If you have always wanted to have a career in one of the fields of health and fitness, then there’s a good chance that you’re looking into the possibility of earning your degree in kinesiology. Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of body movements. This means that you will understand all the dynamics of the body in motion and how they contribute to better health and wellness. This is a degree that can lead to a lot of lucrative careers, however, it’s not necessarily the only route to working a lot of the jobs that you may be dreaming of. For example, a degree in kinesiology could fast track your career as a physical education teacher, but you could also just take a proficiency exam instead that will cover a lot of kinesiology based questions. Here are a few factors to consider so that you know whether or not a kinesiology degree is worth your time.
Are You Good at Rote Memorization?
If you plan to study kinesiology you are going to need to be very good at rote memorization. Not only will you need to know all the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, but you will also need to know the origins and insertions of all the muscles and what functions all of them serve. This kind of a keen understanding of the body requires a strong attention to detail and the ability to commit all of that information to your long-term memory.
What Lind of a Career doYou Hope to Find?
Kinesiology is a great subject to major in if you are planning to be a physical therapist, exercise scientist, dance scientist, chiropractor, physical trainer, or even a Pilates instructor. All of these professions require an expert understanding of the body in motion, how to prevent and treat injuries, and how to exercise safely.
Do You Need a Degree in Kinesiology?
Despite the fact that a kinesiology degree can be a very strong foundation for many of the careers listed above, it’s not always necessary. If you want to be a physical trainer or a Pilates instructor, you will definitely see a strong overlap in the curriculum you will learn when you are earning your professional certification for each field, but you won’t necessarily need a degree in kinesiology.
How Long Will it Take to Earn Your Degree?
A major factor in deciding whether or not a kinesiology degree is worth your time is how long it will take to earn the degree. If there is a different type of certification you can earn in order to get your career started, then a kinesiology degree might not be worth your time. However, if you want to keep your career options open, then you will want to take the time to earn your kinesiology degree.
How Competitive is the Kinesiology Program at Your School?
If you have been accepted to a respectable college that you have always wanted to attend but haven’t declared your major, then you want to see how competitive the kinesiology program is at your school. If you don’t meet the qualifications for the program, then you might want to look into other programs that you will be able to get into more easily. If you’re thinking of applying for something like Marylhurst’s masters in sustainability one day, then a kinesiology degree isn’t going to do much for you anyway.
