Advising Course Plan - Health Science Major - Kinesiology/Exercise Science Interest
Kinesiology/Exercise Science is a rapidly expanding field with strong career prospects (e.g. health department settings, federal agencies, prevention research centers, physiological/medical research centers, academic settings, health coach/personal training, and professional, commercial, and nonprofit organizations). Those interested in pursuing a career in Kinesiology/Exercise Science will apply directly to their program(s) of choice. Requirements and prerequisites will differ somewhat between programs, but required courses generally include introductory biology, anatomy & physiology, general chemistry, and preferred courses include biomechanics, exercise physiology, and therapeutic exercise. A background in biochemistry is also beneficial for most Masters programs; therefore, a year of organic chemistry prior to this is helpful, though again not required. Additionally, more Kinesiology programs use calculus-based information, especially in biomechanics-focused graduate programs, so calculus may be advisable to take as well.
Furthermore, it is important to verify that the research focus of the program(s) you are applying to match with your own. In some cases, a faculty sponsorship at the university is required (e.g. at the University of Maryland (https://sph.umd.edu/department/knes/graduate-student-application-information). Please be sure to look at an early stage at various graduate program requirements for different universities and areas. Your required and elective courses as an HLSC major will prepare you well for graduate work in this growing, evolving field, which has as its main focus prevention and treatment of chronic disease using a multi-pronged approach. Related to this approach, many Masters and Ph.D. programs in Kinesiology (e.g. at the University of South Carolina http://www.sph.sc.edu/exsc/grad.htm) are now focusing on epidemiology and public health in this approach to combatting chronic disease, so related courses in Public Health Studies – perhaps even as a minor - will benefit you as well as an applicant to such programs.
Sample Schedule (Note: This sample schedule is more rigorous than required (e.g. it includes a chemistry minor which is beneficial though more than is required by most graduate programs in Kinesiology), but it would make an applicant attractive to top graduate programs).
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units | ||
| BIOL 141P1,* | 1 | BIOL 142P1,* | 1 | ||
| HLSC 119V | 1 | PSYC 101S1 | 1 | ||
| FSEM 100 (unless transfer student)1 | 1 | MATH 141Q (or General Education requirement (A, B, H, L course)) | 1 | ||
| General Education requirement1 | 1 | General Education requirement (A, B, H, L course) | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units | Summer | Units |
| MATH 141Q should be taken at some point during this year if it was not taken in First Year. | CHEM 142P* | 1 | Take GRE exam in preparation for graduate school applications - by the end of summer before Fourth Year. | ||
| HLSC 2011 | 1 | HLSC 2021 | 1 | ||
| CHEM 141P* | 1 | MATH 125Q | 1 | ||
| BIOL 301* | 1 | PUBH 140V | 1 | ||
| PUBH 284Q2 | 1 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units | ||
| Junior Seminar must be taken during this year. | HLSC 4981 | 1 | |||
| Junior Seminar | 1 | CHEM 301 (HLSC elective)* | 1 | ||
| CHEM 201 (HLSC elective)* | 1 | PHYS 122P or 142P* | 1 | ||
| PHYS 121P or 141P* | 1 | COMM 108 | 1 | ||
| COMM 108 | 1 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units | ||
| HLSC 4991 | 1 | CHEM 200+ level course that meets Chemistry requirement | 1 | ||
| CHEM 204* | 1 | HLSC 313 (HLSC elective)* | 1 | ||
| HLSC 4111 | 1 | General Education requirement (A, B, H, L course) or elective1 | 1 | ||
| General Education requirement (A, B, H, L course)1 | 1 | General Education requirement (A, B, H, L course) or elective1 | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||||
| Total Units 32 | |||||