Kinesiology, M.S.

Overview

You’re ready to accelerate your life — your learning, your career, and your impact on others. At the heart of your interest in the study of human movement and well-being is a passion to serve others in body, mind, and spirit.

Earn your Master of Science in Kinesiology (MS-KIN) through PLNU’s accelerated program in just one year. The program offers a flexible course load suited to your professional and academic goals, giving you the tools you need to pursue your calling in the dynamic and growing fields of applied exercise physiology, human performance, and health interventions in clinical and non-clinical populations.

As part of the program, you’ll choose from one of four concentrations to further specialize your education: Biomechanics, Sport Science, Clinical Exercise Physiology, or Strength and Conditioning. Each is designed to equip you with in-depth expertise and practical experience aligned with your career path.

Program Concentrations

The curriculum for each of the concentrations within the MS-KIN intentionally aligns with national guild standards of industry-leading organizations.

The Clinical Exercise Physiology curriculum is aligned with the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
The Strength and Conditioning concentration is aligned with the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) standards in preparing students to sit for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification.
The Sport Science concentration aligns with the NSCA’s standards for the growing field of sport and prepares students to sit for the Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) credential.
The Biomechanics concentration aligns with the knowledge, skills, and aims of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) as well as prepares students to sit for the NCSA’s CPSS credential.
The Sport Management concentration is aligned with the standards of the North American Society for Sport Management.

Sport Science

The Sport Science curriculum is designed to launch students into the field of high performance as a sport science practitioner and prepares them to pass the rigorous Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) exam, which is a new requirement by many national and professional sporting organizations. Students will build upon their knowledge of coaching, training, and strength and conditioning skills by learning the advanced athlete monitoring and performance testing techniques that modern teams rely on. This concentration will prepare you to:

Apply both laboratory and field-based assessment techniques in collegiate sport, professional sport, and tactical settings using the latest sport science technology.
Integrate the latest research with a nuanced understanding of training theory to translate evidence into action in a high-performance setting.
Learn the foundations of data science such as data handling and processing, data visualization, athlete dashboard creation, and basic coding techniques.

Students will have opportunities to learn from and work with sport scientists in the San Diego region and have access to state-of-the-art athlete testing and monitoring facilities to enhance their practical experience. The program will prepare students to work with college and professional athletes through a collaborative, interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, all students are trained in training theory and applied coaching techniques that the modern sport scientist must know to integrate into the high-performance environment.

Biomechanics

The Biomechanics curriculum is designed for careers in human movement science, athlete development, and sports medicine. The curriculum will prepare students to:

Integrate the fundamental principles of physics, mathematics, anatomy, and physiology in the comprehensive analyses of human movement in sports and clinical settings.
Apply knowledge of the ability to capture, reduce, and analyze biomechanical data to establish key kinematic, kinetic, and muscle-activation indicators of athletic performance and injury risk.
Incorporate scientific methods and data-driven outcomes to inform best practices within the context of athletic performance and injury risk.
Develop interdisciplinary approaches for performing common laboratory and field assessments to evaluate and employ emerging technologies for gathering biomechanical data that operationally define key performance indicators.

Students will have the opportunity to have hands-on experience in biomechanically evaluating collegiate, amateur, and professional athletes from the local and national sports organizations. A select group of graduate students from the PLNU x Padres Biomechanics Laboratory will also participate in mobile lab studies at spring training facilities.

Clinical Exercise Physiology

The Clinical Exercise Physiology curriculum is designed for careers in exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, and fitness assessment and exercise prescription, this concentration will prepare you to:

Incorporate current best evidence and practices to make effective clinical decisions and advance scholarship in exercise science.
Collaborate with colleagues to determine health, fitness, and disease states in clients and patients to enhance care.
Create exercise interventions to prevent and treat chronic diseases.

The program will prepare students as clinical exercise physiologists and cardiac rehabilitation specialists to receive the highest level of certification by the ACSM, which requires the completion of a master’s degree.

Strength and Conditioning

Point Loma Nazarene University is committed to offering the most comprehensive Graduate Program in Strength and Conditioning for students dedicated to excellence in the field of sport and human performance. The Strength and Conditioning curriculum is designed to meet the standard for accreditation under the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education as approved by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Designed for professionals in the fields of strength and conditioning working with collegiate and professional athletes, as well as practitioners in tactical strength and conditioning, this concentration will prepare you to:

Understand the scientific principles that underpin acute and chronic adaptations to strength training and conditioning, with a multidisciplinary approach that spans from sports biomechanics to exercise physiology.
Apply evidence-based practice in program design and periodization, including resistance training, endurance training, plyometric training, speed, power, and agility.
Develop an interdisciplinary, structured, and well-integrated approach for athlete testing and monitoring to manage fatigue, decrease the risk of injury, and optimize performance.
Utilize advanced sport testing and athlete monitoring techniques.

In addition to your professors, you will be instructed by industry-leading professionals in the San Diego region and have access to state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facilities to enhance their practical experience. Historically, our students have fared very well on the globally recognized Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam, with industry-leading pass rates.

Sport Management

The Sport Management curriculum is designed for professionals in sport management, sport leadership, and sport education settings, this concentration will prepare you to:

Master key management and leadership principles to direct sports organizations and athletic programs effectively
Develop strategic decision-making skills while gaining at least 100 hours of relevant professional experience in the San Diego sports industry
Effectively serve the sport and sport-education industries through faith-based ethical management principles and practices

The curriculum will highlight key management, leadership, and entrepreneurial strategies, offering courses in kinesiology and PLNU’s MBA program. The program will allow for upward mobility to teachers, athletic directors, coaches, and sport managers in their various fields.

PLNU pitcher steps to throw a pitch at the Biomechanics Lab

The PLNU + San Diego Padres Biomechanics Lab

See how our state-of-the-art biomechanics lab will help equip PLNU graduate students for success in their careers as they work with athletes.

Learn More

Relevant Experience

Take courses that pair a functional, applied learning approach with the latest industry research, trends, and technology, giving you the real-world experience today to fulfill your potential tomorrow.

PLNU Kinesiology Graduate Assistant and Teaching Assistant Positions

Each year, the program selects a small number of highly motivated students for various graduate assistant and teaching assistant positions. The positions range from 5-20 hours per week and compensate students with a benefit comparable to 25% - 50% of their tuition.

Professional Preparedness

Foster relationships with industry leaders, gain exposure to internship and job opportunities, and learn from faculty and professional colleagues through a robust, flexible, and customizable curriculum.

This program brings together some of the best experts in the areas of human physiology, biomechanics, and sport science to guide our students to achieve excellence in their growing careers. Our students gain valuable field experience through rigorous internships with some of Southern California's best collegiate and professional sports teams, premiere research facilities, and large health organizations.

Pursue Your Purpose

Develop a deeper understanding of how to faithfully apply your work to the wellness of the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — in the context of your particular concentration.

PLNU's MS-KIN program is designed to prepare knowledgeable and career-focused professionals for the dynamic and growing fields of clinical exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, sport science, and sport management. Through a robust curriculum, collaborative group work, and direct professional experiences, you’ll be equipped to integrate the current best research evidence with your professional practice to solve relevant problems for clients, athletes, patients, or businesses related to the healthcare, sport, and fitness industries.

This accelerated 12-month program offers flexibility, speed, and quality, making it ideal for working professionals and recent graduates with a four-year baccalaureate degree looking to advance quickly in their career. Graduates of undergraduate kinesiology programs such as exercise science, strength and conditioning, athletic training, physical education, sport management, exercise physiology, and pre-allied health are well-situated to pursue this master’s program.

The MS-KIN curriculum includes 30-33 total units. All students in the program will complete 18 units of core courses. Upon completion, students are required to follow a 12-unit concentration in either exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, sport science, or sport management.

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Application Information

Program Start Date(s):

Fall 2025 — September 2, 2025

Application Deadline(s):

Fall 2025 — August 15, 2025

If you are interested in applying to any of our Graduate Assistant (GA) or Teaching Assistant (TA) positions, please scroll to the Financial Aid & Student Support section for more information.

Start Application

The Selection Process

The educational context at PLNU will challenge you to live a full life that integrates the pursuit of knowledge with beliefs, values, and actions. While honoring diverse perspectives and beliefs, Christian values and principles are woven into the educational experience. We understand your application is not only a reflection of you as a student; it reflects you as a person. At PLNU, we holistically evaluate your academic history, work and life experience, background, and circumstances to determine admission into a graduate program. Your undergraduate GPA is an important piece of your application, but if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of a 3.0, you may still be eligible for admission based on your application package as well as the exceptions policy per your particular program.* Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor, who will advise you regarding your qualifications and provide specific information about the admission-under-exceptions process.

To be admitted into PLNU's MS-KIN, you must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by an official transcript from that institution indicating the completion of an undergraduate degree.

If you have any questions about your qualifications or the program in general, we encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor.

*Exceptions Policy: If you have a GPA below 3.0 in your baccalaureate degree, you will need to speak with your enrollment counselor for more information on the exceptions materials needed for your particular program.

Program Prerequisites

Please refer to the program prerequisite course descriptions below for any concentration within the MS-KIN program you may be interested in. During the application process be prepared to submit a syllabus for the each of the listed prerequisites along with your transcripts.

Clinical Exercise Physiology Concentration

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Examines the human body from an integrated perspective. Topics include an introduction to chemistry and cell function, tissue types, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system.

*Students looking to fulfill their anatomy prerequisite have the option to complete it through PLNU's Anatomy Learning Institute.

Exercise Physiology

A study of the effects of vigorous physical activity upon the systems of the body; development of an understanding of factors which constitute training of the human body for high levels of health and physical performance.

Strength and Conditioning Concentration

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Examines the human body from an integrated perspective. Topics include an introduction to chemistry and cell function, tissue types, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system.

*Students looking to fulfill their anatomy prerequisite have the option to complete it through PLNU's Anatomy Learning Institute.

Structural Kinesiology

An In-depth study of the structure and function of neuro-musculo-skeletal components of the human body in motion.

Exercise Physiology

A study of the effects of vigorous physical activity upon the systems of the body; development of an understanding of factors that constitute training of the human body for high levels of health and physical performance.

Sport Management Concentration

None

No prerequisite other than those required for courses offered in the Fermanian School of Business.

Biomechanics Concentration

Human Anatomy and Physiology (or Structural Kinesiology)

Examines the human body from an integrated perspective. Topics include an introduction to chemistry and cell function, tissue types, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system; as well as in-depth study of the structure and function of neuro-musculoskeletal components of the human body in motion.

*Students looking to fulfill their anatomy prerequisite have the option to complete it through PLNU's Anatomy Learning Institute.

Statistics

A first course in statistics for the general student. Description of sample data, probability theory, theoretical frequency distributions, sampling, estimation, and hypothesis testing.

General Physics (or Applied Biomechanics)

A general introduction to physics including classical mechanics and thermodynamics with math at the algebra/trigonometry level. Application of Newtonian physics to the understanding and teaching of movement in the physical activity and rehabilitative contexts.

Application Checklist

Note: The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU, and test scores, which should be submitted electronically.

Submit online application for admissions (including $50 non-refundable application fee, which is waived for PLNU alums, current or former military and their dependents, and PLNU employees).
Submit official transcripts with proof of earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.* (If you are a PLNU alumnus, please notify your counselor to have your transcripts retrieved. You do not need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records.)

Official transcripts must be sent to:
Point Loma Nazarene University
Office of Graduate Admissions
3900 Lomaland Dr.
San Diego, CA 92106

Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
gradprocessing@pointloma.edu

*Please note, official transcripts must be sent directly from the regionally accredited institution.
Submit personal essay. Specifically state how you would like to use your master’s degree from PLNU to further your career. Make sure you clearly touch on these three points:
- Clarify what job setting you see yourself pursuing upon completing the MS-KIN and specify how this degree program will help you in that setting.
- Describe how you will appraise, use, and integrate current evidence in kinesiology into your professional practice.
- State how your previous education and work experiences have uniquely prepared you for success in this program.
Submit a resume/vita.
Once you have submitted your admissions application, your three selected professional recommenders will automatically be sent the auto-generated document to complete on your behalf. If you'd like to include a written letter in addition to this required document, you may do so, but it's unnecessary.
Ensure undergraduate course prerequisites are met:
- Clinical Exercise Physiology Concentration: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise Physiology
- Strength and Conditioning Concentration: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Structural Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology
- Sport Science Concentration: Exercise Physiology, Statistics, Praxis of Strength Training and Conditioning (or equivalent)
- Biomechanics Concentration: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Statistics, Physics
- Sport Management Concentration: No prerequisite other than those required for courses offered in the Fermanian School of Business

Start Application

Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistant Positions:

We offer a variety of paid Graduate Assistant and Teaching Assistant positions within our Kinesiology programs.

View Available Positions

You can indicate your interest in any of the positions during the application. If you have any questions, please contact your enrollment counselor.

Admission into a distance education program offered by Point Loma Nazarene University is granted at the time of initial acceptance into the program and is dependent on authorized program availability in the state where the student is physically located at the time of admission. If a student moves to another state after admission to the program, continuation within the program will depend on whether Point Loma Nazarene University is authorized to offer distance education courses in that state and/or whether Point Loma Nazarene University meets the professional licensure requirements for a specific program in that state. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the institution of a change in his or her physical presence.

State Authorization

State authorization is a formal determination by a state that PLNU is approved to conduct activities regulated by that state. PLNU is not required to obtain state authorization in every state, and the university has opted at this time not to seek authorization in some states. Additionally, PLNU meets the criteria for exemption from authorization in certain states.

At this time, PLNU does not have authorization in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, which means residents of these states cannot enroll in any PLNU online program or course. For more information refer to our disclosures page.

Authorizations in specific states may change periodically. PLNU recommends individuals contact PLNU admissions at (800) 733-7770 for the latest information.

Career Opportunities

PLNU’s MS-KIN will prepare you for careers in education, athletics, healthcare, sports administration, business, and many other specialized fields.