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 YearCredits
FallSpring
CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I
& CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab
4  
M 161Q - Survey of Calculus4  
Choose one of the following:3-4  
PSYX 100IS - Intro to Psychology
or KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science
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
KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science
or PSYX 100IS - Intro to Psychology
NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition  3
Choose one of the following:  3
University Core
or WRIT 101W
Year Total: 14-15 16-17
Sophomore YearCredits
FallSpring
BIOH 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I5  
KIN 210 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning3  
PHSX 205 - College Physics I4  
STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics3  
BIOH 211 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  4
KIN 320 - Exercise Physiology  4
PHSX 207 - College Physics II  4
University Core  3
Year Total: 15 15
Junior YearCredits
FallSpring
HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD3  
KIN 322 - Kinesiology4  
STAT 337 - Intermediate Statistics with Introduction to Statistical Computing3  
Directed Electives6  
KIN 325R - Biomechanics  4
Kinesiology Directed Electives  9
Year Total: 16 13
Senior YearCredits
FallSpring
KIN 330 - Motor Control and Learning4  
NUTR 411 - Nutrition for Sports and Exercise4  
Directed Electives6  
Directed Electives  6
University Core and/or General Electives  10
Year Total: 14 16
Total Program Credits: 120


Kinesiology Directed Electives

Choose a minimum of 9 credits* from the list below:

HMED 440Clinical Observation2
KIN 335Tissue Injury & Adaptation3
KIN 370Exercise Program for Older Adults3
KIN 410Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning3
KIN 415Advanced Exercise Testing and Prescription4
KIN 435Advanced Motor Control3
KIN 440RSport Psychology3
KIN 490RUndergraduate Research1-6
KIN 496Student Assistant Practicum in Kinesiology2
KIN 498Internship1-6

*All KIN 491 courses will count as kinesiology directed electives

Additional Directed Electives

Choose a minimum of 18 credits from the list below:

BCH 380
BCH 381
Biochemistry
and Biochemistry Lab
5
BIOB 160Principles of Living Systems4
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology0,4
BIOB 375General Genetics3
BIOH 320Biomedical Genetics3
BIOH 411Advanced Human Appendicular Anatomy4
BIOM 250
BIOM 251
Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases
and Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab
4
BIOM 360General Microbiology5
BIOO 412Animal Physiology3
CHMY 211Elements of Organic Chemistry4
CHMY 212Elements of Organic Chemistry Lab1
CHMY 321Organic Chemistry I3
CHMY 322Organic Chemistry I Lab1
CHMY 323Organic Chemistry II3
CHMY 324Organic Chemistry II Lab1
CHTH 317Health Behavior Theories3
CHTH 325Leadership & Public Policies in Aging3
CHTH 405Caregiving & Aging Families3
CHTH 430Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging3
CHTH 435Human Response To Stress3
CHTH 440Principles of Epidemiology3
HADM 445Managing Healthcare Organizations3
HDFS 461Principles Wellbeing in Aging3
HTH 455The Ethic of Care3
NEUR 313Neurophysiology3
NEUR 409Human Neuroanatomy4
NEUR 425Sensory Neurophysiology3
NUTR 321Nutrition in the Life Cycle3
NUTR 351Nutrition and Society3
NUTR 421Macronutrient Metabolism3
NUTR 422Micronutrient Metabolism3
PHL 321Philosophy & Biomedical Ethics3
PHL 345Philosophy of Science3
PHL 353Philosophy and Technology3
PSYX 333Psychology of Aging3
PSYX 340Abnormal Psychology3
PSYX 350Physiological Psychology3
PSYX 375Behavior Modification3
PSYX 380Memory & Cognition3
PSYX 383Health Psychology3
SOCI 380Sociology of Health & Medicine3

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 YearCredits
FallSpring
CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I
& CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab
4  
M 151Q - Precalculus4  
Choose one of the following:3-4  
PSYX 100IS - Intro to Psychology
or KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science
Choose one of the following:3  
WRIT 101W - College Writing I
or University Core
University Core3  
BGEN 204 - Business & Entrepreneurship Fundamentals  3
COMX 111US - Introduction to Public Speaking  3
Choose one of the following:  3-4
KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science
or PSYX 100IS - Intro to Psychology
NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition  3
Choose one of the following:  3
University Core
or WRIT 101W
Year Total: 17-18 15-16
Sophomore YearCredits
FallSpring
BIOH 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I5  
KIN 210 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning3  
PHSX 205 - College Physics I4  
University Core3  
BIOH 211 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  4
STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics  3
Directed Electives  4
Elective  3
Year Total: 15 14
Junior YearCredits
FallSpring
Choose one of the following:3  
BMGT 335 - Management and Organization
or CHTH 317 - Health Behavior Theories
HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD3  
KIN 322 - Kinesiology4  
Kinesiology Directed Electives6  
Choose one of the following:  3
CHTH 317 - Health Behavior Theories
or BMGT 335 - Management and Organization
KIN 320 - Exercise Physiology  4
KIN 370 - Exercise Program for Older Adults  3
KIN 325R - Biomechanics  4
Year Total: 16 14
Senior YearCredits
FallSpring
KIN 330 - Motor Control and Learning4  
NUTR 411 - Nutrition for Sports and Exercise4  
Choose one of the following:3  
KIN 410 - Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning
or KIN 430 - Physical Fitness Program Design and Delivery
Kinesiology Directed Electives3  
Choose one of the following:  3
KIN 430 - Physical Fitness Program Design and Delivery
or KIN 410 - Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning
Directed Electives  4
University Core and/or General Electives  7
Year Total: 14 14
Total Program Credits: 120

Kinesiology Directed Electives

Choose a minimum of 9 credits* from the list below:

KIN 335Tissue Injury & Adaptation3
KIN 415Advanced Exercise Testing and Prescription4
KIN 435Advanced Motor Control3
KIN 440RSport Psychology3
KIN 490RUndergraduate Research1-6
KIN 498Internship1-6

*All KIN 491 courses will count as kinesiology directed electives.

Additional Directed Electives

Choose a minimum of 8 credits from the list below:

BCH 380
BCH 381
Biochemistry
and Biochemistry Lab
5
BGEN 210Accounting and Finance Basics3
BIOB 160Principles of Living Systems4
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology4
BIOB 375General Genetics3
BIOB 425Adv Cell & Molecular Biology3
BIOH 320Biomedical Genetics3
BIOH 411Advanced Human Appendicular Anatomy4
BIOM 250Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases3
BIOM 251Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab1
BIOM 360General Microbiology5
BIOO 412Animal Physiology3
BMGT 410Sustainable Business Practices3
BMKT 325Principles of Marketing3
BMKT 337Consumer Behavior3
BMKT 446Marketing for Entrepreneurs3
CHMY 211Elements of Organic Chemistry4
CHMY 212Elements of Organic Chemistry Lab1
CHMY 321Organic Chemistry I3
CHMY 322Organic Chemistry I Lab1
CHMY 323Organic Chemistry II3
CHMY 324Organic Chemistry II Lab1
CHTH 317Health Behavior Theories3
CHTH 325Leadership & Public Policies in Aging3
CHTH 405Caregiving & Aging Families3
CHTH 430Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging3
CHTH 435Human Response To Stress3
CHTH 440Principles of Epidemiology3
HADM 445Managing Healthcare Organizations3
HDFS 461Principles Wellbeing in Aging3
HTH 455The Ethic of Care3
NEUR 313Neurophysiology3
NEUR 409Human Neuroanatomy4
NUTR 321Nutrition in the Life Cycle3
NUTR 351Nutrition and Society3
NUTR 421Macronutrient Metabolism3
NUTR 422Micronutrient Metabolism3
PHL 321Philosophy & Biomedical Ethics3
PHL 345Philosophy of Science3
PHL 353Philosophy and Technology3
PSYX 333Psychology of Aging3
PSYX 340Abnormal Psychology3
PSYX 350Physiological Psychology3
PSYX 375Behavior Modification3
PSYX 380Memory & Cognition3
PSYX 383Health Psychology3
SFBS 429Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Food and Health3
SOCI 380Sociology of Health & Medicine3