Looking to Understand Human Movement? Here Are the Best Colleges for Kinesiology in The U.S.

Image courtesy of Deep.

“The mind and the body are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one.” - Deepak Chopra

If you are thinking about majoring in kinesiology in college you will first want to know what kinesiology is. Kinesiology is the study of movement. It is also a form of therapy which uses muscle monitoring to look at imbalances that may be causing disease in the body. However, you need to keep in mind that kinesiology is not used to diagnose disorders. Instead kinesiology is used to access information about a person’s wellbeing and promote physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. 

There are also different types of kinesiology such as holistic kinesiology, which is a non-invasive health discipline that recognizes the body has an innate ability to heal itself. Although, it sometimes needs help being pointed into the right direction and might need a helping hand.

Now that you know a little more about what kinesiology is, let’s dive into what the best colleges for kinesiology are. Here are the best kinesiology and exercise science colleges in the U.S.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
2. Texas A&M University - College Station
3. University of Maryland - College Park
4. The University of Texas at Austin
5. University of Georgia
6. University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
7. Ohio State University - Main Campus
8. Indiana University - Bloomington
9. University of Utah
10. University of Northern Iowa

Keep in mind you are able to get a quality kinesiology education even without attending one of these top 10 schools. You should remember that just going to college in general is going to help you get started on the right path towards the career you want. It does not matter if you attend the best college for that field. As long as you can show passion and care for the subject you’re studying, then you will have a successful future ahead. 

Remember to do your own research into the field you may be considering as your major in college, before you decide on that major specifically.

Now let’s take a closer look into what makes the top 3 best kinesiology and exercise science schools the best. Keep in mind that different people are going to have differing opinions on what makes one college the best over another one. Be sure to do some of your own research before deciding which college you want to apply to. Remember it is important to apply to more than one college just in case you do not get accepted to that one.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

At the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor there is a separate school that houses the kinesiology program. This school is a part of the overall University of Michigan (UM) college. At this school of kinesiology you will examine how the science of physical activity and the business of sport can be used to improve lives. The school of kinesiology building is located in the heart of the University of Michigan’s campus.

There are four different academic programs under the school of kinesiology at UM. These four programs are:

• Applied Exercise Science
• Athletic Training
• Movement Science
• Sport Management

Each one of these programs offers unique experiences for students to learn more about different aspects of kinesiology. 

The mission of the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology  is to be an international leader in education and research related to physical activity, health and wellness, and sport management. 

Feel free to visit the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology homepage to learn more about what they have to offer for students.

Texas A&M University - College Station

The kinesiology program offered at the Texas A&M University located at College Station is housed under their school of education and human development. Much like the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, this school of education and human development is a part of the whole Texas A&M University. This seems to be a common thing among colleges, that they have separate departments/schools that house specific majors/programs.

Unique to the Texas A&M University there is a separate division for kinesiology. The students in this program are prepared to be leaders and innovators in careers in the public education forum and exercise science. Their goal is to prepare students for the workforce and give students an advantage over their peers if they choose to continue their studies. 

Take a look at the Texas A&M University School of Education and Human Development to learn more about the kinesiology and sport management programs offered. While you’re there, take a deeper dive into the division of kinesiology if you want to major in kinesiology in college.

University of Maryland - College Park

Much like the other two colleges the University of Maryland’s kinesiology program is housed under a separate school within the whole college. Specifically at the University of Maryland, their kinesiology program is housed under the School of Public Health. 

The School of Public Health is proud to offer more than 25 academic programs and is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The faculty and students here are committed to breaking down the barriers that keep individuals, families, communities, and populations from attaining optimum health and wellness. 

The mission of the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health is to promote health and well-being of the diverse communities throughout Maryland, the nation, and the world. They plan to achieve this through leadership and collaboration in interdisciplinary education, research, practice, and public policy. 

This School of Public Health also has some goals which include:

1. Developing and mentoring the next generation of public health leaders
2. Leading and translating innovative research into real world public health solutions
3. Creating and growing sustainable partnerships which engage communities
4. Accelerating and transforming the school’s role as an innovative leader
5. Fostering and investing in a culture of excellence

All of these goals work towards the school’s mission to help the community, nation, and the world. 

If you would like to learn more about the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, to see more about their kinesiology program or any other program offered, visit their homepage today.

Importance of Kinesiology

You may be asking yourself, why is kinesiology important and why would I want to major in it in college? Well here’s why.

Kinesiology is important because it uses evidence-based scientific research and assessments to assist in the prevention and rehabilitation of injury, lifestyle diseases, and other physiological conditions. 

Kinesiology and Your Health

Kinesiology is also important to your health. These kinesiologists are human movement specialists that are able to provide you with unique and valuable services that contribute to your health care and treatment. 

Some of what kinesiologists can provide include:

• Preventing and treating illness or injury by using appropriate exercise testing, assessment and prescription
• Improving your physical performance in sport, work, and activities of daily living
• Overseeing or assisting with the implementation of your individual health care plan
• Assessing workplace demands and providing you with workplace design services such as ergonomics which will help you prevent injury and/or recover from injury
• Providing you with support in rehabilitation and wellness management

Kinesiologists work as part of interdisciplinary teams to help you receive the best-practiced care for a safe and effective treatment. In fact, most kinesiologists are community based which means that they provide quality care services when and where it is needed. Because they are community based, these kinesiologists can help bridge the gap between clinic/facility based treatment and the home/independent community environments. This has been shown to enhance your ability to return to regular home, work, and leisure activities more quickly and more effectively. 

Conclusion

Remember you can get a quality education experience even without attending one of the top colleges for kinesiology. It is so important to do your own research into any potential field you would like to major in, this way you know what you are getting into if you move forward with it as your major in college. Make sure you do any necessary research into the different programs offered at various colleges before deciding on one to apply to. Keep in mind you should apply to at least a couple colleges just in case you do not get accepted to the only one you apply to. 

There are ways to help pay for college since it will be expensive either way, but think of it as an investment in your future. Some ways to pay for college include applying for scholarships and getting financial aid from the college. Going to college is going to lead you to having a better chance at entering the career you want.

Make sure to research any potential careers with a kinesiology degree if you decide to major in it in college. You will want to be aware of any potential career paths while you are studying at college. 

Be sure to choose the best college for you!