University of Michigan Kinesiology Graduate Program Guide 2026

Overview of UMich School of Kinesiology

The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology stands as one of the premier programs in the nation for the study of human movement, physical activity, and their impacts on health and performance. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the School benefits from the extensive resources and interdisciplinary opportunities available at one of the world’s top public research universities. Graduate students in kinesiology join a community of scholars whose research spans biomechanics, exercise physiology, sport management, athletic training, and movement science.

What distinguishes UMich Kinesiology from competing programs is the combination of breadth and depth. The School offers both Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, allowing students to pursue the level of training that best matches their career aspirations. Whether the goal is clinical practice, academic research, or industry leadership, the program provides the theoretical foundation and practical skills needed to excel in the field of human movement science.

The School’s location within the University of Michigan ecosystem provides unique advantages. Students can collaborate with researchers in the Medical School, the School of Public Health, the College of Engineering, and the Institute for Social Research—creating interdisciplinary partnerships that produce research with broader impact than any single department could achieve alone. This integration mirrors the collaborative approaches found at other leading graduate programs nationally.

Graduate Degree Programs and Structure

The School of Kinesiology offers graduate education through carefully structured MS and PhD programs that build progressively from foundational knowledge to independent research capability. The MS program typically requires 30 credit hours and can be completed in two years, providing students with advanced training in their chosen concentration area and a foundation for either professional practice or doctoral study.

The PhD program is designed for students committed to careers in research and academia. Doctoral students complete coursework in their primary research area and research methodology, pass qualifying examinations, and produce an original dissertation that makes a novel contribution to knowledge in the field. The program is administered through the Rackham Graduate School, which provides additional resources, professional development opportunities, and community support for all University of Michigan doctoral students.

Both degree programs emphasize the integration of theory and practice. Students are expected to develop proficiency in research methods and statistical analysis while also gaining hands-on experience through laboratory rotations, teaching assistantships, and collaborative research projects. The curriculum is designed to produce graduates who can not only conduct rigorous research but also communicate their findings effectively to academic audiences, practitioners, and the public.

Graduate students also benefit from the School’s commitment to professional development beyond the academic curriculum. Workshops on grant writing, manuscript preparation, academic job market strategies, and teaching pedagogy complement the formal coursework and research training, ensuring that graduates are fully prepared for the professional demands of careers in kinesiology and related fields.

Movement Science Research Areas

Movement science at UMich encompasses the study of how the nervous system controls movement, how movement patterns develop and change across the lifespan, and how movement disorders can be diagnosed and treated. This research area draws on biomechanics, neuroscience, motor control, and rehabilitation science to address questions with direct implications for clinical practice, sports performance, and the quality of life for individuals with movement impairments.

Faculty research in movement science includes projects on gait analysis, postural control, motor learning, and the neural mechanisms underlying skilled movement. State-of-the-art motion capture systems, force platforms, and neuroimaging technologies enable researchers to measure movement with extraordinary precision, providing data that informs both basic scientific understanding and practical interventions for movement disorders.

Graduate students in movement science develop expertise in experimental design, data collection using advanced instrumentation, statistical analysis of complex movement data, and the interpretation of findings within theoretical frameworks. These skills prepare them for careers in university research departments, clinical rehabilitation facilities, technology companies developing wearable sensors and motion analysis tools, and government agencies concerned with public health and physical activity.

Exercise Physiology and Health

The exercise physiology concentration at UMich investigates the acute and chronic effects of physical activity on human physiological systems. Research in this area addresses fundamental questions about how exercise affects cardiovascular function, metabolic health, musculoskeletal development, and immune function—knowledge with direct applications to disease prevention, treatment, and health promotion.

Faculty researchers in exercise physiology study topics including the molecular mechanisms of exercise adaptation, the role of physical activity in preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the physiological responses to exercise in special populations including older adults, children, and individuals with disabilities. This research is conducted in laboratories equipped with metabolic carts, body composition analyzers, blood analysis equipment, and exercise testing systems that enable precise measurement of physiological responses.

Graduate students in exercise physiology often collaborate with researchers in the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health, participating in clinical trials and epidemiological studies that translate laboratory findings into public health recommendations. These collaborations provide students with exposure to multidisciplinary research teams and clinical research methodologies that enhance their training beyond what a single-department program could offer.

Sport Management and Athletic Training

The School of Kinesiology’s sport management concentration prepares students for leadership roles in the business of sport—an industry that generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually and employs millions of professionals worldwide. Research and coursework in this area cover organizational behavior in sport settings, sport marketing and sponsorship, facility management, sport law, and the economic impact of athletic events and organizations.

UMich’s sport management program benefits from the university’s own Division I athletic program—one of the largest and most successful in the country—which provides case study opportunities and professional connections that are difficult to replicate at institutions without comparable athletic programs. Students study real-world sport management challenges using the university’s own athletic department as a living laboratory, similar to how graduate programs at other top research universities integrate practical learning.

Athletic training education at UMich prepares students for careers in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. The program integrates didactic coursework with clinical experiences that provide hands-on practice under the supervision of certified athletic trainers. Graduates are prepared to sit for the Board of Certification examination and to work in diverse settings including professional sports teams, college athletic departments, high schools, hospitals, and private clinics.

Research Facilities and Laboratories

The School of Kinesiology houses state-of-the-art research facilities that support investigation across all of the School’s concentration areas. These facilities include biomechanics laboratories with motion capture systems and force measurement equipment, exercise physiology laboratories with metabolic and cardiovascular assessment capabilities, and specialized spaces for sport psychology research and motor behavior studies.

The School’s investment in research infrastructure reflects the University of Michigan’s broader commitment to supporting world-class research across all disciplines. As a top-five public research university by total research expenditures, UMich provides resources—including shared core facilities, statistical consulting services, and high-performance computing—that significantly enhance the research capabilities available to kinesiology graduate students.

Students also have access to clinical research facilities at the University of Michigan Health System, enabling translational research that connects laboratory discoveries to patient care. These clinical connections are particularly valuable for students in exercise physiology and movement science, where research findings often have direct implications for the treatment of conditions ranging from post-surgical rehabilitation to chronic disease management.

Faculty Excellence and Mentorship

Faculty in the School of Kinesiology are internationally recognized researchers who bring cutting-edge expertise to both the classroom and the laboratory. Faculty members hold grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and private foundations, supporting research programs that push the boundaries of knowledge in human movement science, exercise physiology, and sport management.

The mentorship model at UMich Kinesiology emphasizes close working relationships between faculty advisors and graduate students. Doctoral students work directly with their advisor on research projects from the earliest stages of their program, developing the skills and professional identity needed for independent research careers. This apprenticeship model is complemented by coursework that provides broader methodological and theoretical training across the discipline.

Faculty diversity of research interests ensures that students can find mentors whose expertise aligns with their own research aspirations. The School encourages students to form advisory committees that include faculty from multiple concentration areas, promoting the cross-disciplinary thinking that increasingly characterizes the most impactful research in kinesiology and related fields as recognized by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Funding and Financial Support

The School of Kinesiology offers competitive funding packages for graduate students through multiple mechanisms. PhD students typically receive funding through a combination of graduate student instructor (GSI) appointments, graduate student research assistant (GSRA) positions, and fellowships from the Rackham Graduate School. These packages generally cover tuition, health insurance, and provide a living stipend.

Rackham fellowships are particularly prestigious and are awarded to the most competitive doctoral applicants. These fellowships provide enhanced funding and often include a period of dedicated research time free from teaching obligations, allowing recipients to focus intensively on their dissertation research. Additional funding sources include departmental awards, travel grants for conference presentations, and research grants that support student-initiated projects.

MS students have access to a more limited but still meaningful set of funding opportunities, including GSI and GSRA positions, scholarship programs, and external fellowships. The School’s career placement rate and the earning potential of kinesiology master’s graduates help ensure that the investment in graduate education yields strong returns regardless of the funding level during the program itself.

Career Outcomes for Graduates

University of Michigan kinesiology graduates pursue careers that span academia, healthcare, professional sports, the fitness industry, and public health. PhD graduates frequently secure faculty positions at research universities, where they continue to advance knowledge in their specialization while training the next generation of kinesiology professionals. Others pursue research scientist positions at government agencies, national laboratories, and private research organizations.

MS graduates enter a diverse range of professional roles including clinical exercise physiologist, athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, sport management professional, public health researcher, and wellness program director. The University of Michigan’s strong brand recognition and alumni network provide graduates with access to employers who specifically seek UMich-trained professionals, and this is reflected in strong graduate outcomes similar to those reported by clinical and health science doctoral programs nationally.

The growing recognition of physical activity’s role in disease prevention and health promotion has expanded career opportunities for kinesiology graduates across the healthcare continuum. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, corporate wellness programs, and public health agencies increasingly seek professionals with advanced training in exercise science and movement analysis—expertise that UMich graduates are uniquely prepared to provide.

Admissions Requirements and How to Apply

Prospective students should visit the School of Kinesiology website for detailed information about application requirements, deadlines, and program-specific prerequisites. Applications are submitted through the Rackham Graduate School application system, and requirements typically include transcripts, GRE scores (check current requirements as policies may change), letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a curriculum vitae.

Competitive applicants generally demonstrate strong academic records in relevant undergraduate coursework (biology, physiology, biomechanics, statistics, and psychology are particularly relevant), research experience, and clear articulation of their research interests and career goals. Prior research experience—whether through undergraduate thesis projects, research assistant positions, or independent studies—is highly valued for PhD applicants and can strengthen MS applications as well.

The School encourages prospective applicants to contact potential faculty advisors before applying to discuss research interests and mutual fit. This pre-application communication helps students identify the most appropriate concentration area and faculty mentor, and it allows faculty to assess the student’s preparation and research potential. Building this connection early can significantly strengthen an application and ensure a productive start to the graduate experience.