MOVEMENT SCIENCE, SPORT MANAGEMENT, AND
INTRAOPERATIVE NEUROPHYSIOLOGY (IONP)
MASTER'S APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. 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. (500 word limit)

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 UMID (if known)

2. 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 the Kinesiology Graduate Program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. Please do not repeat your personal statement. (500 word limit)

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 UMID (if known)

3. Letters of Recommendation

You must submit three (3) letters of recommendation in support of your application. These letters should ordinarily be from professors at your last degree-granting institution. Recommenders must complete their recommendations online. When you register the recommenders' names in your Rackham application, you will automatically receive an email with a link to enter the recommendation online. You should check the status of your recommendations on the Rackham website status page. Additional details are on Rackham's Letters of Recommendation page.

4. Transcripts

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

5. TOEFL/IELTS (Academic Test) Scores

• TOEFL/IELTS (academic test) scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English, regardless of educational experience.
• The University of Michigan code for the TOEFL/IELTS is 1839. (The department code is not necessary, since 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.)

6. Résumé or CV

7. Bachelor’s Degree

You must complete a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the Movement Science, Sport Management, or Intraoperative Neurophysiology (IONP) master's program.​

8. Prerequisite Coursework for the Intraoperative Neurophysiology (IONP) Program ONLY:

You must show proof of completion of the following courses prior to beginning the Intraoperative Neurophysiology (IONP) master's program. Pre-health students will likely already have these as part of their course plan!

• Biology (animal)
• Calculus (I)
• Chemistry
• Physics (mechanics)
• General psychology
• Human anatomy
• Human physiology
• Statistics

If you're interested in confirming your prerequisites, complete the IONP Prerequisite Exception Form.

NOTE: The list above includes prerequisite courses for enrolling in the Intraoperative Neurophysiology (IONP) master's program only; they do NOT apply to the Athletic Training, Movement Science, or Sport Management master's programs.

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 using the  U-M Rackham School of Graduate Studies Application. Please use the appropriate program code:

• Movement Science MS: 02157
• Sport Management MS: 02159
• Intraoperative Neurophysiology (IONP) MS: 02475

1. 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

2. Email or mail to the Rackham Admissions Office
(Do NOT send anything to the School of Kinesiology):

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

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

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

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.

4. 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

MVS, SM & IONP Master's FAQs

1. Are there course prerequisites for enrolling in School of Kinesiology master's programs?
There are no prerequisites for the Movement Science or Sport Management master's programs. IONP master's program prerequisites are outlined in the "Application Requirements" section above. Athletic Training master's program prerequisites are outlined on the Athletic Training Admissions page.

2. My undergraduate major was not in Kinesiology, but I am very interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Movement Science, Sport Management, or IONP. 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 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Does the School of Kinesiology offer distance learning for its graduate programs?
No, we do not offer distance learning for any of our graduate programs.

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

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

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

14. 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.

15. 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].

16. 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.

17. Do you offer application fee waivers?
If you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver based on the following criteria, please complete the Kinesiology Fee Waiver Application. Fee waivers are limited and are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Fee Waiver Criteria:

1. You have applied for but have not received or do not meet the requirements for a Rackham Graduate School Fee Waiver and
2. You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and
3. You have a record of high academic achievement (please send unofficial transcript) and
4. You meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Come from an educational, cultural, or geographic background that is underrepresented in graduate study in your discipline in the United States or at the University of Michigan or
• Are a first generation U.S. citizen or the first generation in your family to graduate from a four-year college or
• Are a 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 that 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].