Department of Health and Human Development, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
86-95 credits
Introduction
This major provides a concentrated study of human movement from mechanical, physiological and pathological perspectives. The program is appropriate for students who plan to work in the fitness/exercise industry or any other field such as coaching or rehabilitation, where human movement and exercise prescription are the focus. Additionally, this degree can serve as the gateway degree to the allied health professions (i.e., physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant) or preparation for post-baccalaureate study in other areas such as exercise physiology, health/ fitness, biomechanics, physical therapy, sport psychology, nutrition, and human growth and motor development. Supporting courses from biology, chemistry, computer science, communications, health education and physics are included to provide more in-depth analysis of principles associated with human structure and function.
Why Consider a Health and Fitness Specialist Specialization in Kinesiology Major?
Health and fitness specialist professionals work in the health and fitness industry. The program prepares professionals who are skilled in evaluating health behaviors and risk factors, conducting fitness assessments, writing appropriate exercise prescriptions, and motivating individuals to modify negative health habits and maintain positive lifestyle behaviors for optimal health. Health and fitness specialists conduct these activities in the university, clinical, corporate, and commercial or community settings where their clients participate in health promotion and fitness-related activities. This specialization is also appropriate preparation for graduate study in exercise physiology and cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation.
The Kinesiology major is in very high demand at Western. Prior to declaring the major, WWU students are strongly urged to obtain and utilize advising information from the Kinesiology program web page, or the HHD department office (Carver 102), to know what classes are recommended to be taken to prepare for the major.
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Wellness Coordinator | Health Club Manager | Personal Trainer | Fitness Product Sales | Pharmaceutical Drug Sales | Biomedical Research &/or Sales | Athletic Trainer* | Nutrition Specialist* | Graduate School in Kinesiology*
*with post-baccalaureate study
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How to Declare (Application and Declaration Process):
1. WWU students with at least 75 credits completed and a GPA of at least 2.5 may apply to enter one of the five specializations in the Kinesiology major:
- Applications from one student to multiple Kinesiology specializations are not permitted.
- At the time of application the 75 or more credits must be recorded in the student’s WWU academic history (WWU transcript) and/or in the student’s WWU transfer equivalency report.
- If the student has attended more than one institution then the student’s GPA for purposes of application to the Kinesiology major is calculated as a weighted average of the GPAs obtained at each of the schools attended. (Advanced placement classes are not included in the calculation; running start classes recorded on a community college transcript are included.)
- Admission to each specialization will be determined on a space available basis after ranking candidates by GPA, from high to low. GPA admission averages for each specialization will be calculated each year based on the most current data and included in advising material that students can obtain from the Health and Human Development Department or the Kinesiology program website at wwu.edu/hhd/kinesiology.
- The application to the Kinesiology major is submitted via a link on the Kinesiology program website at wwu.edu/hhd/kinesiology.
- Deadlines for the application each year are as follows:
- Second Friday of classes in fall quarter, for the students entering the major in the subsequent winter quarter.
- Second Friday of classes in winter quarter, for the students entering the major in the subsequent spring quarter.
- Second Friday of classes in spring quarter, for the students entering the major in the subsequent fall quarter.
- Transfer students attending a summer transitions program will not be able to apply to the major during the summer transitions program. Transfer students will apply in the fall, winter, or spring quarters according to the deadlines for application.
2. Student applicants are notified of the outcome of their application the soonest possible after the application deadline, well in advance of the registration phase I for the subsequent quarter.
3. Students admitted to the major are assigned to a program academic advisor and are required to meet with the advisor to make a plan of study. Conversion to major status will not be completed without a meeting with a program academic advisor.
4. If a student is denied entry into a Kinesiology major specialization, the student may apply again the next quarter to the same specialization. For example, if a student is not selected in the spring for fall quarter admission to the Pre Health Care Specialization, the student can apply again in the fall to the same Kinesiology Pre-Health Care Specialization.
5. If a student is denied entry into the Kinesiology major, the student may apply again to a different specialization after a delay of one quarter. For example, if a student is not selected in the spring for fall quarter admission to the Pre-Health Care Specialization, the student can apply in the winter to a different Kinesiology specialization. The one-quarter delay is designed to dissuade students from applying to specializations not focused in their area of interest.
6. Once admitted to a specialization, a student wishing to change to a different specialization must apply for admission to the new specialization following the deadlines for application, and can do so while continuing in the present specialization.
Grade Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.
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