Why Enroll in Kinesiology at MSU?

A recent five-year study of MSU Kinesiology Ph.D. graduates revealed that 68% completed their degrees in four (4) years or less. Every one of the Ph.D. students obtained work related to their degrees, with 89% employed at colleges, universities or medical schools.

Program of Study

• The KIN mission statement emphasizes disciplinary and interdisciplinary research focusing on physical activity and sport across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on youth.
• Doctoral concentrations include athletic injury and rehabilitation, exercise physiology, cognitive and motor neuroscience, and psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity.
• Doctoral students develop the expertise needed to succeed as faculty members in higher education. Students have a variety of opportunities for conducting and publishing research, as well as developing and practicing the skills needed to teach college courses in the specialization area.
• KIN offers a flexible personal program of study.

Quality of Education

• KIN has great faculty mentors who take a personal interest in you and are motivated and excited about working with you.
• KIN houses the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, the Biomarkers and Genetics Laboratory, and other research/outreach centers.
• There are tremendous opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research associated with MSU’s 17 degree-granting colleges and the numerous campus research laboratories and centers. Ph.D. students often take advantage of opportunities for dual majors and the inter-campus exchange programs offered through MSU’s Graduate School (MIGS and BTAA).
• Many KIN students take advantage of opportunities for research and applied work with MSU athletic teams and Student-Athlete Support Services.
• KIN students are accomplished. A list of completed KIN dissertations demonstrates the nature of graduate student research projects. Also, more than 15 KIN graduate students have received MSU’s highly competitive Excellence-in-Teaching Citation, presented annually to six of MSU’s ~10,000 graduate students.

Funding for Graduate Study

• MSU offers impressive multi-year fellowship packages to well-qualified incoming doctoral students. Furthermore, our graduate assistantship compensation is very competitive with other major universities, especially with respect to tuition waivers and medical insurance benefits.
• Fellowships are available at the department, college, and university levels for continuing doctoral students, including summer research and dissertation completion fellowships.
• KIN supports participation at professional meetings through a competitive research fellowship, as well as professional development funds available to every KIN graduate student.
• Please see the Financial Support section (below) for more details.

Other Reasons

• MSU is Big Ten, world-renowned university.
• KIN is affiliated with the College of Education, which boasts several top-10 ranked programs, including elementary and secondary education programs which have been ranked #1 in the country for nearly three decades.
• Key Facts and Information about MSU
• The MSU campus is a beautiful park-like environment.
• The cost of living in the Lansing area is very reasonable.

Criteria for Admission to the Kinesiology Ph.D Program

KIN faculty members use the following criteria when judging applicants for admission and when determining which prospective doctoral students to nominate for fellowships. Sources of information include transcripts, academic statement, personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation and writing/research sample. Students may submit additional materials if desired. Prospective students should make certain that all of these criteria are addressed in their admissions portfolios.

• Academic excellence – GPA, reputation of department or program of study pursued, letters of recommendation, other forms of academic evaluation
• Goals and their match to the department/program – statement of purpose, breadth and depth of professional/research experience, fit with faculty interests or department strengths, potential to benefit from and contribute to KIN.
• Leadership potential – academic/professional/community activities or employment, evidence of leadership potential, capacity to make a distinctive professional or scholarly contribution
• Contribution to a diverse educational community – consider personal history and experience, professional goals, and/or the promotion of understanding among persons of different backgrounds and idea.
• Record of overcoming obstacles – social, economic, personal

University Application Form

The first step to applying to Michigan State University and your desired graduate program is to complete the University’s Graduate School application (with payment). For applicants seeking admissions to the Kinesiology Ph.D. program at MSU, you must apply online through the Graduate School. The application fee (payable in U.S. dollars) must be paid for applicants to be considered. The MSU Office of Admissions website also includes considerable information about related issues at the university, including possible application fee waivers.

After you have completed the University Application and paid your application fee, you will be sent an email inviting you to upload the relevant application documents (such as resume/CV, transcripts, etc.) through the Graduate Student Application. The email will be sent to the e-mail address you listed on your University graduate school application. Logging into your unique portal will allow you to monitor your application materials.

Regular Admission

To be considered for regular admission, applicants must demonstrate and/or include the following in their application (below). A committee of faculty members reviews each application. The review committee considers the following factors, in no particular order or weight, to asses applicants:

• Applicants are encouraged to communicate directly with faculty members that align with their academic, research, and professional interests and list them on their application.
• A two-page academic statement in which you describe your interest and aptitude in one or more concentrations offered in the doctoral program, state your research interests and specify the faculty member(s) that you prefer as your mentor(s). It is recommended applicants state the relevant relationships between the program and their professional goals.
• A two-page personal statement in which you describe your personal background relevant to finding success in the fields of kinesiology.  Note that this is not the same as the “academic statement” above.
• A professional resume or CV. If your employment and activity history is located in these documents, then you do not need to list them separately in your application.
• Writing sample. Applicants submit one or more examples of academic or professional writing, e.g., something that they have published, a master’s thesis or a paper they might have submitted to fulfill course requirements. The applicant must have authored at least one sample exclusively. The purpose is to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to write analytical English prose.
• Completion of a master’s degree. Although a completed master’s degree is typically required, in cases of exceptional scholarly promise, a student may enter the doctoral program following the completion of an undergraduate degree. KIN does consider applicants who do not have undergraduate or master’s degrees in kinesiology.  However, applicants with limited background in kinesiology will be required to complete collateral work. 
• A competitive cumulative grade point average displaying academic experience and performance. The department prefers GPAs of 3.3 or higher.
• Research experience such as a master’s thesis, master’s project or collaborative work with a faculty member.
• Three strong letters of recommendation, with preference given to letters from individuals that can speak to your ability to succeed in academic settings.
• Official transcripts, Applicants must have their official transcripts sent directly from all universities attended, except MSU. If you request electronic transcripts, they need to be sent to kingrad@msu.edu. Once MSU obtains a copy of the official transcripts, they cannot be returned.
  
  Hard copies need to be mailed to:
  Michigan State University
  Kinesiology Doctoral Program, Program Coordinator
  308 W. Circle Drive Room 134
  East Lansing, MI 48824

International Students:

• Demonstration of English Language Proficiency
• Transcripts that are translated from first language to English
• Statement of Financial Proof/Affidavit of Support

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is able to assist with the following items:

• Visa types and requirements
• International student immigration matters
• Travel to the U.S.
• Finances for international students
• International student orientation
• Support services for international students

Financial Support

Recruitment Fellowships

Several multi-year fellowships are designed to help recruit prospective doctoral students with outstanding academic credentials. Each of these highly-competitive multi-year awards includes some combination of a fellowship stipend, tuition or partial-tuition waiver, health insurance and graduate assistantship position.

• University Distinguished Fellowships (UDF)
• University Enrichment Fellowships (UEF)
• Dean’s Scholar Awards
• Erickson Research Fellowships

Students who wish to apply for the multi-year fellowships and scholarships must submit the all materials required for admission by December 1. Students should give particular attention to the personal goals statement and the selection of a writing sample (not more than 20 pages). In addition, the department strongly recommends that students communicate with their likely departmental mentors about their qualifications for the multi-year awards.

Fellowships and Scholarships

The Department of Kinesiology, in concert with the College of Education and the MSU Graduate School, offers a variety of fellowships, scholarships and graduate teaching and research assistantships for both entering and continuing graduate students

Graduate Assistantship Positions

The Department of Kinesiology offers a number of graduate assistantship (GA) positions each year. Typical annual stipends for a half-time GA position are competitive and depend upon the student’s qualifications and experience. In addition, GAs receive multiple other benefits. For more information, consult the GA information on the Graduate School website.

Other Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid provides information about loans, work study, scholarships and grants. etc.

Transfer Credit Policies

Incoming graduate students may transfer credits from:

• Other accredited colleges or universities –  a maximum of 9 semester credits of graduate level work (excluding research and thesis credits)
• MSU Lifelong Education Program – a maximum of 9 semester credits of graduate work

General limitations on transfer credits

Credits will be transferred only if: (a) the course is appropriate to the student’s academic program; (b) the course was completed within the time limits for earning of the degree desired at MSU; and (c) the student earned a grade of at least 3.0 in the course. Check the current MSU Academic Programs catalog for the most comprehensive and current information. (Click here for Academic Program)

The majority of transfer credits requests are handled directly with a student’s academic advisor.  Certain transfers for credit to key Kinesiology courses may require an additional review.  Decisions about transfer credits are not made until the student has been admitted to the graduate program.  If you wish to request a transfer of credits from a previous institution, provide your advisor with the course syllabus, samples of your work product from the course, and a copy of the transcript that reflects your grade in the course.  You may request the copy of the transcript from kingrad@msu.edu if you used said transcript during your application process.

The Lifelong Education program provides prospective students with an opportunity to enroll in MSU courses before entry into a KIN graduate program. Some prospective students enroll in courses with lifelong education status so that they can: (a) begin to take credits before formal admission to the program or (b) prove that they are prepared for graduate study.

For more information, consult the Master’s Programs information from MSU Academic Programs Catalog and the MSU Lifelong Education Program information posted on the Office of the Registrar web site.

Living in Lansing

• Kinesiology Graduate Student Organization: Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook
• Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU)
• Office of Spartan Experiences
• Living the Spartan Life in East Lansing
• Campus Life
• University Housing
• Visitor and Destination Information (MSU)
• Sports and Recreation (MSU)