Kinesiology
majors are in good shape
By Sonya Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
The
smell of freshly cut grass, the crack of
a baseball bat and the vision of a cheering
crowd are all things that remind us of playing
sports when we were young. Most students
feel that they have to put this behind them,
but kinesiology and physical education majors
do not.
The kinesiology and physical education department
of the College of Health and Human Services
offers a wide variety of job opportunities,
said Michael G. Lacourse, professor and
chair of the department.
The options under a kinesiology and physical
education: fitness, athletic training, kinesiotherapy,
exercise science, sport psychology and coaching.
A credential is required for physical education
degrees, Lacourse said. Athletic training
and kinesiotherapy clinical hours are required
to be qualified and most of the time graduate
work is needed for exercise science.
Physical education was once the primary
use of this department; however recently
therapeutic exercise attracts more students.
The job outlook for teachers is excellent
and the outlook in other areas is good,
Lacourse said.
The teaching programs and kinesiotherapy
are accredited, and the other programs require
no accreditation. Keith Freesemann, program
director for athletic training, said the
field of athletic training is in a candidacy
period right now.
“I am sure we are in good shape,” he said.
“We have always been in compliance with
[the Accreditation Council] standards.”
The athletic training program is currently
changing the qualifications for students.
The biggest change is the eligibility requirements
for athletic training certification that
will require the graduates to come from
accredited programs, Freesemann said.
“All of our graduates are finding employment,”
Freesemann said of the job outlook.
Jill Crussemeyer a biomechanics and injury
assistant professor explained that the job
outlook for exercise science “really depends
on what direction you go in.” Almost all
exercise science students go on to some
professional degree such as a master’s or
a doctorate, Crussemeyer said.
Fifth year major in athletic training Marios
Kordatos, currently interning at El Camino
College for football and planning on graduating
in the spring, said that the job outlook
is “alright.”
Karri Miller, a fifth year athletic training
major who also plans to graduate in the
spring, is interning in the training room,
described the job outlook as “very competitive.”
Miller plans to go on to earn her master’s
degree in sports medicine.
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