What can I do with a kinesiology degree?
Students graduating with a major in kinesiology develop many transferable skills and can use their education in a variety of fields!
Below is a list of potential employers and career opportunities for kinesiology. This is not an exhaustive listing. The world of work is always evolving and over time job titles and work settings can change.
Potential employers
- city parks & recreation departments
- colleges and universities
- community organizations
- corporate health centers
- country clubs
- health clubs and fitness centers
- high schools and middle schools
- hospitals
- Olympic training centers
- professional fitness centers
- professional sport teams
- public and private schools
- sport medicine centers
- sports injury clinics
- recreational organizations or leagues
- rehabilitation clinics
Career opportunities in kinesiology
Sport science
- club sport coordinator
- event planner
- exercise physiologist*
- performance enhancement
- sports medicine clinician
- strength and conditioning specialist*
- youth program coordinator
- recreation program director
Exercise and health science
- corporate fitness
- corporate wellness manager
- employee fitness director
- exercise technicians/specialists
- fitness and wellness trainer
- fitness center director
- fitness consultant
- fitness instructor
- health coach
- health educator
- health promotions
- instructor/coordinator
- laboratory technician
- life style coach
- pharmaceutical sales
- personal trainer*
- spa manager
- sports medicine clinician
- wellness director
- Commonly used as a preparation for admission to professional programs including nursing, physician assistant, certified athletic trainer, medical degree and chiropractic programs.
*certification recommended
Clinical movement science
- consultation
- ergonomists
- human factors
- laboratory technician
- Commonly used as a preparation for admission to professional programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, physician assistant, and rehabilitation and preventive medicine.
Pre-physical education
- high school coach
- intramural sports director
- private coach
- youth program director
- recreational sports
- youth sports
- Used as preparation for admission to the M.Ed. in Teaching/Initial Teacher Licensure Program in K-12 Physical Education at the University of Minnesota.
*A kinesiology degree provides excellent preparation for both graduate school and professional programs.
Career opportunities with an advanced or graduate degree
- athletic administrator
- architect for sports facility
- chiropractor
- college athletic director
- college coach
- dance/movement therapist
- designer of sports/fitness equipment
- dietician
- exercise physiologist
- historian
- occupational physiologist
- occupational therapist
- physical education teacher K-12
- physical therapist
- physician
- physician assistant
- professional coach
- research scientist
- sports dentist
- sports physician
- sports psychologist
- sports lawyer
- sports researcher
- strength and conditioning coach
- university professor
Kinesiology career Web sites
- Careers in sports medicine and exercise science [.pdf]
- ACE Career Center (American Council on Exercise)
- Kinesiology career paths [.pdf]
- Careers in sports psychology
- American Society of Exercise Physiologists job board
- Association for Applied Sports Psychology
- Jobs in sports
- Fields of study in sport and movement studies
Additional assistance
Schedule an individual appointment by calling 612-625-3339.
Revised June 2009