Kinesiology is the study of human movement, performance, and function through the application of scientific principles. Therefore, the curriculum includes study in areas such as: biomechanics, exercise physiology, sport psychology, sport history, motor development, sport sociology, adapted physical activity, and teaching / exercise leadership. The Exercise Science (ES) concentration has significant lab science requirements (chemistry, physics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, etc.). These courses serve as the foundation for the discipline specific courses such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, exercise prescription and exercise and nutrition in chronic disease. Students must meet specific departmental admissions criteria to be fully admitted into the program (for transfer students, full admission typically occurs after the first semester at JMU). The Physical and Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE) concentration requires that students meet Admissions and Retention Standards for the Teacher Education program to be fully admitted and to continue progress in the program.

While completion of many Virginia community college associate degrees guarantees completion of the general education courses at JMU, it is important to also include pre-requisite courses necessary for the upper-level Kinesiology courses, which can be different for the Exercise Science (ES) and Physical and Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE) concentrations. Recommended transfer courses for ES include the equivalents of the following JMU courses: Statistics (MATH 220), Calculus (MATH 205 or 235), and Chemistry (CHEM 131 + 131L). Other options courses for ES include Anatomy & Physiology with lab (BIOL 270 + 270L and BIOL 290 + 290L—both semesters of anatomy and physiology are required at the community college to transfer as these courses), Nutrition (NUTR 280), and Principles of Biology. Recommended transfer courses for PHETE include Anatomy & Physiology with lab (BIOL 270 + 270L and BIOL 290 + 290L—both semesters of anatomy and physiology are required at the community college to transfer as these courses), and Lifespan Human Development (PSYC 160), plus Nutrition (NUTR 280), which is optional. Please know that there are multiple paths for completion of the degree so if you do not complete all suggested courses, it will not influence the admission process. If you are pursuing Exercise Science and a Pre-Professional Health minor it is recommended to take BIO 290 and BIO 270 at JMU or another 4-year institution to be competitive for graduate school applications. Consult with the Pre-Professional Health advisors regarding additional transfer recommendations.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

After earning a B.S. in Kinesiology, there are numerous opportunities to continue your professional development. Students advance immediately to careers (https://www.jmu.edu/career/careerguide/kin.shtml) or pursue additional education, often at JMU, in such programs as the 33- to 36-credit program leading to a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology, as well as the other Master of Science programs in Athletic Training, Kinesiology (Nutrition and Physical Activity), Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Sports and Recreation Leadership. You can find links to explore these and other master’s degree programs at JMU at All Graduate Programs A to Z - JMU.

The Department of Kinesiology strives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all educational endeavors and offers professional development for our students through comprehensive, accredited curricula and practical fieldwork experiences, as well as innovative extracurricular programming and state-of-the-art facilities.

• Practical Fieldwork Experience: The Exercise Science concentration requires two fieldwork experiences, which can be from any area that is related to exercise science; examples have been working in minor league baseball, NASCAR, our own athletics department, local school systems, and more. Many students explore professional opportunities in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or athletic training. Students may opt to pursue a study abroad experience in Australia as one of the fieldwork experiences. Most placements will be with a local Australian Rules football team in which students will experience first-hand the sports medicine culture by engaging in numerous activities, which include helping in the performance and conditioning activities within the club by conducting various fitness assessments and interpreting results; and developing exercise prescriptions for injured athletes.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources: Our department assists students to engage with campus, departmental, and community resources that offer focused support and leadership training in areas relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Innovative Extracurricular Programming: Among the programs our students engage with are Empowerment 3 (E3), which seeks to empower individuals and their families, professionals, and communities through physical activity and mentorship; the Morrison Bruce Center (MBC), which is dedicated to enhancing the physical and mental well-being of girls and women through promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle; and the Health & Physical Activity Institute (HPAI), which strives to improve the quality of health and physical education instruction and provide support to implement the VDOE standards of learning for health and physical education to enhance the wellness and educational performance of Virginia's students.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities include the Human Performance Lab, the PHETE Classroom & Movement Lab, the Body Composition Lab, the Weight Room, the Crawford Fitness Center, Sinclair Gymnasium, and Savage Natatorium.

For more information about accreditation of our programs, resources, programming, and facilities, please visit the JMU Department of Kinesiology website at https://www.jmu.edu/kinesiology/index.html.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University