Doctoral Program: Admission

Submission Deadlines for Kinesiology Admission Applications

* Recommended for all students: each faculty mentor has a limited number of openings each semester

** Subject to change; may be earlier

Admission Criteria

Admission is based competitively on demonstrated potential for scholarly achievement, satisfactory preparation and motivation for advanced graduate work in one of our Areas of Study, and clear research interests that are compatible with our faculty expertise. Letters of recommendation, GRE scores, documentation of special preparation/ background, career goals and personal attributes are all carefully evaluated for the purpose of selecting only the most qualified applicants.

Regardless of academic preparation, a qualified faculty member in the proposed Area of Study must be willing to sponsor and mentor the student. Applicants should be able to identify the graduate faculty member with whom they would prefer to study. Applicants are encouraged to visit the campus and make appointments to interview with faculty in the area of specialization.

Grade Point Average

The minimum scholastic standard is a 3.5 on a (4.0 scale) in previously taken graduate work, and minimum 3.0 overall average in the final two years of undergraduate study.

Graduate Record Examination

The verbal, quantitative and analytical portions of the GRE arerequired. Prospective doctoral students should score above the mean in each portion of the test, and above 600 in at least one of the three sections.

General Prerequisites

Applicants are expected to have taken, at a minimum, undergraduate Kinesiology courses specific to the intended Area of Study. Each Area may also recommend support undergraduate courses in the parent discipline, such as chemistry and physiology for exercise physiologists, calculus for motor control specialists, upper level sociology courses for sports studies students, etc.

Evaluation

Applications are reviewed by the graduate faculty in the area of specialization only after all materials relative to the admission criteria are received. The status of materials can be verified through the Graduate Secretary at (301) 405-2455. Applicants with no clearly stated research interests that are compatible with at least one faculty member may be denied admission regardless of successful performance in other admission criteria. The Graduate School officially notifies the applicant concerning the admission decision, and informs admitted students of registration procedures. The Department of Kinesiology Director of Graduate Studies notifies the student about advisor assignment and financial aid considerations.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission status is explained in the Graduate School materials but it is rarely used by the Department of Kinesiology. If GRE scores are borderline or if prerequisite course work is insufficient, we would prefer that you request delaying action on your application until the issue has been satisfactorily remedied. Faculty may bring special cases to the Graduate Committee at the end of September (for Spring Admission) and at the end of April (for Fall Admission).

The Graduate School may use this designation if official verification of baccalaureate degree is not received. Provisional admission is not a possibility for international students.

International Students

In addition to the admission criteria listed above, the international students must be able to demonstrate command of the English language through TOEFL scores, or be a native speaker of English*. Since provisional admission is not possible for international students, these applicants must receive very high evaluations on all academic admission criteria. In addition, clearance must be obtained through the Office of International Education Services (IES). This process is very time- consuming and typically takes at least one year.

* International students applying for teaching assistantships must also submit Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores (in addition to TOEFL scores).

University of Maryland Master's Students

Students obtaining the Master's degree at the University of Maryland (UMCP) must be evaluated and formally accepted into the Doctoral program in the manner previously described. Successful completion of the M.A. degree does not carry with it any guarantee of admittance to Ph.D. program. In addition, the student must clearly demonstrate additional knowledges to be gained and have the unqualified sponsorship of the appropriate faculty member. A student admitted to the Doctoral program will be permitted to enroll in only one semester of Doctoral work prior to completing all requirements for the Master's degree, including the thesis.