Bachelors (BS) in Kinesiology
Overview
The Kinesiology major offers a 59- to 61-semester-hour course of study that focuses on physical activity and how the human body’s movement impacts health, performance, and quality of life. The Kinesiology major is appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in sport science, exercise physiology, sports medicine, allied health (i.e. physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and corporate wellness), health promotion, physical education and health teaching, medicine, and wellness. The major consists of two concentrations: exercise science and physical activity and health promotion.
The Exercise Science concentration offers an interdisciplinary course of study, designed to help prepare students seeking advanced degrees or working in exercise science related fields including allied health professions (i.e. physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, physician assistant, sports medicine), biomechanics, exercise physiology, and other related professions. The concentration includes strong emphasis on the physical and life sciences and health and human performance.
The Physical Activity and Health Promotion concentration offers an interdisciplinary course of study, designed to help prepare students in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles in various community settings including schools (physical education and health teaching), worksites (worksite wellness), hospitals, and other community agencies (health coaching, personal training). Students in this program gain knowledge of “best practices” on how to encourage and measure the impact of physical activity in a variety of settings and populations.
Students are required to obtain a minimum grade of C- in all courses taken for the major.
Degree Outcomes
Graduates with a BS in kinesiology will:
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of the form and function of the human body.
- Critically evaluate exercise science research in order to design and implement exercise science research studies to confirm or generate new knowledge to the discipline.
- Use qualitative and quantitative reasoning and evidence, synthesizing information from a variety of origins to methodically and systematically develop interventions to solve issues or answer questions to gaps in the literature related to exercise science.
- Communicate effectively both through writing and orally to both lay and professional audiences.
- Increased one’s knowledge of exercise science professions, as well as practice and learn the techniques of this specific profession.
- Learn the skill of problem solving by using critical thinking skills as related to exercise science.
Major Requirements
Complete the following:
A supervised experience in the discipline, including internships and practica required for professional programs. This experience must have an on-site supervisor and a departmental instructor overseeing, designing and evaluating the content of the course. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.