Embark on a career that helps people maintain their health.
Major Roadmap
Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future using the Kinesiology Major Guide.
As a Kinesiology major, you’ll study the scientific basis for human movement. You’ll explore physiological, mechanical and psychological principles and theories that relate to fitness and the human body — but you won’t stop there. You’ll create fitness programs and design rehabilitation plans for class projects.
When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a career as an athletic trainer, a sports manager, a physical education teacher, or a coach. Many of our alumni go on to pursue a doctorate of Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy. St. Edward’s University offers pre-professional tracks that ensure you’re ready for graduate school.
What do our graduates do?
Kinesiology majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.
- Health promotions specialist for Chevron in San Ramon, Calif.
- Account executive for the Connecticut Sun WNBA team
- Athletic director of an Austin Catholic school, grades PreK–8
- Graduate teaching fellow at KIPP Texas Public Schools
- Rehabilitation services technician at Seton Healthcare Family in Austin
- Sales manager for a medical device company
- Physical Therapy student at the University of Kansas Medical Center
My Career-Relevant Service Opportunity
“In my Kinesiology for Special Populations Course, we had to accumulate 10 hours of service working directly with people with special needs. I chose to get involved with the Greater Opportunities Project, or GO Project, at St. Ed’s, which helps young adults with special needs develop independent living skills and prepare for adult life. I worked one-on-one with these students on various sport-specific skills once a week. Witnessing their genuine happiness over the smallest things in life was incredibly rewarding, especially since society as a whole sometimes forgets to do this.” —Jasmine Adgerson ’21, Kinesiology major
The Classroom and Beyond
In addition to your academically rigorous coursework in Kinesiology, you’ll have multiple opportunities to get hands-on experience in the field.
Experiential Education
Your classes will teach you about applications of kinesiology in different settings and help you discover more career options. For example:
In Taping, Bandaging, and First Aid, you’ll complete 200 hours of service under the supervision of a St. Edward’s athletic trainer.
In Safety and First Aid, you’ll complete important training you can use in your career and in any emergency situation.
In Physical Activity, Recreation and Sports for Special Populations, you’ll work one-on-one with a person or people with special needs in a physically active setting. For example, students have worked with the GO Project and Austin Adventurers, organizations that help young adults with special needs develop independent living skills.
Student Organizations
Learn about professional opportunities and meet students who share your interests through the Physical Therapy Organization.
Many Kinesiology students also participate in Recreation and Wellness programs.
Tracks and Degree Requirements
1. Kinesiology
This program provides a foundation in the physiological and mechanical aspects of the human body. Hands-on coursework and close interaction with faculty members will give you the freedom and guidance to become a well-versed, independent learner. In this track, you will ...
- Explore the fundamentals of kinesiology such as musculoskeletal anatomy, biomechanics and fitness
- Study the prevention and treatment of athletic injuries
- Design and implement fitness programs
- Participate in a supervised internship
Most students select this degree with the goal of helping individuals in the area of fitness or sports.
Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology requires 47 hours of Kinesiology major courses, including supporting courses in Biology,
General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.
View and download the full degree plan for our Kinesiology major (PDF).
2. Athletic Training Emphasis
Athletic trainers motivate others to fulfill athletic goals while practicing principles of injury prevention and rehabilitation. In this track, you will ...
- Study all aspects of human anatomy, physiology and movement
- Work with SEU athletic teams
- Participate in a supervised internship
- Prepare to qualify for the Texas licensure test
To be licensed as an athletic trainer in Texas you must pass the licensure test administered by the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers through the Texas Department of State Health Services. Close interaction with faculty at St. Edward’s — and time spent in classes, advising sessions and learning in the field — fully prepares you for your supervised athletic-training internship and state certification exams.
Major Requirements: The BA in Kinesiology, Athletic Training Emphasis requires 57 hours of Kinesiology major courses, including supporting courses in subjects such as Biology and Chemistry.
General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.
View and download the full degree plan for Kinesiology with Athletic Training Emphasis (PDF).
3. Pre-Occupational Therapy Emphasis
Occupational therapy is a health profession whose primary purpose is to help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). In this track, you will...
- Experience how movements are learned and how the capacity for movement changes over the life-span
- Learn how to design and implement appropriate activities for individuals with special needs and limitations
- Explore the principles and techniques to plan, implement, document, and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic exercise
Major Requirements: The BA in Kinesiology, Pre-Occupational Therapy Emphasis requires 68 hours of Kinesiology major courses, including supporting courses in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Psychology.
General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.
View and download the full degree plan for Kinesiology with Pre-Occupational Therapy Emphasis (PDF).
4. Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis
Physical therapists optimize health and function through the assessment, identification, and correction of acute or prolonged movement dysfunction. In this track, you will ...
- Identify, prevent and correct movement dysfunction
- Study scientific topics as they relate to the human body, exercise, and rehabilitation
- Design rehabilitation plans
- Learn how to motivate individuals through fitness and wellness plans
This track is often taken by students pursuing physical therapy, medical or occupational therapy schools, as well as other medical-based fields.
Major Requirements: The BA in Kinesiology, Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis requires 74 hours of Kinesiology major courses, including supporting courses in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Psychology.
General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.
View and download the full degree plan for Kinesiology with Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis (PDF).
5. Sports Management Emphasis
This track prepares you for a diversity of roles in the areas of sports marketing, facility management and planning, human resources, strategic planning, sport finance and facility design. In this track, you will ...
- Learn about the science and management of kinesiology in relation to sport programs
- Develop a fundamental understanding of business administration
- Study the management of kinesiology and sports programs
Students on this track are required to complete a minor in Business Administration as part of the degree plan.
Major Requirements: The BA in Kinesiology, Sport Management Emphasis requires 43 hours of Kinesiology major courses, including supporting courses in Biology.
Required Business Administration Minor: Requires 18 hours of business or management courses, for a total of 61 total major and minor hours.
General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.
View and download the full degree plan for Kinesiology with Sports Management Emphasis (PDF).
Internships
As a Kinesiology major, you’ll have at least one internship or practicum, but the program will encourage you to complete several “mini-internships” so you can get experience in different settings. St. Edward’s students have recently interned at the following organizations:
- Austin Independent School District Athletic Office
- KidTherapy pediatric physical therapy in Austin
- Texas Physical Therapy Specialists
- Lonestar Soccer
- YMCA
- St. Theresa’s Catholic School
- St. Edward’s RecWell (Recreation and Wellness)
- Austin ISD Food and Nutrition Services
- Round Rock Express Minor League Baseball Team
Students have also done volunteer work at physical therapy clinics and in hospitals to gain experience and give back to their community.
Our Faculty
Our distinguished faculty members are scholar-practitioners dedicated to developing responsible and independent learners. Education is the way we discover the world and contribute to its transformation. As such, we strive to instill a sense of wonder and excitement in our students by nurturing their ambitions and providing guidance. Meet a few of our esteemed professors.
“I take a hands-on approach to teaching ... By providing my students with tangible examples, I help them put their learning to the test and see firsthand what the course material really means.”
– Kristy K. Ballard, PhD, Associate Professor of Kinesiology
Kristy Ballard was honored as the 2013 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award Winner.
“I want my students to be able to apply their new knowledge as soon as they begin their first job out of college.”
– John Knorr, EdD, Professor of Kinesiology
Kinesiology Minors
1. Minor in Kinesiology
Students interested in studying the anatomy, physiology and movement of the human body can pursue a minor in Kinesiology.
Required Courses:
- Introduction to Kinesiology and Sport Sciences
- Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries
- Concepts of Physical Fitness and Wellness
- Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Biomechanics
- Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology and Sports
- Kinesiology Elective
2. Minor in Kinesiology with a Coaching Emphasis
Students can add a minor in Kinesiology with a Coaching Emphasis to strengthen their candidate profile for sports and fitness-related jobs.
Required Courses:
- Instructional Topics: Strength Training and Cardiovascular Conditioning
- Safety and First Aid
- Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries
- Exercise Physiology
- Coaching Theory and Practice
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports and Kinesiology
- Internship in Kinesiology and Sports
3. Minor in Kinesiology, Fitness and Conditioning
The Fitness and Conditioning minor will give you the foundation to work in community recreation program, help individuals to lead healthier lives or pursue a career in the health sciences. Courses are taught by professors in the Kinesiology department, who foster critical and creative thinking, analytical approaches, responsible decision making, and oral and written communication skills.
Students who earn the Fitness and Conditioning minor can go on to a variety of careers, including coaching, personal training or teaching.
Required Courses:
- Concepts of Physical Fitness and Wellness
- Practical Training for the Fitness Professional
- Sports Nutrition
- Exercise Physiology
- Strength Training and Conditioning
- Internship in Kinesiology and Sports
4. Minor in Kinesiology, Recreation Management
The Recreation Management minor prepares students for professional positions in sports, community recreation, and outdoor recreation. The courses will build skills in program development, marketing and organizational behavior.
Students who minor in Recreation Management will have the knowledge and skills for entry-level program management roles at collegiate recreation programs, YMCA and YWCA programs, after-school programs, and outdoor recreation areas, such as Wild Basin Creative Research Center.
Required Courses:
- Physical Activity, Recreation and Sports for Special Populations
- Sport Marketing
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports and Kinesiology
- Organizational Behavior/Leading Teams and Organizations
- Internship in Kinesiology and Sports
Plus one of the following courses:
- Safety and First Aid
- Social and Psychological Issues of Kinesiology and Sports
- Coaching Theory and Practice
- Facility Design and Facility/Event Management
SEU to You
Certified athletic trainer and an instructor in the Kinesiology program Andi Chambers introduces students to a subject that she's passionate about in her Spring 2020 course: athletic training and sports medicine.