Finding the Best Kinesiology Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide

Kinesiology, the study of human movement, is a multifaceted field offering diverse career paths. This article explores what kinesiology entails, what to expect from a kinesiology degree program, and highlights some of the best colleges for kinesiology studies.

What is Kinesiology?

If you’ve never heard of it before, the word “kinesiology” can sound like another language. Kinesiology is simply the study of something we all encounter every day: movement. Kinesiology is made up of two Greek words, kinesis and logia, literally meaning “motion science.” These words might make you think of physics, but kinesiology is focused on studying human movement in all its forms, from dancing to recovering from an injury. A bachelor of kinesiology looks at these topics in detail, often implementing a hands-on approach so you can see mobility problems and solutions firsthand. Most kinesiology programs offer a focus in sports or training, giving you the skills you need to teach others how to take care of their bodies.

What to Expect from a Kinesiology Degree

Definitions are great and all, but what is kinesiology like in college? Like most college majors, a kinesiology degree will usually take you four years to earn, which translates to about eight semesters or 120 credit hours. In general, the coursework for a kinesiology major involves a lot of science. Most of these science classes fall within the classifications of health or natural science, such as biology or medicine. For the first year, kinesiology majors take the college’s prerequisite or general education classes (writing, humanities, arts appreciation, etc.). The majority of kinesiology programs allow you to choose electives to explore the deep-dive topics that interest you most, sometimes even offering classes that span departments, like Rice University’s Literature and Medicine course, for instance. If you find a particular topic that interests you, most programs have specializations, which are basically certain tracks of classes within the kinesiology major that center around a certain field. Some of the most common specializations are exercise physiology, sports management, and rehabilitation. Some kinesiology degrees require practicum courses in your senior year. In most kinesiology practicums, you’ll shadow a professor or professional for class credit, while getting some experience putting to practice the things you’ve learned. Having said all of that, keep in mind there’s a lot of variation in the coursework required for a kinesiology degree depending on which college you choose. Some universities may require more practicum hours, unique core courses, or class prerequisites.

Online Kinesiology Degrees

An online kinesiology degree offers a detailed study of human movement, combining scientific theory with practical applications. These programs cover anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and sports psychology to prepare graduates for careers in physical therapy, sports management, or advanced studies in health sciences.

Students pursuing an online kinesiology degree can expect to learn about different subject areas related to human movement, including anatomy, biomechanics, sports medicine, and motor control. Students also develop communication and interpersonal skills through coaching and teacher training. Many programs offer research and internship opportunities for the added benefit of gaining practical experience before entering the workforce. Every kinesiology degree should come from an accredited school evaluated by an independent education agency.

A bachelor's in kinesiology is designed to take full-time students four years to complete. Most programs require 120 credits, which means students must complete between 12 to 15 credits per semester to graduate within four years. Students with previous college experience may be able to transfer a portion of their credits to shorten the time it takes to graduate with a degree in kinesiology.

Core Kinesiology Courses

Kinesiology courses explore subjects related to human movement and physical activity. Some degrees may include disease prevention studies, while others cover psychological components of exercise and sports. Below are four common courses for kinesiology degrees:

Basic Human Physiology: This is an all-important foundational course in kinesiology because it covers the biological functions of the human body. Students learn about the whole of the body, including its organs, cells, and tissues, and how they interact with one another. Class components include, among other subjects, the nervous system, cardiovascular system, homeostasis, and muscle.
Contemporary Health Issues: A contemporary health issues course covers the physical, mental, social, and personal effects of various health problems. Students research drug and alcohol use, relationships, infectious diseases, and physical fitness, among other areas, to understand their impact on biological systems.
Nutrition Science: Nutritional sciences look at the biochemical processes that occur when humans eat. While much of the course is scientific and covers metabolism, food digestion, and disease, students also learn about external factors that affect nutrition, such as convenience food, food policy, nutritional trends, and community health.
Motor Development: Motor development is a core component of most kinesiology degrees. In this course, students learn how the human body utilizes muscles to execute tasks.

Similar Online Degrees

Given kinesiology's broad curriculum, some students may wish to pursue alternative majors. These programs often focus on subfields of kinesiology that allow for more nuanced, detailed studies that remain in the health sciences. Others may include foundational kinesiology courses within their core curriculums.

Exercise Science: An exercise science degree online studies physical fitness and, therefore, includes the analysis of body movement through kinesiology. Students also gain an understanding of nutrition, wellness, and sports that help them prepare for future careers as fitness trainers, athletic coaches, and physical education teachers.
Health Education: A health education degree provides the skills to teach others how to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Students learn what it means to make healthy choices through nutrition, exercise, and social studies. They also explore program evaluation techniques, develop analytical skills, and complete health education research.
Physical Education: Aspiring teachers can also pursue a physical education degree with many of the same components as health education and exercise science. Here, students learn athletic coaching, injury prevention, and childhood development -, each with the purpose of working in K-12 classrooms, teaching children how to develop healthy habits.
Physical Therapy: A physical therapy degree curriculum includes courses in patient evaluation, pharmacology, pain management, radiology, and exercise. It focuses more on injury prevention and rehabilitation but also includes the study of kinesiology alongside chemistry, biology, and anatomy. Physical therapists must complete doctorate degrees to earn professional licenses in their state, as well as pass the National Physical Therapy Examination.
Health Sciences: A degree in health science might include kinesiology coursework, but it's more broadly focused on the healthcare industry, including leadership, communication, education, and organization. Public health is also a part of health science curriculums, although students may wish to pursue an entire public health degree to study biostatistics and epidemiology more closely.
Holistic Medicine: An online degree in holistic medicine is designed to develop naturopathic physicians who use yoga, meditation, herbal remedies, and plant-based diets to treat illnesses.

Top Colleges for Kinesiology

offer kinesiology or kinesiology-related programs that it can be hard to keep up. Choosing the "best" college for a kinesiology program depends on individual preferences, goals, and location. Here are some institutions known for their exceptional Kinesiology and Physical Therapy programs:

Rice University (Houston, Texas): There’s no doubt why Rice University tops our list. Along with being a prestigious private university, Rice’s kinesiology program has almost everything you could want. Every kinesiology major is required to declare a concentration in one of two fields: health sciences or sports medicine. Each path has classes that are tailored to further your career after you graduate. Rice University also has study abroad opportunities for kinesiology majors and department-specific scholarship awards. Rice’s programs in particular are focused on research and preparing its students for advanced degrees.
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor): Named as one of the top three kinesiology programs in the nation by the National Academy of Kinesiology, the University of Michigan is one of the best options for those interested in the field. What makes the Michigan kinesiology program unique is that it’s in a school of its own instead of being a part of health or education departments. Kinesiology majors at Michigan are involved in their department. With frequent events and several student organizations within the major to choose from, Michigan’s kinesiology program feels collaborative and welcoming. The department even has its own magazine, Movement, that highlights research and developments from the world of health and exercise science.
University of Virginia: The University of Virginia is well-known and well-regarded, and it boasts one of the best kinesiology programs in the nation. The program is also pretty inflexible in that it outlines the course s. General education courses must be completed by the beginning of your junior year, leaving little room to retake courses or start early on your kinesiology-required classes. The benefit to this tight time schedule is the possibility of getting your Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with only one additional year, should you enter with some AP or dual-enrollment credit. As most M.Ed.
University of Florida (Gainesville): The University of Florida’s official title for a kinesiology major is “Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology.” If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, 33% of the department’s graduates who apply to med school are accepted. Majors in kinesiology can choose to add a specialization in either Exercise Physiology or Fitness and Wellness, ensuring that each semester’s classes are specifically tailored to the needs of the student. There are also several study abroad opportunities for students in kinesiology, giving you the chance to experience what you’ve learned cross-culturally.
Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, North Carolina).
University of Southern California.
Boston University.
University of Miami.
University of Texas (Austin campus).
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Additionally, Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), and University of Texas at Tyler also offer excellent Kinesiology programs.

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Admission Requirements

When picking a college for a kinesiology degree, students should note what's required during the admission process. Most undergraduate programs only ask that applicants have a high school diploma and fill out an online application. The application may have room to submit personal essays that outline the student's reason for pursuing a kinesiology degree.

Career Paths with a Kinesiology Degree

So, what can you do with a kinesiology degree? Kinesiology is a broad major, covering many different topics and the potential for concentrations within your major. There is a field of therapy for nearly every physical ailment. Therapy, especially for kinesiology majors with a specific interest, is an extremely viable career option. Many career paths after a bachelor in kinesiology require graduate school, but there are plenty of options for employment that need little or no additional training. Kinesiology careers vary based on what concentration students take, such as fitness training, sports medicine, or physical education. These professional tracks help graduates aim for specific jobs that require training in body movement and an understanding of human physiology. Some students wish to continue their studies through graduation programs, such as a master's in health education or a master's in exercise science. Some graduate programs may require previous work experience, which can be achieved through the positions listed below.

Here are some potential career paths for kinesiology graduates:

Occupational Therapist: Occupational therapists in particular work with people who have trouble executing everyday tasks, including injured patients in recovery or disabled patients looking to improve their quality of life. Occupational therapy can be physically demanding, while also requiring you to build trust with your clients. As with most therapy careers, occupational therapy often requires not only a relevant master’s degree, but also a license from the state in which you practice. However, with a job growth rate of 24% by 2026, the need for occupational therapy is growing. At such a higher-than-average rate, job security isn’t a concern for those in this career.
Fitness Instructor: Fitness instructors take on the role of motivating and helping their clients to maintain healthy exercise habits, often by leading a class or working with people one-on-one. Fitness instructing can be done in any number of different environments, like gyms, recreation centers, camps, or privately-owned businesses. As interest in health and well-being increases, jobs for fitness instructors also increase. Though it’s not the highest paying career, fitness instructing can be a beneficial career by keeping you active and healthy. Fitness trainers assess clients' physical strengths and weaknesses before creating personalized programs that help them reach their goals. Generally, they help them build muscle and develop good fitness habits by teaching techniques and forms for lifting weights. They may also be known as fitness instructors, leading classes for specific exercises.
Health Educator: Let’s be clear: most of the time, health educators more than just school teachers. Health education occurs in many places: hospitals, doctor’s offices, and yes, sometimes schools. Health education’s main purpose is to make others more aware of how to take care of their health on their own by giving them scientifically-supported advice and answering questions. Your kinesiology degree will give you the knowledge you need to live a healthy lifestyle and support others in their own health journey. Many kinesiology programs are a part of the education department of your college. If this career is appealing to you, make sure your college’s kinesiology major has an emphasis on education.
Registered Nurse: Chances are, you’ve met a nurse. You might even know one personally! But nursing is a career path that doesn’t necessarily require a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Kinesiology majors often go into nursing after they graduate, usually after getting their master’s degree in nursing or becoming registered through a certified nursing program. Registered nurses do much more than treating small injuries and taking your temperature. Nurses also manage psychological distress, difficult patients, and doctors’ orders. Nursing is a job based on communication, so it’s a great fit for outgoing people who enjoy working with others. Nurses have a passion for seeing others’ wellness improve, and a degree in kinesiology would certainly give you a strong foundation in this career. Becoming registered as a nurse is just the beginning, though.
Sports Program Director: Because kinesiology teaches you about physical health and movement, it makes you a great fit for directing a sports program. Sports directors help plan activities, schedule classes and events, create budgets, hire employees, and create educational curriculums. In other words, it’s a director’s job to run their sports program and make sure they’re meeting participants’ needs. Serving as a sports director is definitely a leadership role, so if you’re looking for hands-on time with students or participants, you’d probably be happier as a trainer or coach. But if you like management and enjoy helping organizations learn and grow, then you’d excel as a sports program director.
Coach: Every sport at every level needs a coach. Coaching does not often require outside training other than your kinesiology degree. Jobs in coaching call for a thorough knowledge, and at least some skill, in whatever sport you are looking to coach, however. Coaching is also best for those who have a passion for mentorship, as coaches must have a genuine interest in the growth of their players in order for their teams to succeed. Like many kinesiology degree jobs, coaches often work unusual hours, including weekends and late evenings. Athletic coaches train, manage, and organize sports teams or individual athletes. They monitor, lead, and develop practice sessions to improve performance and create positive outcomes for future competitions. Coaches may work in various environments depending on the sport and the age of athletes, from youth leagues to university programs and professional teams.
Exercise Physiologist: Exercise physiologists are responsible for creating health and fitness programs that assist patients in their recovery from illness or to prevent the worsening of health issues. They may work with patients with physical injuries, cardiovascular health problems, or respiratory diseases, where they analyze their symptoms and develop treatment plans.
Dietician: Dieticians help patients develop healthy habits and manage illnesses through nutrition programs. This may include analyzing diseases, assessing patient needs, developing meal plans, and monitoring and recording patient progress.

Additional Career Considerations

Kinesiologist: Kinesiologists use their understanding of body function and movement to help patients better their overall well-being. They treat injuries, rehabilitate athletes, provide preventative care, and improve motor skills through exercise. Kinesiologists need a degree in kinesiology or a related subject, such as exercise science. They do not need a license to gain employment, but most employers ask that bachelor's graduates have some practical experience in the field before they are hired. Related careers, such as athletic trainers, need a degree alongside a license in most states.

Is a Kinesiology Degree Worth It?

There isn’t one cookie-cutter answer for those of you wondering, “What can I do with a kinesiology degree?” Depending on your desired career path, kinesiology may or may not be the wisest choice for your major. If you’re looking into a career in exercise physiology, kinesiology would be a smart choice. There are many schools available that have majors related to kinesiology, but if you’re set on majoring in kinesiology specifically, make sure the schools you’re applying to offer it as a separate degree. If you’re interested in kinesiology as a major, you should take some time to research the benefits and drawbacks of the degree, both in the classroom setting and in the job world.

Here are some pros and cons of obtaining a kinesiology degree:

Benefits

Kinesiology degrees are well-rounded. Graduates are equipped to pursue a range of occupations, from fitness training to teaching.
Kinesiologists help people overcome physical obstacles. This type of satisfactory work leads to professionals having great pride in their careers.
Some kinesiology careers offer independence from the traditional 9-5. Sports coaches and teachers have ample time off outside the school year, and fitness trainers often act as entrepreneurs hosting clients on their schedules.

Drawbacks

Fitness salaries are generally considered low. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median fitness salaries from 2021 were $13,000 less than all other occupations.
Many careers in this field require additional training. Athletic trainers, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and physical therapists need graduate degrees and professional licenses.
Online kinesiology degrees lack hands-on training.

Kinesiology degrees are worth it for health-minded students who want to work in the broader health science field directly with patients, athletes, or communities to improve their physical well-being through fitness, sports, and exercise. Graduates leave with foundational knowledge in topics such as disease prevention, movement anatomy, biomechanics, and fitness techniques. The coursework can lead to many health science careers, or it can help students advance their academic training through an affordable master's in exercise science.

Tips for Success in College

One of the most effective strategies for success in college is to find a social circle that shares your ambitions. This could mean locating a study partner and sticking to the study routine you both agree upon. Typically, you'd find this person in your class. Sharing notes, posing questions to each other, and studying consistently can significantly boost your performance in various areas.

My own study partner in college was from a different major, but we made it a point to visit the library together almost daily and work side by side. Remember, community plays a crucial role in college life, so keep that in mind in all your college activities. Additionally, many college courses have a TA (Teaching Assistant), usually an upperclassman or grad student, who is there to support not just the professor, but you as well. TA's often conduct office hours and study sessions after class which you can attend. I'd recommend identifying the classes that have a TA and make it a point to attend their study sessions.

Maintaining effective study habits involves creating a structured schedule, finding a conducive environment, setting clear goals, employing active learning techniques, staying organized, seeking help when needed, and prioritizing rest and a healthy lifestyle.

Gaining Experience in Sports Medicine

Finally, you can gain practical experience in Sports Medicine during high school by taking on the role of a trainer or manager for your school's sports team. In my high school, the trainers would assist the Certified Trainers with tasks like wraps, food, and overall player health. To enter the sports medicine field in high school, focus on relevant coursework, gain volunteer experience, participate in related extracurricular activities, maintain a strong academic record, network with professionals, consider certifications like CPR, and emphasize physical fitness.

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