Let’s be honest, not everyone looking to get a degree in kinesiology will become a professional athlete or coach. So what can you do with a degree in kinesiology? There are many careers that require working with and helping people through fitness or movement, and those with a degree in kinesiology should be able to find jobs that use their skills instead of being limited to the sports world.
There are a number of ways that you can utilize your kinesiology degree.
The first thing to keep in mind is that, while kinesiology is an incredibly diverse field, it’s also very specialized. You’ll want to make sure that the jobs you’re considering are a good fit for your interests and passions—and that they’re still open to new graduates!
If you’re interested in working with people and having deep interactions with them, then you might consider becoming a physical therapist or occupational therapist. You’ll work one-on-one with patients as they recover from injuries or illnesses, helping them regain mobility and strength. You’ll also probably be responsible for teaching patients how to do things like walk or use their hands again after losing mobility due to illness or injury.
If you want to learn more about how the body works in general, then becoming a physician assistant may be right up your alley. Physician assistants help doctors diagnose illnesses and injuries by performing tests and procedures on patients so they can come up with the best treatment plan possible. They also assist in surgeries by doing things like administering anesthesia or monitoring vital signs throughout the procedure.
If you’re interested in working with athletes or sports teams, becoming an athletic trainer would be a great career path for
What jobs can i get with kinesiology
Introduction
Kinesiology is the study of movement, but it’s more than just a discipline for aspiring athletes and fitness fanatics. People who major in kinesiology tend to pursue careers in healthcare, especially working with people recovering from injuries or disabilities. Here are some of the most popular career options for kinesiology majors:
personal trainer
To become a personal trainer, you need to have a degree in kinesiology. You’ll also need to be certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) or the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Aspiring trainers should also have prior experience working with clients on a one-on-one basis at gyms or other fitness centers before applying for this position as it’s not easy work. Personal trainers must be able to work well with people of all ages and fitness levels, so if you’re good at motivating people to keep going when they don’t want to, this may be your dream job.
physical therapist
As a physical therapist, you’ll work with people who have been injured or who suffer from certain medical conditions. You’ll be able to help them regain their mobility and strength.
Physical therapists help patients by working with them to get better at their daily activities, such as walking or getting out of bed. Physical therapists also teach patients how to move safely and avoid injury in the future.
Physical therapists need at least an associate degree in kinesiology before they can start practicing in this field.
athletic director
You might consider becoming an athletic director, who is the head administrator of a school’s sports program. You’ll be responsible for planning schedules for your teams, hiring coaches and trainers, developing budgets for equipment purchases and facility maintenance, overseeing fundraising efforts and managing media relations.
Additionally, you’ll be responsible for managing student athletes’ academic progress to ensure they’re eligible to play in games or tournaments.
occupational therapist
The occupational therapist is an important member of a team that helps people with physical disabilities improve their daily living skills. This professional can also help people who have mental illnesses and those who have experienced strokes or other injuries to regain their independence.
What do occupational therapists do?
Occupational therapists work in hospitals, nursing homes, or private practice. They may see patients one-on-one or in groups. An OT can assess a client’s conditions at the beginning of treatment and see how well they are doing later on, when treatment has ended. OTs provide treatment plans for clients that include exercises focused on improving strength and flexibility as well as ways to improve balance and coordination through various activities such as walking with a cane or using adaptive equipment around the home such as walkers (canes) and wheelchairs .
Skills needed by an OT: strong communication skills; critical thinking ability; attention to detail; creativity; patience/good listener;; willingness to problem solve;; respect for diversity
recreation director
As a recreation director, you would plan, organize and direct recreational programs for a community. You would develop and implement programs that meet the needs of the community and work with local government to develop and maintain parks and recreation facilities.
health care fields
There are a number of health care fields that kinesiology graduates can get into. These include:
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Athletic training/rehabilitation
Kinesiology grads who want to work in these fields will need to complete a graduate degree program and pass the certification exam for their chosen field.
Conclusion
There are many careers you can pursue with a degree in kinesiology. You will have the opportunity to work in health care, education, or sports medicine, and jobs will be available at every level of employment (employee, manager or owner). You may also consider working for the government or military as an athletic trainer. There is no limit on what career opportunities may be available after graduating from college with this degree program; however, it helps if you are interested in physical fitness and exercise science.
