online and the fee ($75 for permanent U.S. residents, $95 for international students) paid by credit card. The School of Kinesiology requires applicants to:
- Complete an online application
- Upload a personal statement
- Upload a research description
- Upload copies of unofficial transcripts
- Upload one (1) scholarly writing sample
- Upload three (3) letters of recommendation
- Graduate assistantship application (if interested): Assistantships in the department are competitive and the number of assistantships given each year is limited. Chances for getting an assistantship vary from year to year depending on availability and funding. Applicants must not assume that they will be awarded an assistantship automatically if they are accepted into the program. Admitted students should contact their future faculty advisor directly for more information.
Starting with the 2024-25 admissions cycle, GRE scores will not be considered in the admissions review process for PhD or master's (MS) applications.
All School of Kinesiology application materials are uploaded to the online application system and must be submitted by December 1 for the following fall semester.
Application process and timeline
An admission decision notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the School’s admission committee and your unofficial transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by University officials.
Applicants who apply by the due date (December 1) should receive an admissions decision in January or February. Assistantship applicants will find out if they received an assistantship no later than mid-April.
Review process
Faculty with expertise in the emphasis areas identified by the applicants will review the MS and PhD applications. Based on the comments and recommendations of the faculty, the director of graduate studies makes the final recommendations to the Graduate School, which informs students of the School's decision.
Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. In making admission decisions, faculty reviewers and the director of graduate studies consider level of achievement in previous college work, performance on standardized graduate exams, experience, congruence of the program with an applicant's stated goals, advising and teaching load of faculty in the identified emphasis area, and academic records of other applicants for the same emphasis.
Potential MS or PhD students who have not received a response by late March, should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Readmission requirements for MS and PhD students
- Contact the faculty advisor prior to the readmission application submission, and
- Contact the graduate program coordinator to request the paperwork for readmission.
Tuition and funding
Questions?
We’re here to help. Get in touch with our Graduate Studies Office.
