Emphasis: Biomechanics and neuromotor control
The Biomechanics and neuromotor control emphasis area provides advanced knowledge for understanding how the human nervous system controls movement and how the neurological disease affects motor function. Students will focus on the application of the laws of physics to the motion of biological systems.
In this emphasis area, the study of the mechanical and electromyographic analysis of human motion is combined with neurophysiological knowledge about the various neuronal subsystems that are active during movement planning and execution. This synthesis between biomechanics and neuroscience provides the basis for understanding how the brain controls bodily and limb motion.
Students will gain important knowledge for application in areas such as physical therapy, rehabilitation medicine, robotics, general psychology, or neuroscience.
The program has strong interdisciplinary connections to the University of Minnesota’s program in physical therapy and the graduate program in neuroscience.
Associated labs
- Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, directed by Jürgen Konczak, PhD
- NeuroRehabilitation Across the Lifespan (NeuRAL Lab), directed by Rachel Hawe, PhD
About our students
Quote from Arash Mahnan, Kinesiology PhD
Because this disease is classified as a rare disease, most large medical companies don’t want to devote the time and money into the research required to develop a treatment. I am excited to move this technology forward. My goal is to make it real, to eventually bring the device to the market, and to help SD patients to get their voice back.
Mahnan is a member of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, and received the 2019-2020 MnDRIVE Commercialization Fellowship in Neuromodulation – Discoveries through Industry Partnerships to further his medical device research.
How to apply
Before you apply
Before you apply review the MS/MA vs MEd information. All master's programs are designed to educate students in their chosen degree path and prepare them for professional or academic work. Read through the MS/MA versus MEd comparison page to decide which program is the best fit for you.
It is highly recommended that applicants contact the professor they are interested in working with before applying online. It helps facilitate the application process and familiarizes the professor with applicants and their interests.
Apply
All required materials need to be submitted by the application deadline, December 1.
Applications received by December 1 will be given priority consideration for admission and financial support. The majority of applications are reviewed in January for admission for the following fall semester. A few applicants with exceptional credentials or exceptional situations may be considered for admission outside this review period or for semesters other than fall, but these are rare and are subject to faculty advisor availability.
Graduate school application requirements
You will apply online through the University of Minnesota Graduate School.
- Graduate application instructions
- Admission requirements
School of Kinesiology application requirements
Applications must be completed online and the fee ($75 for permanent U.S. residents, $95 for international students) paid by credit card. The School of Kinesiology requires applicants to:
- Complete an online application
- Upload a personal statement
- Upload a diversity statement
- Upload a research description
- Upload copies of unofficial transcripts
- Upload one (1) scholarly writing sample
- Upload three (3) letters of recommendation
- Graduate assistantship application (if interested): Assistantships in the department are competitive and the number of assistantships given each year is limited. Chances for getting an assistantship vary from year to year depending on availability and funding. Applicants must not assume that they will be awarded an assistantship automatically if they are accepted into the program. Admitted students should contact their future faculty advisor directly for more information.
Starting with the 2024-25 admissions cycle, GRE scores will not be considered in the admissions review process for PhD or master's (MS or MA) applications. Additionally, GMAT scores will not be considered in the admissions review process for master's (MA) applications.
All School of Kinesiology application materials are uploaded to the online application system and must be submitted by December 1 for the following fall semester.
Application process and timeline
An admission decision notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the School’s admission committee and your unofficial transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by University officials.
Applicants who apply by the due date (December 1) should receive an admissions decision in January or February. Assistantship applicants will find out if they received an assistantship no later than mid-April.
Review process
Faculty with expertise in the emphasis areas identified by the applicants will review the MS/MA and PhD applications. Based on the comments and recommendations of the faculty, the director of graduate studies makes the final recommendations to the Graduate School, which informs students of the School's decision.
Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. In making admission decisions, faculty reviewers and the director of graduate studies consider level of achievement in previous college work, performance on standardized graduate exams, experience, congruence of the program with an applicant's stated goals, advising and teaching load of faculty in the identified emphasis area, and academic records of other applicants for the same emphasis.
Potential MS/MA or PhD students who have not received a response by late March, should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Readmission requirements for MS, MA, and PhD students
- Contact the faculty advisor prior to the readmission application submission, and
- Contact the graduate program coordinator to request the paperwork for readmission.
Tuition and funding
Questions?
We’re here to help. Get in touch with our Graduate Studies Office through the request information form or contact one of our staff.
