Declaring the Kinesiology Major

Information for Transfer Students

Admissions to the undergraduate degree program are administered through the University's Undergraduate Admissions Office. Please refer to the Admissions Office website for requirements and application deadlines. 

Students transferring into UMass Amherst from another college or university must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7, as per university policy. 

A strong GPA in math and science classes is preferred, all students, including transfer students, must meet the Kinesiology Continuation Policy (see below).

Students Currently Enrolled at UMass

Students currently enrolled at UMass, who are looking to declare the kinesiology major must meet all of our degree requirements, including our Continuation Policy (see below) requirement.

To be signed into the kinesiology major, students must:

• Attend a "Declaring the Major" meeting
• Submit a "Declaring the Kin Major" form for review

Declaring the kinesiology major!

All current UMass students wishing to Declare the Kinesiology major must attend a "Declaring the Major Meeting".

Spring 2025 Declaring the KIN major meeting dates:

Students interested in declaring kinesiology as a primary or secondary major must attend a "Declaring the Kinesiology Major Meeting" and complete a "Declaring the Kinesiology Major" form prior to entry into the major.

Visit our Academic Advising page for additional information about the Kinesiology program.

Kinesiology Continuation Policy

The kinesiology department implemented a continuation policy in 2013 to increase the likelihood that students declaring the major will be academically successful in the science-intensive major. Students’ potential for academic success in upper-level kinesiology courses will be assessed by their performance in a carefully selected set of predictor courses. Through completing the continuation policy courses, students are also able to experience the rigors of the kinesiology major before making a long-term commitment to pursuing it.

As of fall 2022 the Kinesiology Continuation Policy states that students must complete the following courses within their first three semesters as a declared major and must achieve a cumulative GPA in these courses of 2.5 or better.

• Math 127* – Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences I
• Chem 111 – General Chemistry
• Physics 131 – Intro to Physics I

*Students who entered the major prior to fall 2022 must also complete *Math 128 – Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences II within their first three semesters as a declared major and must achieve a cumulative GPA in the four courses with a 2.5 or better. 

To calculate and track progress toward the continuation policy GPA requirement (minimum of 2.5), students are encouraged to use the GPA Calculator and/or their SPIRE Academic Requirement Report (ARR). A 2.5 GPA is a B-/C+ average, across the credits.

In addition, all students must achieve a C- grade (1.7) or better in all required kinesiology degree program classes, including the continuation policy courses. We recommend students review the University Academic Regulations policies on class repeats and transferring of credits.