Professional Organizations
Why join professional organizations?
Depending on your level of involvement, professional organization membership may allow you to:
- Demonstrate professional maturity and a serious commitment to the field of kinesiology
- Stay up-to-date on current industry trends and developments within the profession which will improve your ability to communicate with others in the field
- Take professional courses or become certified in specific skill areas through a professional organization
- Stay aware of organizations and individuals in the industry and participate in organizational administration, committees, research projects and/or policy decisions
- Develop networking opportunities
- Engage in dialogue with potential employers, mentors, and others in the industry
- Learn more about employment and experience opportunities as they become available
- Attend national conferences and symposiums as another means of information accumulation and networking
- Nominate yourself or others for local and national awards
- Set yourself apart from other qualified applicants
- Have one or more professional associations on your resume, illustrating involvement and dedication to the field of kinesiology
- Receive discounts from sponsoring vendors
For more reasons to join professional organizations, check out these articles:
- It Pays to Join a Professional Association by Sally Kearsley
www.jobweb.com/studentarticles.aspx?id=898 - Benefits of a Professional Organization
www.startribune.com/jobs/career/15632792.html?elr=KArks+c4iU0EyDDy_nE:EQDkD:aUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Emphasis areas
There are professional organizations and associations for many specific areas of emphasis within the field of kinesiology. The organizations below are grouped by area of emphasis.
Biomechanics
- American College of Sports Medicine
www.acsm.org
American Society of Biomechanics
www.asbweb.org - Biophysical Society
www.biophysics.org/
Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society
www.gcmas.net
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
www.hfes.org - International Society of Biomechanics
isbweb.org - International Society of Biomechanics in Sport
www.twu.edu/biom/isbs/ - Orthopaedic Research Society
www.ors.org
Exercise Science
- American College of Sports Medicine
www.acsm.org
American Society of Exercise Physiologists
www.asep.org
National Council of Sport Fitness
www.ncsf.org
National Strength and Conditioning Association
www.nsca.org
Fitness/Wellness
- American College of Sports Medicine
www.acsm.org
American Society of Exercise Physiologists
www.asep.org
American Council on Exercise
www.acefitness.org
National Strength and Conditioning Association
www.nsca-lift.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov
National Wellness Institute
www.nationalwellness.org
Society for Public Education
www.sophe.org
Pre-Physical Therapy
- Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy
www.physicaltherapy.state.mn.us
Minnesota Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association
www.mnapta.org
American Physical Therapy Association
www.apta.org
University of Minnesota Program in Physical Therapy
www.med.umn.edu/physther
Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association
www.functionfirst.org
University of Minnesota Program in Occupational Therapy
www.ot.umn.edu
American Occupational Therapy Association
www.aota.org
Sport Psychology
- Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology
aaasponline.org
American Psychological Association - Division 47
www.psyc.unt.edu/apadiv47
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
www.aahperd.org/naspe/template.cfm?template=specialinterest-sportpsychology.html
Sport Sociology - General
- Center for the Study of Sport in Society
www.sportinsociety.org
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
www.knightcommission.org/students
DeVos Sport Business Management, University of Central Florida
www.bus.ucf.edu/sport/
National Institute for Sports Reform
www.nisr.org
The Drake Group
www.thedrakegroup.org
Sport Sociology - Women's Sport
- Title IX – I Exercise My Rights
www.titleix.info
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
www.caaws.ca
Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport
www.tuckercenter.org
Women's Sport Foundation
www.womenssportfoundation.org
Sport Sociology - Disability
- Blaze Sports
www.blazesports.org
Sport Sociology - Gay/Lesbian
- Outsports.com
www.outsports.com
It Takes a Team - WomensSportFoundation.org
www.homophobiainsports.com
Federation of Gay Games
www.gaygames.com
Gender, Sport and Society Forum
www.gssf.co.nr
Pre-PE Teaching
- American Alliance for Health, Physcial
Education, Recreation, and Dance
www.aahperd.org
American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation
www.aahperd.org/aapar/