Put Your Motivation Into Motion
Take the first step with a degree in kinesiology
About
The UMass Amherst Department of Kinesiology will help you gain the necessary skills to put your career in motion. Through innovate research and collaboration, you'll develop the insight and training to improve health and wellness in populations across the life span. Founded in the late 1960s the kinesiology department was the first of its kind in the United States. It become a part of a vibrant and diverse learning community, committed to access and opportunities for all.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Transform your future with a degree that takes an interdisciplinary approach to human movement and the role of physical activity and exercise in health and disease. Learn from world-renowned experts in small class sizes. Choose from specializations in motor systems, physical activity, and physiology.
High-Impact Research
Work closely with faculty on NIH-funded research, including studies at the $150M UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences. Our graduate students are emerging scholars who routinely win national awards, including from the New England chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM).
Graduate Education at a Competitive Price
Transform your future and receive great value through New England’s only publicly funded school of public health. Become a leader in the health and fitness industry, health care systems, and the growing biotechnology industry, particularly in the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health areas.
"I love UMass because of how much they have invested to support their graduate students. There are many professional development resources available to help students prepare for careers post-graduation."
— Rob Marcotte, PhD candidate in kinesiology
"I was able to teach anatomy and physiology labs. I am thankful that I had that opportunity. It gave me a chance to grow as an instructor, and it gave me the opportunity to work with stellar researchers, to formulate our ideas, and to be co-sponsors on grants."
— Albert Mendoza, ’18 PhD, kinesiology
- 2 distinct programs: MS and PhD
- No GRE scores required
- Finish your master’s degree in 2 years
- Apply by Feb. 1 for fall admissions
Transform Your Future
Choose a kinesiology graduate program where, upon graduation, 100 percent of students are employed full-time or pursuing post-graduation education or fellowships. Most go on to pursue PhD programs or postdoctoral research, while a few work in health care settings and for-profit agencies.
Why UMass SPHHS?
- Fully accredited: by the Council on Education in Public Health and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
- A rising research powerhouse: Over the past decade, faculty research productivity has increased by 120 percent with funding from the NIH, NSF, US DOE, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and more.
- Hands-on training with nationally recognized academics: Our low student-to-faculty ratio provides students with individual contact and hands-on training with leading scientific experts partnering with the CDC, NIH, and the WHO.
- Vibrant and engaging community: Situated in the heart of western Massachusetts on the slopes of the Berkshires, UMass offers residents year-round outdoor recreation activities and a vibrant art scene in a community that values diversity, multiculturalism, and a commitment to sustainability.
- LGBTQ friendly: The university's LGBTQ and women's centers were among the first established in the nation, and Campus Pride rates UMass Amherst as one of the best campuses in the country for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.
- Great value: As New England’s only publicly funded school of public health, SPHHS provides great value compared to our private institution peers.