Kinesiology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
- OSU-Cascades
Option available: Pre-Therapy and Allied Health
The Kinesiology major prepares students for careers in physical activity and fitness/wellness such as organizing, directing or managing physical fitness programs; personal trainer; fitness instructor; exercise physiologist; strength and fitness coach; and fitness entrepreneur. The degree can also serve as preparation for applications to a master's level physical education teacher education program, medical school, a professional program in the allied health professions (e.g., physical or occupational therapy, nursing, physician assistant) or other graduate education. Students interested in entry into professional schools of physical or occupational therapy, nursing, medical school, or physicians assistant should take the Pre-Therapy and Allied Health option (PTAH) of the Kinesiology major, which has entry standards that must be met after completion of 90 credits.
Major Code: 840
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Describe the role of physical activity in health and wellness.
- Explain scientific concepts related to physical activity.
- Apply scientific concepts towards assessing, promoting, or enhancing physical health, fitness, or performance.
- Demonstrate skill in communication.
- Integrate principles of the physiologic responses to exercise, including the causes of these responses and their effector mechanisms.
- Describe issues of equity, inclusion, diversity, and social justice in relation to physical activity.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology Core (38 credits) | ||
| KIN 131 | INTRODUCTION TO KINESIOLOGY | 1 |
| KIN 193 | +INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS IN KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| KIN 212 | +*SOCIOCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY | 4 |
| KIN 214 | PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: ALL ABILITY | 3 |
| KIN 225 | ANATOMICAL KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| KIN 270 | FOUNDATIONS OF SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| KIN 293 | +GET HIRED IN KINESIOLOGY (PTAH students take KIN 295) | 3 |
| or KIN 295 | +PURSUE YOUR CAREER IN HEALTHCARE | |
| KIN 311 | MOTOR LEARNING & SKILL ACQUISITION | 4 |
| KIN 321 | BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT | 4 |
| KIN 324 | EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| KIN 475 | +*POWER AND PRIVILEGE IN SPORT | 3 |
| KIN 481 | ^ANALYSIS OF CRITICAL ISSUES IN KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| Required Supporting Courses (33 credits) | ||
| Select one of the following biology series: | 15 | |
| Series A | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY and INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY and INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| Series B | ||
| ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY and ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY and ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| Series C | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| CH 121 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| or CH 221Z & CH 227Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | |
| CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| or CH 222Z & CH 228Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | |
| CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| or CH 223Z & CH 229Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | |
| NUTR 240 | HUMAN NUTRITION | 3 |
| KIN Beyond the Core (24 credits) 1 | ||
| Laboratory Courses | ||
| Select at least three lab courses from the following: | 9-12 | |
| FITNESS ASSESSMENT AND EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION | ||
| THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES (PTAH option only) | ||
| THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE (PTAH option only) | ||
| PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGN | ||
| PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: GROUP FITNESS | ||
| TECHNOLOGY IN SPORTS SCIENCE | ||
| QUALITATIVE MOVEMENT ANALYSIS | ||
| PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT | ||
| ADVANCED ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY | ||
| ADVANCED ANATOMICAL KINESIOLOGY | ||
| EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY LAB METHODS | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Select at least 3 credits from the following courses: 2 | 3 | |
| POPULATION PROGRAMMING INTERNSHIP | ||
| RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP | ||
| PROJECTS | ||
| PRACTICUM | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| KINESIOLOGY INTERNSHIP | ||
Other research, study abroad or service-learning experiences with advisor approval | ||
| Other Courses | ||
| Select 9-12 credits from the following courses or take additional laboratory courses, for a total of 24 credits in KIN Beyond the Core: 1 | 9-12 | |
| INJURY MANAGEMENT FOR THE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE | ||
| EXERCISE MOTIVATION AND ADHERENCE | ||
| NEUROMUSCULAR CONTROL OF HUMAN MOVEMENT | ||
| FACILITATING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| APPLIED MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION | ||
| PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AGING, AND CHRONIC DISEASE | ||
| ADVANCED MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY | ||
| MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING | ||
| TISSUE INJURY AND REPAIR | ||
| SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY IN KINESIOLOGY | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, Option and/or Electives | 95 | |
| Total Credits | 190 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
Students must complete 24 total credits in KIN Beyond the Core. Courses are chosen to meet individual students' educational goals in preparation for their chosen careers. A minimum of 9 credits of Laboratory Courses and 3 credits of Experiential Learning are required, but students may take additional courses in these categories to reach the 24 credit total
- 2
No more than 9 credits of Experiential Learning can count toward the 24 credit total in KIN Beyond the Core
Grade Policy
Students in the Kinesiology major may not use S/U grading on any required course (including prerequisites for major required courses). However, Kinesiology students may use S/U grading for Core Ed courses and electives (including courses offered by their major or minor department), if not required for the major.
Repeated Courses Policy
Kinesiology students are allowed at most two attempts to meet individual course degree requirements. Students who do not receive the minimum grade required for a course after two attempts (including courses transferred from other institutions) will not be allowed to have grades earned in subsequent attempts count toward meeting Kinesiology degree requirements. As a result, such students may not be able to complete a degree and/or an option in Kinesiology.
Pre-Therapy and Allied Health (PTAH) is an option with admission standards that may be added to the major. Students may apply for admission to the PTAH option after completion of 90 credits. Requirements for admission can be found under the catalog listing for the PTAH option.
Major Code: 840
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CH 121 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 5 |
| KIN 131 | INTRODUCTION TO KINESIOLOGY | 1 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 5 |
| KIN 193 | +INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS IN KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | 5 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KIN 212 | +*SOCIOCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY | 4 |
| NUTR 240 | HUMAN NUTRITION | 3 |
| Biology | 5 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| KIN 214 | PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: ALL ABILITY | 3 |
| KIN 225 | ANATOMICAL KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| KIN 293 or KIN 295 | +GET HIRED IN KINESIOLOGY or +PURSUE YOUR CAREER IN HEALTHCARE | 3 |
| Biology | 5 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| KIN 270 | FOUNDATIONS OF SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Biology | 5 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KIN 311 | MOTOR LEARNING & SKILL ACQUISITION | 4 |
| KIN 324 | EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| KIN 321 | BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT | 4 |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| KIN Beyond the Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KIN 481 | ^ANALYSIS OF CRITICAL ISSUES IN KINESIOLOGY | 3 |
| Experiential Learning | 3 | |
| Lab Course | 3 | |
| KIN Beyond the Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| KIN 475 | +*POWER AND PRIVILEGE IN SPORT | 3 |
| Lab Course | 3 | |
| KIN Beyond the Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| KIN Beyond the Core | 3 | |
| Lab Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course