Exercise Sciences, also known as Kinesiology, is a specialized and demanding major studying the effects of physical activity on the body and mind. It is an ideal major for those looking to study sports from an academic lens, as well as those looking to go into physical therapy and related careers. Majors also focus on sports in a societal context, such as the ways in which sports shape, and are shaped by, economics, culture, and business. Kinesiologists often go onto become physical therapists, PE teachers, fitness coaches, and sports physicians.
Many colleges do not offer an exercise science program, meaning it’s often difficult to figure out where to apply when looking to research Kinesiology. This list is meant to give a general overview of the best kinesiology programs offered at US colleges and universities, in no particular order.
Rice University
Rice University is an extremely selective research university in Houston, Texas, with a 9% acceptance rate and a student body of around 5,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduates. Rice offers a Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology major. The major is intensive, with 43 total hours required for a bachelor’s degree. Required subjects include nutrition, human anatomy, research methods, and sports medicine internships. There are a wide array of electives offered as well, including life sciences courses such as biology, biochemistry, immunology, psychology, and chemistry. Rice also offers a doctorate in physical therapy in collaboration with the University of Texas medical branch.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a selective research university and one of the best state schools in the country. It is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an acceptance rate of under 18% and an undergraduate population of over 50,000 students. University of Michigan’s program of Applied Exercise Science allows students many opportunities to get closely involved in the professional fields of sports and nutrition before they graduate. Students work with athletes, clients, patients, nutritionists, and doctors. In addition, the curriculum for EAS majors is designed to be flexible to allow students to pursue a minor. Common minors with EAS include nutrition, business, and public health.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a slightly selective public research university, located in central Illinois with an acceptance rate of 45% and a population of over 35,000 undergraduates. Their kinesiology program combines a liberal arts and STEM focus to gain a holistic understanding of the impact of motion on the human body. UI Urbana-Champaign additionally offers a physical education teacher licensure, which students can apply to at the end of their sophomore year. Students can also apply to a five year program in which, during their fifth year, they can receive a Master’s in Public Health.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a non-selective research university in Iowa City with an acceptance rate of 72% and a population of over 21,000 undergraduate students. The Exercise Science program at the University of Iowa requires completion of core courses for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences before the major can be declared. The major itself involves the study of physical fitness, nutrition, and sports conditioning. The program is geared towards preparing students to be certified as a strength and conditioning specialist as well as a special population specialist. University of Iowa’s exercise major has also been approved by ACSM as enough training to be certified as an ACM-certified exercise physiologist and personal trainer.
Springfield College
Springfield College is a non-selective small research college in Springfield, Massachusetts with an acceptance rate of 76% and a population of 4,100 students. Despite being a small college, Springfield College is internationally recognized as a leader in exercise science. There are three pathways students in Springfield’s Applied Exercise Science major can take. This includes the Strength and Conditioning concentration, which prepares students to be certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist for the National Strength and Conditioning Associated (NSCA). The other two tracks are the Fitness Management and Personal Training track, which focuses on the scientific aspect of fitness, and the Clinical track, which is medically focused.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
UNC Chapel Hill is a selective research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with an acceptance rate of 17% and an undergraduate population of over 20,000 students. UNC Chapel Hill offers an Exercise and Sports Science major. THE ESS major covers a wide breadth concerning the subject of exercise science, including the physics, physiology, and psychology of exercise, alongside a medical focus on athletic injuries. The program is mainly geared towards preparing students for a medical field associated with Exercise Science. The UNC Chapel Hill graduate Sport Administration program ranked #3 in the nation in 2023 in Return on Investment, meaning graduates had the third greatest employment satisfaction and income in the sports industry.
University of Florida
University of Florida is a selective research university in Gainesville, Florida, with an acceptance rate of 23% and an undergraduate population of over 30,000 students. UF offers an Applied Physiology and Kinesiology major, which focuses on the bodily effects of exercise, as well as the impact of exercise on performance enhancement, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. Students are admitted as freshmen into the program and are offered a challenging curriculum requiring 120 credit hours. The program begins with a general introduction of Exercise Physiology, and later involves biology coursework.
Afterwards, students can tailor their courses based on what aspect of exercise science they are most interested in. Some students looking for a career as a health professional take classes focusing on programming exercises and human anatomy, while students looking to go to graduate school often seek clinical and advanced physiological coursework.
Indiana University, Bloomington
Indiana University, Bloomington is a non-selective research university located an hour south of Indianapolis with an undergraduate population of over 35,000 students. Indiana University–Bloomington offers a Kinesiology BS program, which provides students with a wide selection of courses and concentration to choose from. Some of the varied types of coursework include:
- The physical effects of exercise and exercise stress
- The social and cultural context of participation in physical activity and sport
- The psychological effects of exercise and sports
- How the human body grows and develops as it ages
- How kinesiology can be used as therapy for physical injury
- Teaching and coaching physical activity and sports
University of Indiana, Bloomington’s program additionally offers a 5 year masters program for students of kinesiology in which students can receive a Master’s in Public Health.
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
The University of Wisconsion La Crosse is a non-selective university located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, which is a two and a half hour drive from Minneapolis and a three hour drive from Milwaukee. It has an acceptance rate of 74% and an undergraduate population of just under 10,000 students. UWL hosts a distinguished Exercise and Sport Science program which emphasizes hands-on experience, including research projects and internships. UWL also has some of the best sports facilities in the American midwest. Students of Exercise and Sports Science can choose between three concentrations. These include the fitness track, the pre-professional track, and the Physical, Adapted, and School Health Education (PASHE) track which focuses on learning to teach K-12 physical education.
Salisbury University
Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, Maryland, just south of Delaware and half an hour from Ocean City. It is a non-selective university with an acceptance rate of 91% and a student body of over 7,000 undergraduate students. Salisbury Univeristy’s exercise science program is designed to train students to receive professional certification by the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Students can choose between three tracks to complete the Exercise Science major.
This includes a General Exercise Science track for students who want a broad array of training for various health occupations or certifications. The Allied Health track is for students looking to pursue graduate school in exercise science, physical therapy, physician assistance, or a related area. The Pre-Physical Therapy track is for students interested in becoming a physical therapist and includes hands-on experiences working alongside a licensed physical therapist.
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, right at the border between Tennessee and Georgia. It is a non-selective university with an acceptance rate of 48% and has an undergraduate student population of just under 10,000 students. UTC’s Exercise and Health Science program focuses on the biology and applied science of fitness, exercise, and health. The program emphasizes the importance of practical field experience, and students are provided opportunities for research, internships, and learning in the field. The Exercise and Sciences Pre-Health Professional program at UTC is another opportunity for students looking to pursue graduate school in clinical exercise physiology, athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. Students at UTC are also provided with ClearPath, a tool that shows a semester-by-semester guide to their degree and what they must complete to stay on track.
Exercise Science is a high-earning field of study, but the coursework can be strenuous. You will have to know biology, chemistry, and anatomy. Depending on whether you want to go into physical therapy, graduate school, or another discipline, there is a college that will support your goals.
