If you're passionate about helping others improve their quality of life, check out NIU's experiential and research-informed kinesiology program. We prepare you to work in a variety of health, wellness and sport performance settings where you will use exercise as a form of medicine. Our curriculum also prepares you for graduate school in exercise physiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, sport and exercise psychology and sport management. You'll study scientific principles that regulate behavior change and performance, such as physiology, biomechanics, psychology, measurement, gerontology and nutrition. We are part of the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Education Recognition Program and a member of the American Kinesiology Association.
Students admitted to NIU to pursue the B.S. degree in kinesiology enter directly into the major program.
The NIU College of Education embeds diverse, real-world learning opportunities in its programs, including Kinesiology.
For more than two decades, our department has operated an outreach program with DeKalb's Oak Crest Retirement Center to give our students hands-on experience in a health and wellness setting. Our Oak Crest clinical experience is incorporated into the kinesiology undergraduate program. While there, you'll work individually with one to three Oak Crest clients per semester under the supervision of a graduate assistant.
David Benner, director of the gerontology clinical experience, observes: "At the beginning of the semester, students are nervous, and then their comfort level builds as they develop relationships and gain new perspectives and experiences with the clients while working in the exercise gerontology field. Some of our students have used this clinical experience to start a future career working with older adults."
The KNPE 494 internship is the culminating requirement for the B.S. in kinesiology program. It's a six credit-hour field experience designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge in a professional kinesiology setting.
You'll also pursue coursework toward a focus area in wellness, performance or sport management.
I've loved my courses in exercise physiology, high-performance training and sport psychology, where my professors helped me connect what I've learned to real-world situations and took us on trips to sports facilities. They make learning fun and content easy to understand, and they really do care about your career focus. I'm excited as I look ahead toward graduate school for athletic training.
Maricela Garcia, kinesiology major
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Anderson Hall 221
DeKalb, IL 60115
P: 815-753-1407
F: 815-753-1413
knpe@niu.edu