I'm interested in hearing from kinesiology/physiology majors. Is it a challenging course of study? Do you learn anything particularly sophisticated that you couldn't derive from an advanced understanding of muscoskeletal anatomy? Also... what do you plan to do with the degree? What does a kinesiology/physiology degree make you qualified to do? Besides argue on the internet, I mean.
no
You're asking the right questions..... IMO it's a bullshit major on par with PE, but apparently the graduate schools haven't figured that out yet so the degree is useful if you want to be a doctor or physical therapist. Other than that, it don't make you qualified to do shit. IMO it doesn't even make you qualified to be a coach or personal trainer because those fields are utterly standardless and there are a million people with graduate degrees in physiology who all espouse a different exercise philosophy so the degree definitely doesn't garuntee competence.
I forgot to mention that the degree is good if you are interested in research, but that probably applies to very few.
Some possible jobs include teaching, coaching,
athletic training, kinesiotherapist, ex.
physiologist, cardiac rehab, corporate
fitness, personal trainer, sports management,
sales, etc.
iflyboats is an idiot. If you are thinking of majoring in Kines. then you figure you don't want to go the path of med school or law school and you are probably thinking of becoming a coach or teacher. This career path is fine if that is what you would like to do.
Any major can be a bullshit major, it is all about what you put into it.
I got a degree in Execcise Phys., which is what my school called a kinesology degree. I first started working in Cardiac Rehad, then working in gyms and other fitness facilities, until I finally landed a job as a personal trainer at a country club. I made good money, but not great and have since changed careers (mainly b/c the money wasn't good enough to have to get up at 4:30 every morning and not being done until after 8pm, and also working weekends).
Bottom line, you can get a decent job, but don't expect to make a ton of money, even if you have a masters degree, but the work will be interesting and hardley ever boring if you are into it.
BS major? It's one of the toughest around. You can make a decent amount of money to start, then if your lucky and in the right area (NYC, L.A.) you can make a whole lot of money. Not millions, but enough to pay the bills and be happy. Join the NSCA, they have a real good set up as far as finding jobs and such.
I hear that stoned, MENSA inductees, on parole make excellent kinesiology students?
Lydiard wrote:
BS major? It's one of the toughest around.
LOL!
Ride the short bus to school?
If you are interested in studying exercise I would take it (kines) as a double major or a minor. You will be more versatile that way. Major in something else. If you want to do science then you are better off majoring in a basic science like biology or chemistry, and supplementing that with classes in ex phys. Diversify and you won't be as limited further down the road. Kines is not a bad major, it just sets you up for a very specific range of jobs. However if you want to be a PT that is not a bad route to go. I know a lot of people who go into PT w/ Kines degrees.
As part of my BS in exercise science we were required to take 1 year (2 semesters) of the following courses; chemistry, physics, calculus, anatomy and physiology, and statistics. Total credit hours was 105 which did not leave much room for electives. I wouldn't say it was the toughest major but it was a lot more demanding then many people thought and there were quite a few people who dropped oput because they couldn't get handle the first 2 years. But yes there are more than a few knuckle heads in the field and they give it a bad name. In addition some of the programs are really pretty bad, eg., Springfield College.
Lydiard wrote:
BS major? It's one of the toughest around.
Yeah OK..... no offense but your science aptitude must be poor if you find kinesiology tough.... frankly I think the field attracts more jocks than scientists
It's good to have if you want to pursue a career in the fitness industry. In order to take the ACSM or NSCA tests you need to have a health & fitness related degree (BS in kines. or ex. phys. or health promotion, etc). Sooner or later the personal training field will be regulated so that you NEED to have a certification from one of the national organizations (ASCM, NSCA, ACE) to call yourself a personal trainer. Right now, any Joe Dirt out there can call themselves a personal trainer. Some schools that don't have an athletic training degree will offer a kines degree or ex. phys. degree with the option of putting in internship hours and then sitting for the NATA exam (certification required for athletic trainers). Kines. and related degrees are also required to sit for the CSCS exam(certified strength & conditioning specialist, needed by strength coaches). As BS majors go it's fairly versatile.
Alan
Lydiard wrote:
BS major? It's one of the toughest around.
Its the tuffest around if you wait to do all your work 20 mins before class everyday. Try writing a 15 page paper 30 mins before class and you'll make any subject the toughest around!