Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University
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    Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University

    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America
    United States of America, University Park
    University Rank:#82
    Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University

    Study Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor degree offered across its Main Site, Any Penn State Campus, Altoona, Berks, University Park, and Harrisburg campuses in United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 4 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for June 1, 2027.

    About Bachelor of Kinesiology

    Kinesiology refers to the study of human movement. This interdisciplinary field of study focuses on physical activity, movement and sport and includes specialized areas of study that include the arts, humanities, sciences and professional disciplines. These areas include biomechanics, psychology of physical activity, exercise physiology, history and philosophy of physical activity, motor development, as well as sports medicine and physical education pedagogy. This multi-disciplinary approach is useful for addressing health and wellness in a complex society.

    MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KINESIOLOGY

    You Might Like This Program If...

    You enjoy working with people, have a passion for health and wellness, and are open to approaching problems with interdisciplinary strategies. As you learn about the human body as a whole, you will also have the opportunity to understand how you can apply your knowledge and skills to develop solutions that can help others in a number of ways, whether in a rehabilitation facility, with a professional sports team, in a corporate office or in a school setting.

    Kinesiology offers a comprehensive program of study in the science of human movement and is designed for students who want to prepare for professions involving physical activity and for graduate study in related areas. The Kinesiology major options are: Applied Exercise and Health; Movement Science; and Exercise Science. All options require a culminating practicum or research experience. Relocation away from the University Park campus is generally necessary for the practicum. All options require a minimum of 120 credits for graduation. Information about the major and its options can be found at: https://hhd.psu.edu/kines.

    Applied Exercise and Health Option

    Available at the following campuses: University Park

    This option provides applied interdisciplinary training in the foundations of the scientific understanding of exercise and health through the lifespan. Students identify one of two areas of emphasis that are certification-based and practice-oriented: (a) courses and practical experiences directed toward certification by organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), or (b) a series of courses and student teaching leading to teacher certification. The completion of the Applied Exercise and Health Option will prepare students to work in the private or corporate fitness arenas, community-based fitness organizations, and university or hospital settings, or be Pennsylvania certified in health and physical education (K-12) and secure teaching positions in public or private schools.

    Movement Science Option

    Available at the following campuses: Altoona, University Park

    This option provides interdisciplinary scientific training in academic areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, movement neuroscience, psychology of physical activity, and sport history and philosophy to understand movement for prevention and diagnosis of chronic disease, rehabilitation and treatment, and/or theoretical study. Students are prepared for graduate study in many clinical fields including medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, cardiac rehabilitation, as well as a broad range of careers in biomedical and health-related fields.

    Exercise Science Option

    Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Berks, Harrisburg

    This option is a program of study in the science of exercise. This program offers Kinesiology background and applied experience in fitness assessment, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor skill development, nutrition and healthy living skills. Graduates will be able to scientifically assess fitness levels of individuals. Analyzing those assessments, graduates will then be capable of designing and implementing appropriate exercise programs.  Students acquire basic business skills in accounting, marketing, management and entrepreneurial skills. Students choosing the Science Emphasis will select courses from a department list that will enhance their opportunity for graduate studies in Kinesiology-related fields, physical therapy and medical schools. The completion of the Exercise Science Option will enable graduates to compete for employment in the corporate fitness arena, private fitness clubs, community-based fitness organizations, hospital and university settings or possibly to operate their own health and fitness company.

    • Students will demonstrate personal, professional, and ethical competency within the discipline of kinesiology.
    • Students will be able to define fundamental processes, theories, and methods in kinesiology including the physiology, psychology, biomechanics, motor control, history, and philosophy of human movement.
    • Students will be able define and demonstrate competency for planning and implementing kinesiology-related health, fitness, performance, and behavior change interventions and programs.
    • Students will be able to perform assessments of physical activity and fitness.
    • Students will demonstrate skills related to thinking critically, evaluating research knowledge and evidence, and analyzing quantitative data.

    Disciplines

    Penn State Altoona The Altoona College

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University

    Entry Requirements

    Penn State requires the submission of specific academic credentials to complete your application. Review the secondary and post-secondary requirements for your country below.

    If you are a first year student applying to Penn State:

    Click Apply to start your Penn State application. Before starting, you can also review the Applying Online Worksheet for more details and helpful hints about the application.

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the Save and Continue button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). As you begin the SRAR process, a new window will open allowing you to complete your SRAR. SRAR will focus on your high school coursework. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. Therefore, have a copy of your secondary school records available as you complete your SRAR. You will need to enter every class and every grade earned for the last three years, as well as those classes in progress.

    After completing your SRAR, you will be directed back to the Penn State application in order to complete the Program of Study portion of the application. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for first-year students.

    After completing this section of the application, you will provide some additional information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If you are a transfer student applying to Penn State:

    All international transfer students will be required to submit official high school transcripts in order to complete the application. International transfer students will not complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) for either their high school or college coursework.

    If you have accepted your offer of admission to Penn State:

    If you completed SRAR and are accepted to Penn State, please provide the following for grade verification:

    • Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, and 12. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.
    • Official copy of the Tawjihi, accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 80

    Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Kinesiology

    A Kinesiology degree can provide many opportunities for students ranging from fulfilling careers in health and wellness to graduate/professional studies in a wide range of allied health professions. The hands-on learning opportunities and internships in the program allow students to build experience, gain professional skills and explore their interests to create a strong foundation for a post-graduation career or in the next step of their education.

    Kinesiology students have many career options after graduation. Discussion with Kinesiology faculty, an adviser, or professionals in the field through internship experiences can provide additional insight. Many students use their Penn State Kinesiology degree in allied health and wellness fields, working with a wide range of populations in many different settings. The applied learning opportunities in our curriculum give students hands-on experience to work with children and adults to promote health and wellness. Kinesiology graduate are well-rounded and valuable employees with their strong scientific foundation that can be applied to solving problems related to human movement.

    MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE KINESIOLOGY PROGRAM

    Opportunities for Graduate Studies

    Many students in Kinesiology aim to pursue graduate or professional school after they complete their undergraduate program. Kinesiology students are often interested in careers in physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, physician's assistant, medical school, dentistry, nursing, or chiropractic school. Students may also opt to attend graduate programs in Kinesiology to advance their understanding in one of the sub-disciplines of the field. The Kinesiology undergraduate program includes many of the prerequisite courses needed for a variety of these post-bachelor programs, providing students with a strong scientific foundation for further study.

    MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

    Professional Resources

    • National Academy of Kinesiology
    • American College of Sports Medicine
    • National Strength and Conditioning Association
    • SHAPE: Society of Health and Physical Educators
    • American Kinesiology Association
    • PA Department of Education

    Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University

    Application Fee 75

    How to Apply for Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University

    Step 1: Choose Your Application Method

    Apply through MyPennState

    The first step of the application process is to create a Penn State account, if you do not have one already. MyPennState is where future students can access the online application.

    If you are new to MyPennState, you will need to establish a Penn State User ID and password, which you will access during the MyPennState profile creation process. Once you have your log in information, you can sign in to begin work on your application.

    When creating the profile, please use the name that is on your passport. Because materials are filed alphabetically under the family name on the application, it is important that all correspondence and records consistently use the same name (family and given) and spelling. If this name does not match your academic records, please notify us of the difference. Please note: In the U.S., the family name is usually referred to as the last name, and the given name is referred to as the first name.

    Additionally, Penn State requires a current, valid email address, as that is our primary means of communication with international students. To ensure deliverability, please make Penn State (psu.edu) an eligible sender to the account.

    Applying through the Common App

    Applying to Penn State via the Common App is available to first-year (freshman) international students. If applying through the Common App, Penn State will create a MyPennState profile when the application is submitted and you will receive instructions on how to access your profile. If you intend to apply with the Common App, you do not need create a MyPennState profile prior to submitting your application.

    Step 2: Access the Application and Review Important Dates

    While you can create a MyPennState profile at any time, the application for admission becomes available on the following dates:

    Fall/Summer Admission: August 1

    Spring Admission: June 1

    The application submission dates vary by applicant type and intended program of study. Some programs have specific deadlines or admissions requirements. Please refer to our Dates & Deadlines for more information about application deadlines, as well as our Admissions Requirements to review information about any additional materials required for your intended program of study.

    Step 3: Start Your Penn State Application

    If applying through MyPennState:

    Click Apply Online to start your Penn State application. 

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the "Save and Continue" button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), unless otherwise directed. You will be directed to enter information about your secondary school coursework. Please have a copy of your secondary school records as you complete SRAR. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. You will need to enter every grade for every course you have taken in the last three years, as well as your current schedule of classes.

    Students educated in South Korea will not complete SRAR. The document requirements for South Korea can be found by reviewing our International Credential Requirements.

    After this section, you will be directed back to the Penn State application to complete the Program of Study portion. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for either first-year students or transfer students.

    After this portion, you will provide some additional application information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If applying through the Common App:

    Complete the Common App, which will then direct you to MyPennState to complete SRAR. Applicants using the Common App may feel that they provided their high school record via the Common App, but Penn State requires the completion of SRAR via MyPennState. We strongly encourage you to obtain an official copy of your high school transcript to ensure accurate entry of your coursework completed and grades earned. The SRAR will include all of your high school coursework from your last three years of work and your current year schedule. If your final year grades are available when you enter SRAR, you can enter them at that time.

    Step 4: Submit Your Application

    The application requires a nonrefundable application fee of $75 for international students. Be sure to complete the last step after Summary and Review, which finalizes payment of your fee, and be certain it is successfully submitted. Once the application is submitted, you can verify its completion by accessing your MyPennState profile.

    Step 5: Submit Required Application Materials

    In order to complete your Penn State application, we need the following materials:

    • Application
    • Secondary school record
    • Post-secondary school records (if applicable)
    • First-year applicants only: Official test scores: SAT (code #2660) or ACT (code #3656)

      Writing Component and Subject Tests

      Please note: The writing component of standardized tests (SAT or ACT) is not required. The writing component will not be used as part of our evaluation. If your test scores include the writing component, by all means, have those scores sent to Penn State. Additionally, we do not require SAT Subject Tests.

    • English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

    Please see the admissions requirements for international students to review the details about the required application materials. Some programs require additional items to complete your application. Please review our Admissions Requirements for those details.

    Penn State does not require letters of recommendation, nor are they used in a student’s evaluation (unless required for a specific program).

    Step 6: Check Your Application Status in MyPennState

    You can always check the status of your application in MyPennState. We will communicate with you via MyPennState and through a series of emails regarding the missing items for your application. When everything has arrived, you will see a status in MyPennState confirming the completion of your application.

    Please note: It is your responsibility to check on the status of your application and send us any missing materials.

    Step 7: Receive Your Admission Decision

    Once we have reached a decision regarding your application, we will update your status in MyPennState and provide a printable PDF of your decision letter. Review our Dates & Deadlines to see when you should expect your decision.

    If accepted, you can accept your offer of admission in MyPennState to begin the process of becoming a Penn State student. Visit our Accepted Students section to review the next steps in this process. Once you accept your offer of admission to Penn State, those students completing SRAR will submit their official records for validation purposes as soon as possible.

    Bachelor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America

    United States of America, University Park

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