Embark on a career that helps people get and stay healthy.

Major Roadmap

Major Roadmap

Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future. 

Kinesiology Major Guide

As a Kinesiology major, you’ll study the scientific basis for human movement. You’ll explore physiological, mechanical and psychological principles and theories that relate to fitness and the human body — but you won’t stop there. You’ll create fitness programs and design rehabilitation plans for class projects.

When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a career as an athletic trainer, a sports manager, a physical education teacher, or a coach. Many of our alumni go on to pursue a doctorate of Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy. St. Edward’s University offers pre-professional tracks that ensure you’re ready for graduate school.

What do our graduates do?

Kinesiology majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.

  • Health promotions specialist for Chevron in San Ramon, Calif.
  • Account executive for the Connecticut Sun WNBA team
  • Athletic director of an Austin Catholic school, grades PreK–8
  • Graduate teaching fellow at KIPP Texas Public Schools
  • Rehabilitation services technician at Seton Healthcare Family in Austin
  • Sales manager for a medical device company
  • Physical Therapy student at the University of Kansas Medical Center

My Career-Relevant Service Opportunity

My Career-Relevant Service Opportunity

“In my Kinesiology for Special Populations Course, we had to accumulate 10 hours of service working directly with people with special needs. I chose to get involved with the Greater Opportunities Project, or GO Project, at St. Ed’s, which helps young adults with special needs develop independent living skills and prepare for adult life. I worked one-on-one with these students on various sport-specific skills once a week. Witnessing their genuine happiness over the smallest things in life was incredibly rewarding, especially since society as a whole sometimes forgets to do this.” —Jasmine Adgerson ’21, Kinesiology major

The Classroom and Beyond

In addition to your academically rigorous coursework in Kinesiology, you’ll have multiple opportunities to get hands-on experience in the field.

Experiential Education

Your classes will teach you about applications of kinesiology in different settings and help you discover more career options. For example:

In Taping, Bandaging, and First Aid, you’ll complete 200 hours of service under the supervision of a St. Edward’s athletic trainer.

In Safety and First Aid, you’ll complete important training you can use in your career and in any emergency situation.

In Physical Activity, Recreation and Sports for Special Populations, you’ll work one-on-one with a person or people with special needs in a physically active setting. For example, students have worked with the GO Project and Austin Adventurers, organizations that help young adults with special needs develop independent living skills.

Student Organizations

Learn about professional opportunities and meet students who share your interests through the Physical Therapy Organization.

Many Kinesiology students also participate in Recreation and Wellness programs.

Internships

As a Kinesiology major, you’ll have at least one internship or practicum, but the program will encourage you to complete several “mini-internships” so you can get experience in different settings. St. Edward’s students have recently interned at the following organizations: 

  • Austin Independent School District Athletic Office
  • KidTherapy pediatric physical therapy in Austin
  • Texas Physical Therapy Specialists
  • Lonestar Soccer
  • YMCA
  • St. Theresa’s Catholic School
  • St. Edward’s RecWell (Recreation and Wellness)
  • Austin ISD Food and Nutrition Services
  • Round Rock Express Minor League Baseball Team

Students have also done volunteer work at physical therapy clinics and in hospitals to gain experience and give back to their community.