Kinesiology
The undergraduate major in Kinesiology at Montana State University is a general pre-health professional curriculum that prepares students for health-related graduate programs (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical school, etc.), exercise science graduate programs (e.g., exercise physiology, health promotion, biomechanics), as well as entry-level occupations within the health and wellness industry. Kinesiology majors can choose to focus their course work within one of the following curriculum options: exercise science or health and fitness. Students within the exercise science option intend to pursue a health-related graduate degree to meet their career aspirations, whereas students within the health and fitness option will pursue careers within the health and wellness industry that do not require a graduate degree.
Exercise Science Option
The exercise science option within the Kinesiology major focuses on both clinical and performance-based understandings of human movement. The exercise science option emphasizes a cross-disciplinary understanding of human movement through non-departmental courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, math, and statistics. These courses then serve as the foundation for mechanical (e.g., biomechanics), physiological, and nutritional perspectives within the departmental courses. The exercise science option specifically allows students to customize their junior and senior year course work as needed for later application to health-related graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical physician assistant, sports medicine, exercise science graduate programs (exercise physiology, health promotion, biomechanics), as well as medical school. Additional careers for exercise science students can include those within the health and fitness industry (e.g., those requiring ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist or the NCSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), corporate wellness programs, exercise rehabilitation programs (cardiac rehabilitation, gait laboratories, sport medicine facilities, older adult programs, etc.), as well as careers in the sport and rehabilitative medicine equipment industries.
Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses as outlined in the major.
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab | 4 | |
| M 161Q - Survey of Calculus | 4 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
WRIT 101W - College Writing I | ||
or University Core | ||
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab | 4 | |
| COMX 111US - Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
University Core | ||
or WRIT 101W | ||
| Year Total: | 15 | 16 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BIOH 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 | |
| KIN 210 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning | 3 | |
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 | |
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| BIOH 211 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 | |
| KIN 320 - Exercise Physiology | 4 | |
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 | |
| University Core | 4 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 16 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD | 3 | |
| KIN 322 - Kinesiology | 4 | |
| Suggested Electives | 9 | |
| KIN 325R - Biomechanics | 4 | |
| Kinesiology Suggested Electives | 9 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 13 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| KIN 330 - Motor Learning and Control | 4 | |
| NUTR 411 - Nutrition for Sports and Exercise | 4 | |
| Suggested Electives | 6 | |
| Suggested Electives | 6 | |
| University Core and/or General Electives | 10 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 16 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | |
Kinesiology Suggested Electives
Choose a minimum of 9 credits* from the list below:
| HMED 440 | Clinical Observation | 2 |
| KIN 335 | Tissue Injury & Adaptation | 3 |
| KIN 370 | Exercise Program for Older Adults | 3 |
| KIN 410 | Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| KIN 415 | Advanced Exercise Testing and Prescription | 4 |
| KIN 430 | Physical Fitness Program Design and Delivery | 3 |
| KIN 435 | Advanced Motor Control | 3 |
| KIN 440R | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| KIN 490R | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| KIN 496 | Student Assistant Practicum in Kinesiology | 2 |
| KIN 498 | Internship | 1-6 |
*All KIN 491 courses will count as kinesiology suggested electives
Additional Suggested Electives
Choose a minimum of 18 credits from the list below:
| BCH 380 & BCH 381 | Biochemistry and Biochemistry Lab | 5 |
| BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 4 |
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 0,4 |
| BIOB 375 | General Genetics | 3 |
| BIOH 320 | Biomedical Genetics | 3 |
| BIOH 411 | Advanced Human Appendicular Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOM 250 & BIOM 251 | Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab | 4 |
| BIOM 360 | General Microbiology | 5 |
| BIOO 412 | Animal Physiology | 3 |
| CHMY 211 | Elements of Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHMY 212 | Elements of Organic Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHMY 321 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHMY 322 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHMY 323 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHMY 324 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CHTH 317 | Health Behavior Theories | 3 |
| CHTH 325 | Leadership & Public Policies in Aging | 3 |
| CHTH 405 | Caregiving & Aging Families | 3 |
| CHTH 430 | Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| CHTH 435 | Human Response To Stress | 3 |
| CHTH 440 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HADM 445 | Managing Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| HDFS 461 | Principles Wellbeing in Aging | 3 |
| HTH 455 | The Ethic of Care | 3 |
| NEUR 313 | Neurophysiology | 3 |
| NEUR 409 | Human Neuroanatomy | 4 |
| NEUR 425 | Sensory Neurophysiology | 3 |
| NUTR 321 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR 351 | Nutrition and Society | 3 |
| NUTR 421 | Macronutrient Metabolism | 3 |
| NUTR 422 | Micronutrient Metabolism | 3 |
| PHL 321 | Philosophy & Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| PHL 345 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHL 353 | Philosophy and Technology | 3 |
| PSYX 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYX 333 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSYX 340 | Psychological Disorders | 3 |
| PSYX 350 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYX 375 | Behavior Modification | 3 |
| PSYX 380 | Memory & Cognition | 3 |
| PSYX 383 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI 380 | Sociology of Health & Medicine | 3 |
Health and Fitness Option
The health and fitness option within the Kinesiology major prepares graduates for careers requiring leadership in organizing, directing, and managing fitness and wellness programs in corporate and commercial settings. The overall goal of the health and fitness option is to develop basic knowledge, comprehension, and appreciation of a) historical and cultural perspectives of human movement, b) social and psychological influences of human movement, and c) physiological and biomechanical correlates of human performance. From this broad knowledge base, the program's inherent flexibility allows students to pursue a variety of areas related to physical activity and sport. This option also prepares students for professional certifications in fitness and conditioning through professional organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher in all required and approved elective courses as outlined in the major.
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W - College Writing I | 3 | |
| M 105Q - Contemporary Mathematics | 3 | |
| University Core | 6 | |
| ECNS 101IS - Economic Way of Thinking | 3 | |
| PSYX 100IS - Introduction to Psychology | 4 | |
| University Core (IN) | 3 | |
| COA 205 - Introduction to Coaching | 3 | |
| NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 16 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BGEN 105IS - Introduction to Business | 3 | |
| HDFS 271 - Statistical Measures of Well-Being | 3 | |
| KIN 210 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| HEE 200 - K-12 Motor Learning Development | 3 | |
| KIN 221 - Health Anatomy & Physiology | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BGEN 210 - Accounting and Finance Basics | 3 | |
| HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD | 3 | |
| KIN 322 - Kinesiology | 4 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| BMGT 335 - Management and Organization | 3 | |
| CHTH 317 - Health Behavior Theories | 3 | |
| KIN 320 - Exercise Physiology | 4 | |
| KIN 370 - Exercise Program for Older Adults | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 16 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BMKT 325 - Principles of Marketing | 3 | |
| KIN 410 - Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 | |
| KIN 440R - Sport Psychology | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| KIN 430 - Physical Fitness Program Design and Delivery | 3 | |
| KIN 498 - Internship | 3 | |
| Business Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 12 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | |
| Suggested Electives | ||
| CHTH 405 | Caregiving & Aging Families | 3 |
| CHTH 430 | Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| CHTH 435 | Human Response To Stress | 3 |
| COA 405 | Advanced Concepts in Coaching | 3 |
| HADM 445 | Managing Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| HDFS 138 | Survey of Family Finance and Consumer Issues | 3 |
| HDFS 261 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 263 | Relationships and Family Systems | 3 |
| HTH 455 | The Ethic of Care | 3 |
| HTR 330 | Event Management | 3 |
| KIN 335 | Tissue Injury & Adaptation | 3 |
| KIN 415 | Advanced Exercise Testing and Prescription | 4 |
| KIN 435 | Advanced Motor Control | 3 |
| KIN 490R | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| KIN 498 | Internship | 1-12 |
| NUTR 321 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR 351 | Nutrition and Society | 3 |
| PSYX 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYX 333 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSYX 350 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYX 370 | Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| PSYX 375 | Behavior Modification | 3 |
| PSYX 429 | Eating Disorders | 3 |
| PSYX 380 | Memory & Cognition | 3 |
| Business Electives | ||
| BGEN 242D | Introduction to International Business | 3 |
| BGEN 361 | Principles of Business Law | 3 |
| BMGT 406 | Negotiation/Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| BMGT 410 | Sustainable Business Practices | 3 |
| BMGT 461 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| BMGT 469 | Community Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| BMKT 337 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| BMKT 436 | Sales and Sales Management | 3 |
| BMKT 446 | Marketing for Entrepreneurs | 3 |