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¹û¶³Ó°Ôºâ€™s Kinesiology program stands out with its two dynamic concentrations: Exercise Science and Physical Education. Whether you’re passionate about enhancing athletic performance, promoting fitness and wellness, or inspiring future generations through physical education, our program is designed to cater to your interests and career goals.

In the Exercise Science track, you will learn the relationships between exercise, fitness, nutrition, sport performance, and overall health. This pathway prepares graduates for a wide array of rewarding careers, including roles in biomechanics, exercise physiology (both applied and clinical), exercise prescription, motor control and learning, personal training, and research. Moreover, it serves as a steppingstone to allied health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistantship, and chiropractic programs.

If you’re inspired to teach and love working with children, our Physical Education concentration, with licensure to teach grades K-12 in Tennessee, may be your choice. This professional program equips graduates with a bachelor’s degree and the credentials to inspire and educate students in physical fitness and wellness.

It’s important to know that licensure programs are professional programs that require you to apply and be granted admission into the program. You can learn more about these requirements in the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Course Catalog. Further, Tennessee teacher licensure includes a clinical practice component. This hands-on experience, which lasts fifteen weeks and involves two placements within a 50-mile radius of our campus, prepares you for the challenges and rewards of classroom leadership.

Guided by expert faculty and comprehensive advising, you can complete your undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and fulfill most graduate program prerequisites within 120 credit hours, setting a solid foundation for your future academic pursuits. Additionally, students can opt for a minor in Coaching, and all education majors can pursue specialized training through our state-approved Driver’s Education Endorsement.

Minor Options

The Kinesiology program offers minors in Coaching and Exercise Science.

The Coaching minor is designed for students who want to lead, teach, and develop athletes in school, community, club, or recreational settings. Coursework typically builds a practical foundation in coaching methods, athlete development, and the day-to-day responsibilities of running training sessions and supporting performance. Students gain concepts to help future coaches communicate effectively, plan responsibly, and create positive team cultures This minor can be a strong complement to majors such as education, sport management, psychology, health sciences, or business—especially for students seeking coaching credentials or leadership roles in sport and fitness environments.

The Exercise Science minor provides an introduction to how the body responds and adapts to physical activity, with learning that commonly spans anatomy, physiology, and the science of training and performance. This minor is a great fit for students considering careers or graduate study in areas like strength and conditioning, wellness and health promotion, rehabilitation-related fields, or fitness leadership—while also supporting students who want a strong evidence-based foundation for coaching and physical training practices.

A minor, which is typically eighteen credit hours, is a grouping of courses in a particular academic field of study designed to provide you with expanded knowledge and competency in an area outside your major.