Kinesiology Programs

Kinesiology is the discipline emphasizing the study of movement as it relates to physical activity, health and disease prevention, exercise, and sport. Using both human and animal models and reflecting research ranging from basic to applied, it draws from an interdisciplinary body of knowledge grounded in the biological, psychological, physical and social sciences.

The mission of the Kinesiology program at ASU is to promote the creation of new knowledge of how the human body responds to movement, exercise or muscle contraction, exercise training and uses this new knowledge to create an invigorating learning environment for undergraduate students, provide a thorough education, and produce research to better the health of society.

New Admission and Retention Standards

With the newly applied focus on academic and research excellence, the goal of the Kinesiology program at ASU is to ensure that graduates are thoroughly prepared for graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant, medicine, and other related options. The Kinesiology program, as of the 2010-11 academic year, requires a GPA of 3.3 in order for admission to the program (former entry standards require a 2.0 GPA). Students will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue in the program and graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology.

What Kinesiology Is and Isn’t

Many people are confused about what the substantive focus of Kinesiology is. Simply put, it is the study of human movement. Programs for Kinesiology vary in many ways across the nation. For example, some programs have a physical education concentration or offer athletic training. ASU's program focuses on the mechanisms underlying movement and how the human body responds to movement. Those mechanisms may be neural, physiological, psychological, and mechanical. The ASU program consists of four major areas:

• Motor Behavior (comprised of motor control, motor development and motor learning),
• Exercise Physiology,
• Biomechanics, and
• Exercise and Health Psychology

What Kinesiology at ASU is not is ‘applied kinesiology,’ which is a form of alternative medicine utilizing a specialized manual muscle-testing technique to diagnose and subsequently treat functional problems within the body.

Strong Job Market

The growth of Kinesiology at ASU parallels recent and rapid expansion in universities across the country. According to Inside Higher Ed, the number of undergraduate Kinesiology majors grew 50 percent from 2003 to 2008 to 162, making it one of the fastest growing majors.

The job market has fueled the growth of Kinesiology programs over the past decade. The two primary career paths are physical therapy and occupational therapy. More than 185,000 physical therapists and 104,000 occupational therapists were employed in the U.S. in 2008. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth rates of 30 and 26 percent, respectively, by 2018. Learn more about career opportunities

Research

There is a strong interdisciplinary research emphasis at ASU, and the Kinesiology program is no exception. Many of the faculty have active collaboration with other researchers in the U.S. and the international community.

The commitment to excellence in learning and teaching remains strong. The emphasis on research provides numerous opportunities for students at all levels to learn in the laboratory. Cutting-edge knowledge produced by our faculty is translated directly into an enhanced learning environment for students.

Current Kinesiology PhD Students

Students currently completing their PhD in Kinesiology should contact Dr. Shannon Ringenbach, Interim Director, for information related to this program.