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Kinesiology Major: Admissions Requirements, Universities and Salary

Kinesiology major is the study of how human movement mechanics affect our health and well-being. Students learn how to use a comprehensive approach, as well as Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Psychology principles, to help patients improve or repair their physical mobility.

Kinesiology degrees are becoming more popular as they may be used in a variety of fields, including health (body and mind), fitness, sport, and recreation.

How do you become a kinesiologist?

Aspiring kinesiologists have a variety of options for entering the field, but the sections below outline some of the most prevalent ones. Academic and professional requirements differ by state, school, and program, so students should consult their school and local organizations for further details.

In high school, study biology, chemistry, physics, and math.

Learners should develop a strong foundation in science and math in high school in order to pursue kinesiology in college. Chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics are typically required in kinesiology studies. AP classes in these topics can help applicants increase their chances of admission.

Some colleges also provide conditional offers or route programs, which allow candidates to complete prerequisites before beginning their degree.

Obtain a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

A bachelor’s degree in kinesiology will teach you how to examine, maintain, and rehab your movements. You’ll learn about kinesiology from a sociocultural perspective, as well as theoretical knowledge and the skills to apply it. A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum required in the profession, and it can qualify graduates for jobs as athletic trainers and exercise physiologists.

When looking for a bachelor’s degree, the first thing to consider is accreditation. Regional accreditation covers a whole institution or university and guarantees that it meets particular educational requirements. Furthermore, many types of financial aid may be available only at authorized colleges, and potential companies may only accept accredited degrees.

Accreditation of programs is also vital. High-achieving health science programs, for example, are recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

The resources contained in a health science department, as well as potential internship possibilities, are some additional program considerations for kinesiology students. Specializations in exercise science, rehabilitation science, exercise physiology, and sports performance are available within a kinesiology program. Specializations can broaden and increase a person’s employment opportunities.

Consider pursuing a Master’s in Kinesiology.

A master’s degree in kinesiology can lead to advanced roles in physical therapy and sports training, as well as rehabilitation expert positions. Sports medicine, health promotion, and gerontology are among areas where you can specialize.

The majority of master’s programs contain extensive practical requirements. These experiences, which often exceed 400 contact hours, provide students with vital field training. Practical graduates frequently leave with critical clinical skills.

Licensure by the state should be established.

Depending on their chosen profession, kinesiologists may require extra certificates to practice. Most states, for example, require athletic trainers to complete the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer certification exam.

To practice in all states, physical therapists must have a doctorate in physical therapy and be licensed by the American Physical Therapy Association. Occupational therapists, on the other hand, must have a master’s degree and accreditation from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

Get some hands-on experience in the field.

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Field experiences are the most crucial components of many health science curricula. Internships and practice are available to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in kinesiology. You can also volunteer or work in one of the campus’s healthcare facilities.

Professionals in sports training, exercise physiology, and kinesiotherapy typically learn specific procedures as well as how to operate specialist equipment and instrumentation in entry-level roles. New workers in each of these fields are supervised by physicians and experienced professionals.

Become a Registered Kinesiotherapist.

Kinesiotherapists utilize therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises to help patients improve their physical and mental health. CAAHEP provides accreditation to various kinesiotherapy programs that satisfy the highest standards in the profession, in collaboration with the American Kinesiotherapy Association and the Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT).

Graduates of these programs who register with COPSKT and have a minimum 2.5 GPA and 1,000 hours of clinical experience are eligible to take the registered kinesiotherapist (RKT) certification exam. The RKT certificate can help you develop in your profession and raise your earning potential.

Registration can also lead to clinical specialization, which can boost RKTs’ prestige and give them a leg up on the competition in the employment market.

Major Careers in Kinesiology

Athletic trainer – 44,000 USD per year

Athletic trainers work with a physician to prevent, identify, and treat injuries in persons of all ages (particularly athletes).

Chiropractor – 58,500 USD per year

Chiropractors are doctors who diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and neurological system disorders.

Massage therapist – 43,000 USD per year

Massage therapists work on the body’s soft-tissue muscles with touch and massaging techniques. Their practice helps patients relax by relieving discomfort, speeding up recovery, reducing stress, and reducing pain.

Physical therapist – 70,500 per year USD

Physical therapists (PTs) assist patients with health problems that limit them from moving or completing daily tasks in diagnosing and treating them.

Recreational Therapist – 44,000 USD per year

Leisure therapists use recreational activities such as music, dance, swimming, and games to assist individuals recover from injuries or illnesses.

Occupational Therapist – 80,000 US dollars per year

Occupational therapists employ everyday activities to help persons who are injured or impaired. Their work aids people in regaining and improving basic abilities required for work and daily life.

Is kinesiology an excellent major?

The science of human movement is known as kinesiology. A kinesiology degree can prepare you for a variety of jobs in the fitness, health, and recovery industries. If you’re interested in fitness and sports, a kinesiology degree might be suitable for you.

Kinesiology is all about movement, and it’s a terrific option for anyone who wants to stay active and connected to sports and fitness.

You want to know how the human body functions.

You’ll study how our bodies work on a systems and molecular level, in addition to being active. What role does nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and recovery play in the development of healthy bodies?

You wish to assist others in achieving their health and fitness goals.

The majority of the jobs you may acquire with a kinesiology degree involve assisting people! You’re specifically assisting people in embracing health and wellness. This degree might be appropriate for you if you enjoy motivating and inspiring others as they try to modify or improve their health.

You appreciate reading about nutrition and learning about it.

There will be occasions when you get to hit the books as a kinesiology major! You’ll excel in this degree and in this career if you appreciate reading about the latest theories in nutrition, fitness, and health.

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You wish to assist athletes in achieving their goals.

Sport psychology and athletic performance are at the heart of kinesiology – what is conceivable when the human body is pushed to its limits? If you appreciate assisting individuals in realizing their physical potential in sports, kinesiology could be the career for you!

Majors in Kinesiology at Colleges

Texas A&M University

Doctoral students at Texas A&M University can study astronaut physiology as part of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Training Program in Space Life Sciences. In 2020, Texas A&M University was ranked as the 78th best value school by U.S. News & World Report. The American Kinesiology Association is a member of Texas A&M University. It gives students access to 22 laboratories and facilities where they can study the impact of movement and exercise on the body and its development.

Exercise science, physical education, and dance science are among the 14 Bachelor of Science degrees offered by the Department of Health and Kinesiology. Students in the exercise science program specialize in either applied exercise physiology, fundamental exercise physiology, or motor behavior. Specializations in clinical and non-clinical exercise physiology, sports pedagogy and physiology, and motor neuroscience are among the ten graduate possibilities. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in health education or sport management can do so.

University of North Carolina

Students perform research in the Applied Physiology, Exercise Science Teaching, and Exercise Oncology labs at the University of North Carolina.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of North Carolina 10th on its list of best value institutions and among the top 30 colleges in the country in 2019. A Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science is offered by the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Students can concentrate on fitness, athletic training, or sports management in addition to the general major. The Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology and Ph.D. in Human Movement Science programs offer more advanced levels of study.

The University of Georgia in Athens is a public research university.

The Center for Physical Activity and Health is located at the University of Georgia. The Princeton Review selected the University of Georgia among the finest colleges in the southeast in 2019. The Department of Kinesiology at the university offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in Exercise and Sports Science curriculum that prepares students for graduate work in physical and occupational therapy, exercise physiology and psychology, biomechanics, and measuring. Students can earn an M.S. or Ph.D. in Exercise Science with a clinical or non-clinical exercise physiology emphasis. There are additional graduate degrees in sports training, exercise psychology, and biomechanics.

Iowa State University

Internships are available at health clubs and spas, hospitals, corporate programs, and cardiac rehabilitation centers at Iowa State University. Iowa State University’s Kinesiology Department offers two undergraduate majors: athletic training and kinesiology and health. Exercise science is one of five concentration options available to students majoring in kinesiology and health. The exercise science degree offers coursework in physiology of exercise, exercise psychology, and exercise leadership, as well as a 10-week internship requirement.

Students can pursue an M.S. or Ph.D. in kinesiology with a focus on exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor control, pedagogy, or physical activity/health promotion at the graduate level. These are research-based programs.

Average Salary for a Kinesiologist

The average income for a Kinesiologist in the United States is $53,750 per year ($4,480 per month), which is $260 (+0.5%) higher than the national average.

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The average starting salary for a Kinesiologist is $31,430. The top paid employees can earn up to $103,360 per year.

The typical starting salary for an Entry Level Kinesiologist with less than three years of experience is $38,680 per year. The typical income for a mid-level Kinesiologist with 4-9 years of experience is $47,700, while an experienced Kinesiologist with 10-20 years of experience earns $58,800. Kinesiologists with over 20 years of expertise make an average of $63,800 per year.

What Are the Different Types of Kinesiology Degrees?

Kinesiology Associate’s Degree

An associate’s degree in kinesiology is appropriate for people looking for entry-level job in the fitness industry. Depending on whether you take classes full-time or part-time, the degree usually takes 1-2 years to finish. Introduction to anatomy and physiology, exercise science, and psychology are all covered in this course.

Fitness consultants, personal trainers, and fitness instructors are among the jobs available to graduates of kinesiology associate programs. They can also work as massage therapists and physical therapists with extra training.

Kinesiology Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, which normally takes four years to finish, focuses on the study of human movement and exercise in greater depth than an associate degree. Students investigate how exercise is used as medicine by fitness trainers, physical education teachers, and therapists.

Principles of motor skills, women’s health and exercise across the lifespan, and exercise physiology are among the topics covered in class. Integrative physiology, physical education, and health and fitness leadership are among the specializations available.

Students who aspire to become licensed athletic trainers or serve as physical education teachers should pursue a bachelor’s degree. Fitness trainers with a bachelor’s degree can operate in community recreation and clinical settings, pursuing more specialized, education-related responsibilities than those with an associate’s degree.

Kinesiology Master’s Degree

Many prospective coaches, sports administrators, and professional trainers have earned master’s degrees in kinesiology, which typically take two to three years to complete. This degree includes advanced sports medicine themes as well as clinical areas of exercise science, kinesiology, and physiology.

Advanced biomechanics of human motion, difficulties in athletic training, and the history and philosophy of sports are all covered in this course. Sports management, exercise physiology, and sports medicine are among the specializations available.

Learners who acquire a master’s degree in kinesiology are prepared to work as strength and conditioning coaches, athletic program administrators, and exercise physiologists. A bachelor’s degree is frequently required to serve as a coach or athletic administrator. Postgraduate education in kinesiology and physical therapy is also available to graduates.

Kinesiology doctoral degree

Doctoral degrees in kinesiology are available to students interested in research, education, and other advanced issues in the field. A doctorate in kinesiology is a four-year program that covers advanced themes in biomechanics, exercise physiology, and kinesiology research methods.

Specializations in motor control, rehabilitation science, and sports psychology are available to students. A research-based dissertation is also required for the degree. Doctoral degree holders in kinesiology are qualified to work as sports psychologists, kinesiology research scientists, and university instructors in highly specialized fields.

Sports psychologists can also work in the professional sports sector, albeit many of these roles are in academia. Graduates of the program may be prepared for executive-level positions in sports administration.