You are invited to explore Kinesiology at Michigan State University! The major is designed to prepare students for future study or careers in a wide range of fields related to movement, health, wellness and fitness. From research to internships to Study Abroad to clubs and organizations, Kinesiology majors have opportunities to connect course work to real-world experiences throughout their time at MSU!
High school students interested in admission to Michigan State University as Kinesiology or Athletic Training majors should start by contacting MSU Admissions for information and a link to the online application. The Office of Admissions reviews all undergraduate student applications and processes admissions to Colleges on a rolling basis. Early application is recommended.
Make sure to submit your ACT/SAT test scores, AP or other credit test scores and your high school and dual enrollment transcripts to MSU as part of your application to-do list!
Interested in a campus visit? There are many opportunities throughout the year to visit with MSU Admissions representatives, tour campus, attend special admissions events and meet with College advisors to discuss your major interest/requirements. Click on the Admissions Office link for campus visit options and registration information. Prospective freshman students can also meet with a Kinesiology/Athletic Training academic advisor on designated days each semester, as listed on the Academic Department Visits webpage (click on the College of Education link for specific days and times).
What can high school students do to prepare for Kinesiology at Michigan State?
Take classes that will prepare you for college-level learning – especially math and science!
Get experience. Volunteer in your community, look for job and job shadowing opportunities in the areas that are of interest to you. Build your network!
AP or dual enrollment classes can give high school students a taste of college-level learning prior to starting at Michigan State. Students can check the KIN Degree Planning Grid and the MSU Transfer Equivalency website to be sure that transferred credit will apply to specific course requirements. Feel free to contact an academic advisor if you have any questions or need clarification.
Attend the MSU Athletic Training High School Summer Camp.
Visit with a Kinesiology/Athletic Training advisor on a department visit day!
Students interested in transferring from another institution to Michigan State University as Kinesiology or Athletic Training majors should start by contacting MSU Admissions to complete the online application. The Office of Admissions reviews all transfer student applications and processes admissions to MSU Colleges and majors.
Kinesiology majors must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and complete a five-course core with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in each class by the time they reach junior status (56 credits).
Transfer students with more than 42 credits who still need one or more of the classes listed above will start out in another major at MSU and can switch to Kinesiology upon completion of the admission core course requirements. Please plan to attend the special Kinesiology Major Admission Information Session during summer transfer orientation for additional information.
Transfer students should refer to the information at www.transfer.msu.edu to find the MSU equivalencies for classes completed at other institutions. Additional information about the major and cognate areas related to career interests can be found in the Degree Requirements section of this website.
You can schedule an appointment with a KIN advisor online or check the website for walk-in hours.
Students who have reached junior standing (56 credits) must be admitted to a degree-granting college to continue at Michigan State University. To continue as a Kinesiology major in the College of Education after reaching 56 credits, all students must have a cumulative MSU GPA of at least 2.0 and complete the five admission core courses (or their approved equivalents) as listed above with a grade of 2.0 in each.
You are expected to reach junior status (56 credits) at the end of this semester, and you will not have met requirements for admission to the Kinesiology (KIN) major. Although it is possible that you will be admitted to the KIN major in the future, it will not be at the end of this semester. Because the University requires that all students with junior standing be admitted to a degree-granting program, you must change out of the KIN major and into a different major. If you do not change your major before the beginning of your next semester, the Registrar’s Office will automatically drop you from all of the courses in which you have already enrolled. We don’t want that to happen!
We want to help you make a successful transition to another major. We can suggest majors that align well with your interests and talents and provide information about the other majors that you are considering. We really want to help! Please schedule an appointment with a KIN/AT advisor.
It is important to read and respond to these messages! If students do not respond by changing their major before the beginning of their next semester of enrollment, all of the courses in which they are enrolled will automatically be dropped by the Office of the Registrar.
If/when all admission requirements have been satisfied, a student can apply for a major change by completing a major change form with a KIN advisor.
Some students need to repeat courses to meet Kinesiology admission requirements. As noted in the MSU Academic Programs Catalog, an undergraduate student may repeat no more than 20 credits in courses in which grades below 2.0 were received. Students who accumulate repeat credits while attempting to meet requirements for admission to Kinesiology should carefully consider whether it will be possible for them to complete the Kinesiology degree without exceeding the 20-credit limit. Students should investigate the rigorous courses required for this major, and consider whether they are well-aligned with their interests and abilities. We want all students to be successful at MSU, and that means making an informed choice about a major. We encourage all KIN students to meet with their advisors on a regular basis.
Nearly all of the courses required for admission to the Kinesiology major have equivalents at other institutions that have been approved for transfer to MSU (see the searchable database for MSU transfer course equivalencies). Only courses that transfer as approved equivalents of specific MSU courses may be used to satisfy KIN admission requirements.
Students may transfer courses from two-year institutions for credit until they reach 56 credits (junior standing). After achieving junior standing, courses can be transferred to satisfy requirements; however, the course credit will not transfer (that is, a course taken at a two-year institution can be transferred to satisfy an admission or degree requirement, but the credits will not transfer and will not count toward the 120/123 credit total required to earn a degree at MSU). Courses approved for transfer and taken at four-year institutions may be transferred with course credit before or after a student has reached 56 credits. Only courses in which a grade of 2.0 or better has been earned can be transferred to MSU.
MSU students may attend other institutions as Guest Students for short periods while earning credit for transfer to MSU. Students planning to attend accredited Michigan institutions should use the Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application. Students who wish to attend non-Michigan institutions should obtain application forms from the host institution.
Students are responsible for initiating the transfer of courses taken elsewhere to MSU. Students who plan to use courses taken at other institutions for admission to the Kinesiology major cannot be admitted until all courses required for admission have been posted to the student’s record. Please refer to the MSU Registrar's Website for guidelines and requirements regarding Guest Student Application and transfer of courses back to the University.
Any returning MSU student who started but did not complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology or Athletic Training will be held to current program requirements, including successful completion of the department admission core courses.
For additional information, please contact an undergraduate academic advisor.