The Kinesiology program is designed to provide students with a foundation in the sciences with emphasis in exercise, health, injury prevention and care, as well as sport sciences. Students enrolled in this program are prepared for entrance into health-related fitness and sport science professions. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for certification examinations offered by the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and to apply for advanced study in a variety of applied health science and allied health programs (Athletic Training, Exercise Physiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc.).
Internship Requirements
Eligibility for the Kinesiology Internship requires the successful completion of KINS 316 , KINS 370 , KINS 386 , KINS 387 and a C- in KINS 486 , junior academic standing or above, and an overall GPA of 2.0. The internship requirements are 320 hours over 8-10 weeks in a supervised, off-campus learning experience in a clinical, community, or sports-oriented fitness setting. The internship takes place during the summer between the junior and senior years.
Concentrations (15 Credits):
Students can select a concentration at the same time that they declare Kinesiology as their major. Students should select a concentration within the major that aligns with their professional aspirations.
- Health and Human Performance Concentration
- Applied Health Sciences Professions Concentration
Health and Human Performance Concentration:
Students selecting the Health and Human Performance concentration will gain specialized knowledge and skills pertaining to exercise physiology with healthy and diseased populations as well as strength and conditioning. They will be employable as strength and conditioning professionals, exercise physiologists and health and fitness professionals. Students also will be prepared to continue their education in graduate school.
Applied Health Sciences Professions Concentration:
Students selecting the Applied Health Sciences Profession concentration will gain knowledge and skills related to patient care of the physically active population under the direction of athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, and exercise scientists. Coursework is directly related to injury prevention, acute injury management, therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation, interprofessional practice, evidence-based practice, and professional responsibility. Students also will be prepared to continue their education in graduate school for applied health science and allied health programs (athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.). See the Health-Career/Pre-Professional Preparation section for additional information.
Health-Careers/Pre-Professional Preparation
Students interested in pursuing health-related professions should become familiar with selected professional school(s) early in their academic career as course requirements for individual schools vary. Not all courses that may be required for admission into professional schools are included in the Kinesiology coursework and students should be sure to allot room in their academic plan for these additional courses.
Although a Kinesiology degree is not an entrance requirement for most health-related professional school programs, it does provide a solid foundation for how the human body works. Furthermore, the four-year Kinesiology major curriculum already includes the courses that are typically required and will prepare students for the required admissions exams (MCAT or GRE), usually taken after completing their junior year. Please note that the MCAT exam includes the topics of Biochemistry, Sociology, Psychology, and Statistics. As minimal preparation, students should complete all required courses by the end of their junior year. Students should also invest a substantial amount of time preparing for the requisite admission exam.
For admission into graduate or professional school, students should have a strong GPA and score competitively on the admissions exam. To be a viable candidate for admission to a medical/dental/physical therapy/various health-related professions school, students must also demonstrate firsthand experience in their chosen area of study. This can be accomplished by “shadowing” a clinician whereby a preprofessional student observes and assists practicing health professionals or through volunteer or paid work in a hospital, clinic, or other health setting. Please note that this “shadowing” does not meet the criteria for the required Kinesiology Internship that must be “hands-on.”
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