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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor's Degrees
  4. Kinesiology

Kinesiology Degree Requirements

Kinesiology students on treadmill

All options require a culminating practicum or research experience. Relocation away from the University Park campus is generally necessary for the practicum. All options require a minimum of 120 credits for graduation. Additional requirements are mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for entrance to the Health and Physical Education (HPE) certification emphasis in the Applied Exercise and Health Option (AEH). Additional requirements are mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for entrance to the Health and Physical Education (HPE) certification emphasis in the Applied Exercise and Health Option (AEH). Information about the major and its options can be found on the College of Health and Human Development site.

Students who have completed a minimum of twenty-eight credits and have a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average are eligible for entrance into the major after completing an entrance to major form.

Movement Science option: This option provides interdisciplinary scientific training in academic areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, movement neuroscience, psychology of physical activity, and sport history and philosophy to understand movement for prevention and diagnosis of chronic disease, rehabilitation and treatment, and/or theoretical study. Students are prepared for graduate study in many clinical fields including medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical assistant, cardiac rehabilitation, as well as a broad range of careers in biomedical and health-related fields.

Exercise Science option: This option is a program of study in the science of exercise. This program offers a kinesiology background and applied experience in fitness assessment, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor skill development, nutrition, and healthy living skills. Graduates will be able to scientifically assess the fitness levels of individuals. Analyzing those assessments, graduates will then be capable of designing and implementing appropriate exercise programs.

Students in the Business Emphasis acquire basic business skills in accounting, marketing, management, and entrepreneurial skills. Students choosing the Science Emphasis will select courses from a department list that will enhance their opportunity for graduate studies in Kinesiology-related fields, physical therapy, and medical schools. Completing the Exercise Science option will enable graduates to compete for employment in the corporate fitness arena, private fitness clubs, community-based fitness organizations, hospital and university settings, or possibly to operate their own health and fitness company.

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to twenty-four credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. KINES requires students to complete twenty-four credits for the major through courses taken at Altoona. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this twenty-four-credit minimum. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for this major.

Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)

GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(18-27 of these credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in this bulletin.)

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)

UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES :
(Included in ELECTIVES, GENERAL EDUCATION course selection, or REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

ELECTIVES: 0-2 credits

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 95-109 credits
(This includes 18-27 credits of General Education courses: Applied Exercise and Health Option - 9 credits GN, 6 credits GQ, 3 credits of GH, 6 credits of GS and 3 credits of GHA. Movement Science Option--9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GS courses; 3 credits of GHA courses. Exercise Science Option--9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GHA courses.)

COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (ALL OPTIONS): 41-43 credits

PRESCRIBED COURSES (28 credits)[1]
BIOL 141 GN(3) (Sem: 1-4)
KINES 202(4), NUTR 251 GHA(3) (Sem: 3-4)
KINES 321(3), KINES 341 US;IL(3), KINES 345(3), KINES 350(3), KINES 360(3), KINES 384(3) (Sem: 3-6)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (13-15 credits)[1]
Select 3 credits: KINES 100(3); KINES 141 US;IL(3) (Sem 1-4)
Select 3 credits: KINES 180(3); KINES 101(3) (Sem 1-4)
Select 1 credit: KINES 295B(1); KINES 295(1) (Sem 1-4)
Select 3-4 credits: PHYS 150 GN(3); PHYS 250 GN(4) (Sem: 1-4)
Select 3-4 credits: STAT 200 GQ(4); or STAT 250 GQ(3); or SCM 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 2-6)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTION: 54-66 credits

MOVEMENT SCIENCE OPTION: (54-56 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (24 credits)[1]
BIOL 110 GN(4), BIOL 142(1), CHEM 111 GN(1), CHEM 112 GN(3), CHEM 113 GN(1) (Sem: 1-4)
PHYS 251 GN(4), PSYCH 100 GS(3) (Sem: 3-6)
KINES 395B(1) (Sem: 5-8)
KINES 495B(6) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (21-23 credits)
CHEM 106 GN(5)[1]; or CHEM 110 GN(3)[1] (Sem: 1-4)
MATH 026 GQ(3)[1]; or Satisfactory performance on the MATH placement examination--i.e., placement beyond the level of MATH 026 (Sem: 1-4)
Select an additional 15 credits from approved 400-level KINES courses:
KINES 410(3), KINES 411(3), KINES 420(3), KINES 421(3), KINES 422(3), KINES 423(3), KINES 424 US(3), KINES 425(3), KINES 426(3), KINES 427(3), KINES 428(3), KINES 429(3), KINES 439(3), KINES 440(3), KINES 441 US(3), KINES 442 IL(3), KINES 443 IL(3), KINES 444 US(3), KINES 446 IL(3), KINES 447(3), KINES 450(3), KINES 452(3), KINES 453(3), KINES 454(3), KINES 455(3), KINES 456(4), KINES 457(3), KINES 460(3), KINES 463(3), KINES 465(3), KINES 467(3), KINES 481(3), KINES 483(3), KINES 484(3), KINES 485(3), KINES 488(3), KINES 492(3), KINES 493(3), KINES 495E(3), KINES 499 IL(1-12) (Sem: 5-8)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (9 credits)
Select 9 credits in University-wide offerings from an approved list, in consultation with adviser. (Sem: 1-8)

EXERCISE SCIENCE OPTION: (54-56 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (29 credits)[1]
KINES 200(3), KINES 201(3), KINES 260(3), (Sem: 3-4)
KINES 356(3), KINES 358(l) (Sem: 5-6)
KINES 420(3), KINES 456(4), KINES 457(3), KINES 495C(6) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (9-11 credits)
CHEM 101 GN(3)[1]; or CHEM 106 GN(5)[1]; or CHEM 110 GN(3)[1] and CHEM 111 GN(1)[1] (Sem: 1-2)
MATH 022 GQ(3)[1]; or Satisfactory performance on the MATH placement examination--i.e., placement beyond the level of MATH 022 (Sem: 1-2)
Select 3 credits from KINES 001 GHA(1.5) to KINES 099(3) (Sem: 1-2)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (16 credits)
Select 16 credits from one of the following emphasis area from an approved list, in consultation with adviser. At least 3 credits must be at the 400 level.
a. Business Emphasis (Sem: 1-8)
b. Science Emphasis (Sem: 1-8)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.

Kinesiology

  • Kinesiology Options
  • Kinesiology Degree Requirements
  • Kinesiology Courses
  • Physical Activity Courses
  • Kinesiology Internships and Practicum Courses
  • Kinesiology Undergraduate Research
  • Kinesiology Facilities
  • Integrated Undergraduate/MPH Program Program
  • Kinesiology Faculty and Staff

Suggested Academic Plan

Suggested Academic Plans (SAPs) are sample semester-by-semester guides you can use to meet degree requirements.

Kinesiology SAP for Prospective Students

View the SAP for the B.S. in Kinesiology (Exercise Science - Business Emphasis, Exercise Science - Science Emphasis, and Movement Science Options).

Kinesiology SAP for Current Students

To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

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