Kinesiology focuses on the application of the biological, physical, social and behavioral science in the study of physical activity and sport, and their effects on the health, fitness and quality of life of people of all ages and abilities. This degree integrates two complementary applied human sciences that focus on optimal health and disease prevention through the lifestyle factors of nutrition and physical activity. The degree is designed to prepare students for employment and graduate school in areas related to exercise science/kinesiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, allied health, medicine, research, education, physical/sport performance, and health & wellness across the lifespan.
Degree: B.S. in Kinesiology
Kinesiology Faculty (Link is external)
Career options(Some occupations may require further education/licensure) |
||
|
Adapted/Therapeutic Recreation Director |
Exercise Physiologist |
Physical Therapist |
Where are OSU Kinesiology alumni working?(Data obtained from LinkedIn (Link is external)) |
|
|
Certified Health & Fitness Specialist, Athletic Club of Bend |
Where have OSU-Cascades students participated in experiential learning (intern/research/etc.)? |
|
212 Woman Wellness |
Job Search
In addition to our general job, internship, and volunteer search resources, below are some industry specific resources to help you search for opportunities in kinesiology. Don't forget the important process of researching employers and networking with professionals in companies/organizations that you are interested in.
- APTA HotJobs (Link is external)
- Careers and Internships in Sports (Link is external)
- Explore Health Careers (Link is external)
- Health Professions JobsPlus (Link is external)
- NCAA Job Market (Link is external)
- PTjobs (Link is external)
If you are interested in healthcare, good opportunities to gain experience are physical therapy aide, occupational therapy aide, athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, athletic coach, home health aide, medical assistant, certified nurse assistant (CNA), personal care assistant (PCA), patient care technician, emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, medical scribe and pharmacy technician. Research, volunteer opportunities and mission trips can also be a great way to gain related experience in healthcare.
Research Resources
- National Institute of Health (Link is external)
- National Science Foundation (Link is external)
- Pathways to Science (Link is external)
- Research at OSU (Link is external)
- SURF (Link is external)
Graduate School
In addition to our general Graduate/Professional School resources, utilize the following resources for researching advanced degrees in Kinesiology.
- American Physical Therapy Association list of accredited PT programs (Link is external)
- Council for Education on Public Health list of accredited programs (Link is external)
- U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Programs for Biological Sciences (Link is external), Medical School (Link is external), Occupational Therapy (Link is external), Physical Therapy (Link is external), Physician Assistant (Link is external)
Professional Associations
Involvement in professional associations can expand your network, keep you up to date on current trends in the field, and give you access to additional job and internship opportunities. This is a sampling of professional associations that you could get involved in.
- American Academy of Physician Assistants (Link is external)
- American College of Sports Medicine (Link is external)
- American Kinesiology Association (Link is external)
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Link is external)
- American Occupational Therapy Association (Link is external)
- American Physical Therapy Association (Link is external)
- American Public Health Association (Link is external)
- American Society of Biomechanics (Link is external)
- International Society of Biomechanics (Link is external)
- National Association of Athletic Trainers (Link is external)
- Southwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (Link is external)
Additional Resources
- Council for Education on Public Health (Link is external)
- Exploring Health Careers (Link is external)
- Health Professionals Network (Link is external)
- OSU Corvallis information on Kinesiology (Link is external)
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center is here to help you navigate your future path.