BS in Kinesiology

The kinesiology major equips students to help others thrive through exercise, movement, and sport.

51-68 units

Mission

In the Department of Kinesiology, we believe that exercise, movement, and sport help people thrive by improving health, fitness, and quality of life across the lifespan.

Our mission in the BS in Kinesiology program is to shape difference makers who care for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—through the promotion of scholarship and professional practice in the disciplines of kinesiology. To achieve our mission, we equip lifelong learners who are academically engaged, relationally focused, vocationally aware, and wellness-oriented using approaches that are discipline-based and grounded within a Christian worldview.

The BS in Kinesiology program provides strong foundational knowledge and skills related to the science and practical applications of human movement. The program provides excellent preparation for a variety of careers related to exercise, sports, rehabilitation, and health care. In order to help students achieve their academic and professional goals, the program offers two concentrations:

Health Professions

The health professions concentration is for students interested in pursuing graduate education and/or careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, chiropractic, physician’s assistance, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and other specialties related to kinesiology and allied health. This concentration provides students with a strong theoretical foundation in the sciences, which may fulfill graduate school prerequisites. Students gain practical, hands-on training in kinesiology, including 100 hours of supervised internships at one of our 80 preapproved sites.

Note: Many graduate school programs require the completion of prerequisite science courses for acceptance. While the health professions concentration is designed to help students complete their graduate school prerequisites, not all graduate school prerequisites may be met by the concentration. Students are responsible for researching the requirements of graduate programs and professions in which they are interested.

Applied Exercise Science

The applied exercise science (AES) concentration prepares students for careers in fitness centers, strength and conditioning programs, coaching, corporate wellness centers, and several allied health professions. Compared with the health professions concentration, AES has fewer science requirements and offers more elective opportunities for pursuing courses related to student areas of interest or for pursuing a minor. Through applied, hands-on coursework, students learn to assess, design, and implement evidence-based fitness programs for clients to achieve optimal health, fitness, and sports performance. Students participate in 100 hours of internship experience at one of our 80 preapproved sites. Because this concentration provides more elective options, students planning to pursue graduate school are also able to take prerequisite coursework to meet entrance requirements.

Note: Many graduate school programs require the completion of prerequisite courses for acceptance. While the AES concentration allows elective coursework, which can be used to complete graduate school prerequisites, not all graduate school prerequisites may be met by the concentration. Students are responsible for researching the requirements of graduate programs and professions in which they are interested.

Requirements

  • Students are required to complete 120 units in order to obtain an undergraduate degree at Azusa Pacific University.
  • For students to progress through the curriculum, they must earn a grade of C- or higher in each required course in the major.
  • Students who do not earn a C- or higher in such a course after three attempts will be removed from the major.
  • Students are required to follow the proper course sequencing and meet all prerequisites prior to completing the subsequent courses in the curriculum.
  • CPR and First Aid certifications must be current prior to beginning any department-supervised internships or service-learning experiences. First Aid certification must be completed through the American Red Cross.
  • All students are subject to other policies and procedures related to the major as determined by the program director and the Department of Kinesiology.

See the coursework requirements for the health professions and applied exercise science concentrations below. For more information about the BS in Kinesiology, visit the program website.

In addition to meeting the coursework and graduation requirements of the BS in Kinesiology program, all undergraduate students are required to meet Azusa Pacific University’s General Education requirements. Students should visit the General Education section of this catalog to become familiar with the requirements.

For students to progress through the curriculum, they must earn a grade of C- or higher in each required course in the major. Students who do not earn a C- or higher in such a course after three attempts will be removed from the major.

Health Professions Concentration

Kinesiology
FFL 131Fitness for Life: Kinesiology 11
WRIT 241Writing 2: Physical Activity and Health Promotion 23
KIN 270Human Motor Control, Learning, and Development3
KIN 275Biomechanics of Human Movement3
KIN 360Nutrition for Exercise and Sport Science3
KIN 363Physiology of Exercise4
KIN 364Kinesiology4
KIN 473Fitness and Exercise Prescription4
KIN 478Senior Preparation in Kinesiology2
KIN 490Writing 3: Research Methods in Kinesiology 33
KIN 495Internship in Exercise Science 42
Kinesiology Electives
KIN 366Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries3
or KIN 372 Corrective Exercise Strategies
or KIN 380 Concepts of Performance Enhancement
Anatomy and Physiology
Select one of the following:8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II 5,6
Human Anatomy
and Human Physiology 6
Biology
BIOL 101Biology and Society 54
or BIOL 151 General Biology I
Chemistry
CHEM 101Chemistry and Society 54
or CHEM 151 General Chemistry I
Elective Sciences
Select two of the following: 96-8
General Biology I 5
General Biology II
General Microbiology
Biology of Microorganisms
Principles of Biochemistry
General Chemistry I 5
General Chemistry II
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry for the Health Sciences 5
Organic Chemistry: Theory I
Organic Chemistry: Theory II
Physics for Life Sciences I 5
Physics for Life Sciences II
Math
MATH 130Introduction to Statistics 73
Psychology
PSYC 110General Psychology 83
or PSYC 290 Human Growth and Development
KIN 306Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Physical Activity and Sport3
or PSYC 330 Sports Psychology
or PSYC 360 Abnormal Psychology
Total Units66-68
1

Meets the General Education Physical Education requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

4

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement. 

5

Meets the General Education Natural Sciences requirement. 

6

Either BIOL 230 and BIOL 231 OR BIOL 250 and BIOL 251 must be taken to complete the major’s anatomy and physiology requirement.

7

Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.

8

Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.

9

Foundational science courses taken during the first year in our course sequence cannot be used for this category. A student can, however, take a higher-level course in the same area of study. Example #1: BIOL 101 in first year and BIOL 151 as elective. Example #2: BIOL 151 in first year and BIOL 152 as elective.

Applied Exercise Science Concentration 

FFL 131Fitness for Life: Kinesiology 11
WRIT 241Writing 2: Physical Activity and Health Promotion 23
KIN 242Fundamental Principles of Fitness3
KIN 270Human Motor Control, Learning, and Development3
KIN 275Biomechanics of Human Movement3
KIN 360Nutrition for Exercise and Sport Science3
KIN 363Physiology of Exercise4
KIN 364Kinesiology4
KIN 395Fitness Management3
KIN 478Senior Preparation in Kinesiology2
KIN 490Writing 3: Research Methods in Kinesiology 33
KIN 495Internship in Exercise Science 42
Kinesiology Electives
KIN 366Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries3-4
or KIN 372 Corrective Exercise Strategies
or KIN 380 Concepts of Performance Enhancement
or KIN 473 Fitness and Exercise Prescription
Anatomy and Physiology
Select one of the following:8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II 5,6
Human Anatomy
and Human Physiology 6
Psychology
PSYC 110General Psychology 73
or PSYC 290 Human Growth and Development
KIN 306Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Physical Activity and Sport3
or PSYC 330 Sports Psychology
Total Units51-52
1

Meets the General Education Physical Education requirement. 

2

Meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement. 

3

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement. 

4

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.

5

Meets the General Education Natural Sciences requirement. 

6

Either BIOL 230 and BIOL 231 OR BIOL 250 and BIOL 251 must be taken to complete the major’s anatomy and physiology requirement.

7

Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Develop an understanding of our Biblical responsibility regarding the care of the human body.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in principles of kinesiology.
  3. Design and implement exercise programs for a variety of populations and settings.
  4. Evaluate movement patterns and physical fitness using effective assessment techniques.
  5. Analyze issues in exercise science using an evidence-based approach.
  6. Explain how psycho-social factors influence personal health, wellness, and performance.
  7. Interact professionally with a variety of constituents, such as students, clients, patients and colleagues.