What is Kinesiology?
Kinesiology is the study of physical activity across a range of tasks including exercise, daily living, play, sport, and work. Coursework integrates biological and behavioral approaches using biomechanical, physiological, psychological, and sociological perspectives to study physical activity from cell to society. This life science discipline emphasizes breadth and depth of content, scientific methodology, and intellectualism for lifelong learning, thinking, and action.
Kinesiology promotes an understanding of the necessity of movement activities for an individual's physical and psychological health.
The Department of Kinesiology has assembled an internationally known group of faculty involved in the study of the physical activity. The Department includes research and graduate education groups in exercise physiology and a public health physical activity. Our faculty is engaged in wide variety of study; from the role of kinetics of muscle oxygen exchange in health and chronic heart failure, to the contribution of physical inactivity to the development and maintenance of childhood obesity. Projects range from the use of animal models to study disease states to the testing of novel intervention programs designed to change the health of whole communities. The common theme that binds us together is the study of physical activity and health.
Students may earn a BA or BS degree in Kinesiology or BS dual degree with majors in nutrition and exercise science. Within these degrees, students emphasize exercise physiology or public health physical activity. Students may also complete a health fitness instructor sub-curriculum that prepares graduates to seek careers in corporate and community settings in fitness and wellness, and in hospital settings in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
Many undergraduate students after completing their degrees enter graduate and professional schools for preparation for careers in exercise physiology, public health physical activity, physical therapy, pharmacy, medicine, dietetics, biomechanics, exercise and sport psychology, and other related fields.
Graduate students interested in exercise physiology may pursue a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in the physiological basis of physical activity. The Dept. of Anatomy and Physiology collaborates with Kinesiology Faculty to offer Ph.D. degree emphasizing exercise physiology. The Department of Human Nutrition also collaborates with Kinesiology to train Ph.D. students as well. Students interested in the M.S. or Ph.D. programs in exercise physiology are encouraged to contact a faculty member of interest
Graduate students in public health physical activity may pursue a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology or a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The MPH is an interdepartmental program with faculty participants from many academic departments of the university (see http://www.kstate.edu/mphealth/ for information). The 42 semester hour program is designed to provide graduate‐level education for individuals currently employed or anticipating a career in the field with an emphasis in public health physical activity or public health physical activity and nutrition. The Department also collaborates with the Department of Human Nutrition to offer a Ph.D. degree emphasis in Public Health Physical Activity.
Students interested in the M.S.,MPH, or Ph.D. programs in public health physical activity are encouraged to contact a faculty member of interest.