A master’s degree in kinesiology opens the door to a wide variety of careers in health, wellness, fitness and education-related fields. As a graduate of a good kinesiology program, you will be prepared to be a leader in the health and fitness industry as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach or exercise scientist.
A master’s level degree in kinesiology also serves as preparation for advanced study in kinesiology and complimentary fields such as medicine, physiotherapy and chiropractic. By providing a foundation in human anatomy, a kinesiology degree provides an excellent foundation for a broad range of doctoral level health-related careers.
How is a post-professional program different and do I really need one?
The best post-professional degrees should be designed for working health and fitness professionals. Today, there are online degrees that focus on developing true experts to be clinical leaders in kinesiology, exercise science, health and fitness.
Through a top online master’s program, professionals can develop comprehensive knowledge and proficiency in functional anatomy, exercise physiology, behavior change, functional assessment and program design. Advanced principles in these concepts can be mastered while working in the industry, providing a real-time educational experience in which new concepts are immediately applied.
Top post-professional programs focus on building an evidence-based practice and teach clinicians to be critical thinkers by applying evidence to their everyday work. Such programs not only elevate fitness professionals by enhancing knowledge, skills and abilities, but also help build credibility in the work and marketplace.
The most valuable post-professional exercise science programs are designed to build on the foundation of your experience and education in exercise physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics or related fields. A bachelors degree is required, and prospective students are usually health, wellness, sport, or fitness professionals with at least two years of experience; or they are a training professional with an NCCA accreditation or a licensed healthcare professional.
The best kinesiology programs offer students pursuing a post-professional degree one of at least four specialty tracks based on your unique interests and aptitudes. These can include some of the following: Sports Conditioning, Exercise and Sport Psychology, Geriatric Exercise Science, or Corrective Exercise & Orthopedic Rehabilitation. A research thesis option for these students should also be available to accompany any of the four tracks.
Dr. Tracie Rogers, PhD, is program director and associate professor at A.T. Still University. Dr. Rogers speaks nationally to fitness professionals and writes extensively on the role of the personal trainer in triggering lasting behavior change and on the creation of exercise environments that promote long-term adherence. For more information on ATSU, visit www.atsu.edu.
