Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Location: Gunter Hall 2590
Telephone: 970-351-2535
Email: kind@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/sport-exercise-science/
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
Curious about how exercise can heal, strengthen, and transform the human body? The Exercise Science Concentration Kinesiology degree invites you to explore the scientific foundations of movement while preparing for advanced study in a wide range of health professions. You will learn through hands-on labs, clinical experiences, and coursework that connects physiology, biomechanics, and social psychology, and evidence-based practice. Faculty mentors will help you build the competencies needed for rigorous graduate and professional programs, including physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, medical school, physician assistant studies, and other health-related fields. As a student in this concentration, you will develop skills in exercise assessment, clinical application, movement analysis, and health promotion across diverse populations. The program is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for meeting high standards in professional education.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Program Requirements:
- Prior to registering for KIN 492, students must complete all KIN prefix courses with a GPA of 2.7 or better, have current CPR certification, and have consent of the Internship Director. In addition, the KIN Internship Request Form must be submitted two weeks before the start of Final Exam week of the PRIOR SEMESTER. This request requires students to secure an internship experience and provide details of the internship site and supervisor.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 85 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
STAT 150 is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
PSY 120 is recommended and will fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences requirement.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
BIO 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 111L, FND 250, PHYS 220, and KIN 220 are recommended to fulfill Natural & Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 85 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| BIO 110 | Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 4 |
| BIO 210 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO 341 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIO 350 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry ILAS1GT-SC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111L | Principles of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 112L | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| FND 250 | Principles of NutritionLAS1GT-SC2 | 3 |
| PHYS 220 | Introductory Physics ILAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 5 |
| KIN 123 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 220 | Anatomical KinesiologyLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 4 |
| KIN 221 | Weight Training Techniques | 1 |
| KIN 280 | Prevention and Care of Sports Injuries | 3 |
| SPAD 300 | Management of Sport Organizations | 3 |
| KIN 322 | Exercise Physiology I | 3 |
| KIN 323 | Motor Learning and Development | 3 |
| KIN 324 | Exercise Physiology II | 3 |
| KIN 331 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| KIN 333 | Psychology of Exercise and Physical Activity | 3 |
| | |
| KIN 405 | Exercise Oncology | 3 |
| or | |
| KIN 410 | Cardiac Rehabilitation | 3 |
| | |
| KIN 480 | Advanced Functional Assessment of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| KIN 490 | Exercise Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| KIN 492 | Internship in Kinesiology | 6-12 |
| STAT 150 | Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1GT-MA1 | 3 |
Major Electives — Choose 5 credits from the following courses:
3. University-Wide Credits — 4-14 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program that will typically be 4-14 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the Liberal Arts Curriculum and the Major Requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| BIO 110 | Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry ILAS1GT-SC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111L | Principles of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 1 |
| ENG 122 | College CompositionLAW1GT-CO1 | 3 |
| KIN 123 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| KIN 220 | Anatomical KinesiologyLAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 112L | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| | LAC HistoryLAH1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
Year 2 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| FND 250 | Principles of NutritionLAS1GT-SC2 | 3 |
| KIN 221 | Weight Training Techniques | 1 |
| KIN 280 | Prevention and Care of Sports Injuries | 3 |
| KIN 322 | Exercise Physiology I | 3 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| | LAC Intermediate WritingLAW2 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
Spring Semester
| BIO 210 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| KIN 324 | Exercise Physiology II | 3 |
| KIN 331 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| KIN 323 | Motor Learning and Development | 3 |
| STAT 150 | Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1GT-MA1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| SPAD 300 | Management of Sport Organizations | 3 |
| BIO 341 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| PHYS 220 | Introductory Physics ILAS1LASLGT-SC1 | 5 |
| | LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| BIO 350 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| KIN 333 | Psychology of Exercise and Physical Activity | 3 |
| KIN 480 | Advanced Functional Assessment of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | LAC Social and Behavioral SciencesLAB1LAB2LAB3 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 4 – 28 credits
Fall Semester
| KIN 490 | Exercise Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| | |
| KIN 405 | Exercise Oncology | 3 |
| or | |
| KIN 410 | Cardiac Rehabilitation | 3 |
| | |
| | Major Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| KIN 492 | Internship in Kinesiology | 6-12 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |