Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Kinesiology Video

Kinesiology, MA



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The MA Kinesiology program is offered by the Department of Kinesiology .

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Ted Butryn

Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing

The Department of Kinesiology requires the following of all applicants seeking admission to classified standing in the MA - Kinesiology in addition to meeting requirements for admission to the Graduate Division:

  1. A baccalaureate degree with a major or a minor in Kinesiology or successful completion of a maximum of 12 units of foundation coursework as assigned by the Graduate Coordinator or an assigned Academic Advisor.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of work.
  3. A fully completed CSU Apply Application, including the Statement of Purpose on the application. Statement of purpose should include a thoughtful narrative about the applicant’s research interests, as the two core research methods courses necessitate that students think about their final culminating experiences upon acceptance into the program.
  4. Two (2) letters of recommendation mailed (or signed, scanned and emailed from a university or professional work account) directly to the Graduate Coordinator.

Requirements for Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing

The graduate coordinator, in consultation with faculty, may approve admission of a student who meets the requirements for admission to the Graduate Division who has neither a major nor a minor in Kinesiology; or has a grade point average below 3.0 in the last 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units). The student may become eligible for admission to classified standing upon: satisfactory completion of prescribed upper-division undergraduate foundation coursework to be determined by the student’s advisor once admitted, and/or completion of six units of graduate coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in each course.

Requirements for Admission to Candidacy for the MA Degree

General university admission requirements  to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree are outlined in detail in the Catalog. The University requires that all graduate students complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)  as a condition for advancement to candidacy. For graduate courses that meet the GWAR, please refer to the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations website at www.sjsu.edu/gape. Following are additional requirements of the Department of Kinesiology for the Master of Arts degree.

Upon admission to the Graduate Division and prior to registration, each student should meet with a graduate academic advisor in the student’s chosen concentration area. If there are any deficiencies in a student’s undergraduate work, additional upper-division undergraduate foundation courses may be required. Foundation courses may not be counted for credit in the master’s program. If foundation units are required. additional upper-division KIN units will be assigned by the graduate advisor.

A proposed program for the graduate objective selected should be developed as early as possible with the assistance of a graduate academic advisor in the student’s concentration area.

The proposed program must be approved by the graduate advisor, the graduate coordinator, and the Office of Graduate Studies before the student is considered a candidate for the Master of Arts degree.

Graduation Requirements

University Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) .  In Kinesiology, students must pass either KIN 250  or KIN 251  with a grade of B or better to satisfy this requirement.

Completing Requirements for the MA - Kinesiology

Plan A (with Thesis)

The purpose of this plan is to provide concentrated study in one of the subdisciplinary areas of Kinesiology. It is crucial that students electing Plan A identify the focus of their concentration early so that an appropriate thesis topic may be developed and a thesis committee selected.

Required courses are KIN 250 , KIN 251 , and KIN 299  (6 units). Concentration and Elective classes (18 units) from the student’s selected concentration should be determined in consultation with a graduate academic advisor. A maximum of 9 units may be selected from outside the Department of Kinesiology.

Plan B (Non-Thesis)

This plan is for students interested in producing a research-based creative project in Kinesiology. The plan requires a special project in place of a thesis.

Required courses are KIN 250 , KIN 251 , and KIN 298  (3 units).

Concentration and Elective classes (21 units) from the student’s selected concentration should be determined in consultation with a graduate academic advisor. A maximum of 9 units may be selected from outside the Department of Kinesiology.

Master’s Requirements (30 units)


At least 15 units must be 200-level courses.

Plan A (with Thesis) (30 units)


Electives (18 units)


9 units maximum from outside Kinesiology

Culminating Experience (6 units)


Plan B (Non-Thesis) (30 units)


Electives (21 units)


9 units maximum from outside Kinesiology

Culminating Experience (3 units)


Total Units Required (30 units)


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