MOVEMENT SCIENCE AND SPORT MANAGEMENT MASTER'S APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of the student's application must be submitted. These letters should ordinarily be from professors at the student's last degree-granting institution. Recommenders must complete their recommendations online. When the applicant registers the recommenders' names in the Rackham application, an email is automatically sent with a link to enter the recommendation online. Applicants should check the status of their recommendations on the Rackham website status page.  Additional details on the Rackham website, Letters of Recommendation page.

2. Transcripts

We require one scanned or electronic official transcript uploaded to the online application for all undergraduate and/or graduate programs in which you have received a degree. If you have not yet completed your baccalaureate degree, you may submit a current (in-progress) transcript now and a final transcript showing degree conferral upon graduation.

3. Academic Statement of Purpose

The Academic Statement of Purpose should be a concise, well-written statement about your academic preparation, practical experience, and/or research background related to the area(s) within Kinesiology that you’re interested in studying. It should also include your career goals and how Kinesiology's graduate program will help you meet your career, and educational objectives.

The following information is required on the header of your Academic Statement of Purpose:

• The title "Academic Statement of Purpose"
• Your name
• The name of the graduate program
• Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)

4. Personal Statement

The personal statement should address how your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, have motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either especially plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Please do not repeat your Academic Statement of Purpose.

The following information is required on the header of your Personal Statement:

• The title "Personal Statement"
• Your name
• The name of the graduate program
• Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)

5. TOEFL/IELTS (academic test scores).

• TOEFL/IELTS scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English, regardless of your educational experience.
• The University of Michigan code for the TOEFL/IELTS is 1839. (The department code is not necessary, since the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores are automatically added to applicant records as long as name and birth date can be matched.).
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all non-native speakers. The University of Michigan requires a minimum TOEFL score of 84 for admissions (Internet Based TOEFL), or 6.5 for IELTS. (For other English test minimum scores, please refer to the Rackham website.)

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

This section describes where to send your materials, and how to check your application's status. 

The Rackham Graduate School and the Kinesiology Graduate Program team up to manage the application review process. As an applicant, you will be interacting with both offices.

Applications must be submitted online via the U-M Rackham School of Graduate Studies website. Program codes to use in the application may be found below:

• Movement Science MS: 02157
• Sport Management MS: 02159

Submit and/or upload to Rackham website:

• Application
• Recommender names and email addresses
• Transcript (scan of official or unofficial transcript for degree-granting schools only)
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Résumé or CV

1. Email/Mail to the Rackham Admissions Office:

One set of official transcripts from degree-granting institutions only to:

Rackham Graduate School
Attn: Transcripts/U-M ID# (if known) or Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
915 E. Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
USA

Information about Rackham's transcript policy may be found on their website.

2. Do NOT mail anything to the School of Kinesiology

3. Complete and submit your Application for Admission

Submit your online application via Rackham's website. Be sure to check the list of required materials before you continue to the online application.

How to check your application status and/or accept admission

Wolverine Access is the university's web portal, and it's your first stop for most of the things you’ll need to do. Prospective students will check their application status and accept admission here. To create a "Friend account" (guest account) to access Wolverine Access, follow the instructions found on the Friend Account page on the U-M Information and Technology Services website.

QUESTIONS?

Our master's FAQs below and the Student Life section of the Rackham website have a wealth of information about housing, health care, transportation, child care, and more.

If you have any additional questions about the master's admissions requirements or application process, contact Graduate Student Affairs at [email protected]. ​

• FAQs (below)
• Financial Aid
• Orientation
• Career Development Center

MVS and SM Master's FAQs

1. Are there course prerequisites for enrolling in the Movement Science or Sport Management master's programs?
No. There are course requirements for the Athletic Training master's program, though, and they can be found on the AT Admissions page.

2. My undergraduate major was not in Kinesiology, but I am very interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Movement Science or Sport Management. What should I do?
We accept students from all different types of undergraduate majors – we prefer a diverse cohort of students. Sometimes we ask students to take specific courses to help them attain the level of knowledge we would expect to ensure successful completion of our program. There are no specific prerequisite course requirements.

3. Do you have a GPA minimum requirement? All applicants should report their Grade Point Average (GPA) on page 5 of the online application. The GPA should be reported using a standard U.S. four-point scale. Applicants who attended an institution outside the United States should follow the instructions to convert their international average grade point to a U.S. four-point GPA (see "How to Convert Grades to a U.S. GPA" on the Scholaro website).

4. Do you accept the GRE?
We are no longer requiring or accepting GRE scores for the master's program.

5. Do you have minimum requirements for the TOEFL/IELTS (academic) test scores?
Your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score should be at least 84. We also accept International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (academic test) scores in place of the TOEFL. The minimum IELTS is 6.5. We require your most recent TOEFL or IELTS from all applicants whose native language is not English, regardless of their educational background.

6. I am an international student. Do I have to submit a TOEFL/IELTS (academic test) score if I received my master’s degree at an English-speaking university?
You must submit your most recent valid TOEFL/IELTS (academic test) score regardless of your educational background or Rackham requirements. There are no exceptions.

7. Is a master's thesis required?
The master's thesis is an option and is not required. However, if you intend to go on for your PhD, it’s strongly recommended.

8. Can I transfer credits toward my program?
Once you have been admitted and complete one successful semester, you can petition to transfer up to 6 credits toward your degree. All transfer credits must be approved by the graduate chair. View Rackham's transfer policy on their website.

9. Does the University of Michigan offer distance learning for the graduate program?
No, we do not offer distance learning for any of our graduate programs.

10. What’s the difference between Rackham Graduate School and the School of Kinesiology?
The School of Kinesiology is one of the 19 schools and colleges at U-M. Our graduate program is co-administered by the Rackham Graduate School. Rackham oversees the requirements and procedures and certifies the admission recommendation as appropriate.

11. How much does it cost to attend graduate school?
View the U-M financial aid estimator tool on the U-M financial aid site.

12. What funding opportunities are available?
Although we do not have assistantships available at the master's level, admitted students can apply for incoming student scholarships. Scholarship information can be found on our Graduate Awards & Funding page.

13. Will I have a faculty advisor?
All admitted students will be assigned a faculty advisor based on their area of interest.

14. How do I view my admissions decision?
You can view application decisions online by following directions outlined on the Rackham Admissions page.

15. Should I come visit?
Visiting U-M and the School of Kinesiology is a good idea, so that you can get a feel for the faculty and students, as well as the Ann Arbor area. If you’d like to visit, email Graduate Student Affairs  ([email protected]) with a convenient day and time. They will set up a meeting and email you the details. Let them know if you would like to meet with current students while you’re here.

We also offer in-person and webinar info sessions. Check our Events page for dates and details.

16. How can I find a place to live?
Previous graduate students have found the University Housing website helpful. If your question isn't answered on this page, check the Rackham Admissions page or email us at [email protected].

17. Does the School of Kinesiology offer a Strength and Conditioning program?
No, we do not have courses or degree programs in Strength and Conditioning. Our movement science focus is injury prevention and rehabilitation, sport medicine, biomechanics, exercise physiology, health and fitness, and/or motor control and development.

18. Do you offer application fee waivers? Use the following link to apply: Kinesiology Fee Waiver Application 
Based on the following criteria, if you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver, complete the following form https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07MeyPy9xMFBXlI. Fee waivers are limited and are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Fee Waiver Criteria:

1. You have applied for and not received or do not meet the requirements for a Rackham Graduate School Fee Waiver and 
2. You must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and
3. You have a record of high academic achievement (send unofficial transcript) and
4. You must meet one or more of the following:

• Come from an educational, cultural or geographic background that is underrepresented in a graduate study;

• Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity in the academic, professional, or civic realm through your work experience, volunteer engagement, or leadership of student or community organizations. By diversity, we mean efforts to reduce social, educational or economic disparities based on race, ethnicity or gender, or to improve race relations in the U.S.;

• Are a first generation U.S. citizen or first generation in your family to graduate from a four-year college. 

• Member of one of the following organizations;

  • Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS)

  • Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

  • Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)

  • Post-Baccalaureate Research and Education Program (PREP)

  • Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Institute (PPIA)

  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)

  • Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair)

Please keep in mind race, ethnicity, gender, or national origin may not be used as criteria for requesting an application fee waiver.

• One fee waiver is allowed per applicant. Additional applications submitted by the applicant will require payment of the application fee.
• If you pay the application fee and are approved to receive a fee waiver at a later date, the fee cannot be refunded.

If your question isn't answered on this page, check the Rackham Admissions page or email us at [email protected].