Kinesiology

The Kinesiology major is a four-year, pre-professional curriculum leading to a B.S.Ed. in Kinesiology. Most students electing this option will go on to pursue a graduate degree in professional studies.

Eligibility for admission to the program is based on the admission requirements of the University of Virginia, the Curry School of Education, and the Kinesiology Program Area. Generally, applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and combined score of 1000 SAT. Because the program is geared toward graduate study, a strong background in the general sciences is recommended. Students should be career oriented in allied health areas.

Once enrolled, all Kinesiology students must maintain a Record of Progress.

Academic Standing  All students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward graduation.  Upon admission to the Kinesiology Program, the student has 2 years to complete the course of study.  Any student who cannot meet this time limit must appeal to the Kinesiology Faculty in writing to determine whether he or she may remain in the program.

General Curry Standards  Any graduate course (500 level or higher) in which a student receives a grade below B- must be repeated.  Credit will be awarded for each course only once. 

Probation and Suspension  An undergraduate student must maintain good standing each semester by completing at least 12 credits of graded work (or S/U work if engaged in practica), with at least 1,800 semester average and no more than one grade below C- (orC/NC).  A student will be placed on academic probation after any semester in which good standing is not attained.

Suspension involves enforced withdrawal from the Curry School of Education.  A student placed on probation in any semester may be suspended if he or she does not regain good standing at the end of the next semester.  A student who has been suspended may apply to the Office of Admission and Student Affairs of the Curry School of Education for readmission after one regular semester or one summer session has elapsed since the date of suspension.  If readmitted, the student will be on probation and will be suspended again after one semester unless the cumulative grade point average for all courses completed is above 2.000.

120 Credit Hours are required for Graduation with a GPA of at least a 2.000.

Program Description  The undergraduate program in kinesiology is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with a foundation in the sciences of human movement that will be applied to one of several specialty areas within kinesiology:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Adapted Physical Education

The Kinesiology major does not qualify students to sit for licensure or certification in any professional domain.  This program is designed to prepare students to enroll in graduate programs that provide entry-level training and the route for certification in physical therapy, medicine, athletic training, physician’s assistant, nutrition, personal training and teaching Admission preference for the Kinesiology Major will be given to students whose general education program is competitive for graduate school.

Sport Medicine  The Sports Medicine option allows students to expand their knowledge of the basic sciences related to the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of the physically active individual.  This program is for those intending to pursue advanced study in areas such as athletic training, rehabilitation services (physical/occupational therapy), medicine or work as a physician’s assistant.  Students in this concentration area are advised by Susan Saliba, Ph.D.  This program does not qualify students for certification in athletic training.  Interested students must seek an accredited entry-level graduate program to fulfill these requirements.  The University of Virginia does not have an accredited entry-level athletic training program; the Masters’ and Doctoral Programs are advanced professional programs.

Exercise Physiology  Students interested in pursuing graduate study in exercise physiology, nutrition, cardiac rehabilitation or medicine are advised to concentrate in the exercise physiology category of kinesiology.  Art Weltman, Ph.D., is the concentration advisor for exercise physiology.  This program permits qualified students to begin graduate study in conjunction with the undergraduate curriculum.

Adapted Physical Education  Students interested in adapted physical education or recreational therapy should consider the adapted physical education concentration in kinesiology.  Students in this concentration area are advised by Martin Block, Ph.D.  The University of Virginia has an accredited entry-level program in Health and Physical Education leading to licensure and endorsement through the B.S.Ed/Master of Teaching Program.  For information, contact the Office of Teacher Education 434-924-0748.

The Kinesiology program is housed in the Curry School of Education.  Students interested in the B.S.Ed. program in Kinesiology must apply for admission to the Curry School by March 1 of their second year in the College.  Applications are available in the Admission Office, 104 Ruffner Hall, (Transfer students from outside the University apply to the College of Arts and Sciences, noting an interest in Kinesiology on their applications).

All students in the Kinesiology major must complete general education core requirements and then concentration area requirements.  Core requirements include:

a.  General Education Requirements:

• 12 hours Humanities:  including ENWR 101 (or equivalent) and 2nd writing requirement
• 12 hours Social Sciences:  including SOC (any number) and PSYC (any number)
• 12 hours Natural Sciences:  BIOL 201/202 with 203/204 Labs and MATH 111
• 3 hours Contemporary Health Issues (EDHS 450)

b.  Kinesiology Core (15 hours)

• Human Anatomy
• Neuromuscular Basis of Human Movement
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Exercise Physiology
• Adapted Physical Education
• Motor Development

c.  Concentration Area Requirements from one of the following:

1.  Sports Medicine (19 hours)

• EDHS 451    Emergency Medical Care (S)        3 credits
• EDHS 544    Athletic Injuries I (F)                    3 credits
• EDHS 211    Athletic Injuries Lab (F)                1 credit
• EDHS 446    Practicum in Sports Medicine (B)  3 credits
• BIOL 206     Human Anatomy/Physiology (F)   3 credits
• BIOL 207     Human Anatomy/Physiology (S)   3 credits
• EDHS 553    Nutrition (S)                                 3 credits  

2.  Exercise Physiology (18 hours)

• EDHS 750    Practicum in Adult Fitness            3 credits
• EDHS 743    Advanced Exercise Physiology     3 credits
• EDHS 743L  Advanced Exer. Physiology (lab)  3 credits
• EDHS 842    Metabolic Adapt. to Exercise        3 credits
• EDHS 589    Exer. and Reg. of Energy Balance 3 credits
• EDHS 843    Exercise Intervention in Disease  3 credits

3.  Adapted Physical Education (27 hours)

• EDHS 224    Substance Abuse                       3 credits
• EDHS 344    Rhythms, Gymnast. & Dance      3 credits
• EDHS 350    Team Sports                               3 credits
• EDHS 351    Individual Sports                        3 credits
• EDHS 551    Teaching School Health              2 credits
• EDHS 553    Nutrition                                     3 credits
• EDHS 563    History, Principles, & Phil of PE   3 credits
• EDHS 377    Teaching Assistant Program APE 3 credits
• EDHS 446    Practicum in APE                         3 credits
• EDHS 546    Assessment in Physical Ed          3 credits
• EDLF 315     Intro to Child Growth & Dev       3 credits

d. Kinesiology corollary Elective (12 hours) may come from Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.

e.  Practicum in Kinesiology ( 3 hours)

Each student is required to fulfill a 3 hours practicum experience as part of his or her concentration area.  The student is responsible for organizing this practicum and getting it approved by his or her advisor prior to the experience.  Generally, 40 contact hours per credit hour is required; a 3 hour course requires about 10 hours/week for the entire semester.

The practicum experience allows students to examine specific interest areas, learn more about the field of interest, and gain important practical experiences.  Specific information about this experience must be recorded on practicum forms in the student’s advising folder.

f.  Professional Conference

Each student in the Kinesiology Major is required to attend a professional conference.  The Art & Science of Sports Medicine (EDHS 457) is a course in conjunction with a professional conference and fulfills this requirement.  The conference can also be taken without the course.  The student is required to place a “proof of attendance” in his or her advising folder once this requirement is met.

For information about the program of study for other areas of concentration see; http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sportsmed/undergrad.htm