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Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Degree
BS in Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Department
At a Glance
Study human movement and gain the skills, knowledge, and experience to pursue a rewarding career in exercise science, sports medicine, or allied health. You’ll take a broad range of courses that focus on the scientific basis of human movement, such as anatomy and human physiology, exercise physiology, metabolism, kinesiology, biomechanics, and biochemistry. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to help advance healthier lives and build stronger communities through fitness.
Dual-Degree Program Option
Get a jumpstart and enter the workforce with a professional degree. Dual degrees offer a streamlined path to earning two degrees, often with direct admission to the graduate portion.
Physical Therapy
Kinesiology and Health Sciences + Physical Therapy, BS/DPT
First-year applicants gain direct admission to the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences in a 7-year (4+3) dual-degree program.
You’ll Benefit From:
- Small classes and focused attention from experienced professors
- The ability to collect and analyze data in state-of-the-art performance labs
- Opportunities for faculty-mentored research, publishing, and presentation
- Real-world experience through internships or working with TCNJ athletic teams
- A curriculum with flexibility in electives and graduate school prerequisite courses
- Mentorship and guidance from faculty advisors with extensive field expertise
- Connections to TCNJ partners and a robust alumni network of professionals
Careers
The health and human performance fields are booming, and you’ll be well-prepared to launch a career or enter graduate studies at a top institution. Our students work in recreation, athletics, rehabilitation, and medical professions in settings that range from schools and community centers to clinics and sports leagues. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees in health science professions or sports and athletic conditioning.
Recent graduates are excelling in all areas of the health sciences, including health, fitness, and strength training; advanced exercise science and biomechanics; occupational and physical therapy; chiropractic care; athletic training; cardiac rehab; perfusion; nutrition and sports nutrition; and pre-med.
Recent Employers
- Capital Health Systems
- Ivy Rehabilitation
- Jag-ONE Physical Therapy
- NJ Department of Health & Senior Services
- Penn Medicine
- Princeton Medical Center
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- Velocity Sports Performance Center
Recent Graduate Schools
- Drexel
- Penn State University
- Rutgers University
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Tufts
Course Sequence and Requirements
The department offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing the breadth and depth of human health and movement knowledge. Through various course offerings, laboratory and field experiences, pedagogical practices, research opportunities, and student-faculty interactions, you’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to excel as a professional or as a continuing student seeking advanced education.
Experiential Learning
As a kinesiology and health sciences student, you’ll benefit from TCNJ’s long history of partnership with local communities. Past initiatives have entailed students and faculty developing and delivering creative fitness programs to meet the specific needs of local partners. Student-faculty teams have also conducted community-based research projects that advance our knowledge about health and human performance while delivering real benefits — like better exercise and nutrition habits — to children and other members of our local communities. You might even have the opportunity to conduct research and present and publish papers with your faculty mentor, further contributing to a strong resume or graduate school portfolio.
The program’s intensive senior-year internship program will prepare you to meet the challenges and demands you’ll likely encounter in your future career. You will be matched with an approved partner and perform a minimum of 450 hours of work over 14 to 16 weeks. This practical field experience is framed by on-campus professional development seminars led by our internship coordinator. Opportunities are available in corporate, research, public health, clinical exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and health science settings.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
You’ll get familiar with the human performance and performance enhancement labs, where you can collect and analyze data from study volunteers and get hands-on experience to help prepare for real-world opportunities.
Faculty
Program faculty are not only internationally recognized as leaders in their respective fields but also dedicated to the student learning experience. Throughout the program, you’ll be advised by a dedicated faculty advisor who will offer guidance in course selection and future plans.
