The Kinesiology department's mission is to research, teach, and apply knowledge related to movement, exercise, and human occupation with the ultimate goal of enhancing human health, productivity, and quality of life.
Students in the Kinesiology major take coursework grounded in the basic sciences (e.g., physiology, anatomy, biology) and in kinesiology. Core courses examine how the body responds to physical activity, the role of physiology and psychological factors in exercise, mechanics driving movement, how movement is controlled, learned, and developed over the lifespan, and the role of physical activity in overall health.
The curriculum includes coursework, engaging laboratory research opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, at least 11 credits of electives are required, giving students some flexibility to tailor the program to their specific interests. Examples of elective topics include strength and conditioning, leadership, health theory, athlete monitoring, clinical exercise prescription, and advanced courses in exercise physiology, exercise psychology, and biomechanics.
Kinesiology is a pre-professional program, meaning our coursework prepares our students well for subsequent graduate or professional pursuits in the allied health disciplines. The degree also prepares students for graduate programs in kinesiology and athletic training. Graduating seniors have reported acceptance into the following graduate programs: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Public Health, Doctor of Medicine, Chiropractic School, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, Master in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Master of Science in Exercise Science, Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Dentistry.
Kinesiology graduates also pursue entry-level careers in a wide variety of professions, including in the areas of fitness, home health, and rehabilitation assistance. Recent graduates have reported taking on the following positions in their first year after graduating: strength and conditioning coach, medical scribe, rehabilitation aide, personal trainer, research assistant/specialist, physical therapy aide, nursing home caregiver, group exercise instructor, medical device sales, program facilitator, EKG technician, behavioral technician, project manager, well-being intern, AmeriCorps member, programming administrator, and glacier guide, among others.
How to Get In
Kinesiology Declaration Overview
Incoming freshmen typically enter UW–Madison as Pre-Kinesiology students (PKN), spend the first two years completing liberal studies, general education, and Kinesiology prerequisite requirements, and declare the Kinesiology major during their sophomore year for the final two years on campus.
On-campus students starting at UW-Madison in other majors can move to Pre-Kinesiology by completing a Pre-Professional Declaration. A GPA of 2.75, based on all UW–Madison coursework or the last 60 credits, is required to transfer into Pre-Kinesiology. It is not necessary to be a Pre-Kinesiology student before declaring Kinesiology.
Eligibility to Declare Kinesiology
Kinesiology currently accepts declarations once a year, from December 1st through February 1st. The on-campus declaration form is located on the School of Education's Undergraduate Admissions page, along with information about the declaration period, deadline, and current eligibility requirements. Students should consult this site prior to submitting a declaration as this information may be modified from one declaration period to the next.
Off-campus students wishing to transfer directly into Kinesiology should complete the on-campus declaration and must also be admitted to UW-Madison. See Transfer Students and Students with a Bachelor’s Degree, below.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Complete the following prerequisite coursework by the end of the spring semester of the declaration year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Sequence | ||
| Complete one of the following Biology sequences: | ||
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 | Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 | Introductory Biology | 5 |
| Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam score of 4 or 5 | ||
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology exam score of 4 or 5 | ||
| Chemistry Sequence | ||
| Complete one of the following Chemistry sequences: | ||
| CHEM 103 & CHEM 104 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | 9 |
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 & CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | 10 |
| Physics Course | ||
| Complete one of the following Physics courses: | ||
| PHYSICS 103 | General Physics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 207 | General Physics | 5 |
| Kinesiology Course | ||
| KINES 119 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 2 |
- Students may complete no more than three of the prerequisite courses during the spring semester of the declaration year. For this purpose CHEM 109 satisfies the full general chemistry requirement and constitutes one course. BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 and BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 are counted as two courses in determining eligibility for the program.
- Earn a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA or a 2.75 cumulative GPA based on the Last 60 Credits Rule by the end of the fall semester of the declaration year.3
- 3
Last 60 Credits Rule - Two grade point averages may be calculated to determine a candidate's eligibility to declare Kinesiology. A GPA may be calculated using (1) UW-Madison and all other all transferable college level coursework attempted and (2) the last 60 credits attempted. The higher GPA of these two calculations will be used for determining eligibility. Once declared, students must earn a semester GPA of 2.75 each semester after declaration. More information on this rule is available here.
Students will be provisionally admitted in the spring, pending the completion of all prerequisite courses and GPA requirements by the end of the spring semester.
Transfer Students and Students with a Previous Degree
Transfer students and second degree candidates (students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree) must be admitted to UW-Madison to enroll in a School of Education program. Admission to the campus has its own application, admission process, and application deadlines; see Office of Admissions and Recruitment for campus application information.
Students wishing to transfer directly into Kinesiology should complete both the on-campus Kinesiology declaration and the UW-Madison application. All eligibility requirements must be met. Other transfer and second degree candidates will be admitted to UW-Madison with the Pre-Kinesiology designation.
Second degree candidates in the School of Education are changing their academic direction and wish to complete a degree that is unrelated to their first. A large number of credits are usually required to complete the new degree requirements and a second undergraduate degree is awarded upon its completion; more information is available here.
Off-campus students are strongly advised to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office in advance of their declaration. Consultations with advisors are available in person, virtually, or via telephone; email soeacademicservices@education.wisc.edu or call 608-262-1651 to schedule an appointment.
Advising After Declaration
The Kinesiology department holds mandatory spring orientation sessions for new majors, led by a departmental advisor. The sequencing of coursework and enrollment in Kinesiology courses are addressed at these meetings. Students will be authorized to enroll in Kinesiology courses after the orientation meetings are completed.
After declaration, advising about the major will be provided by the Department of Kinesiology. Majors are required to meet with the departmental advisor at least once per semester. All questions about School of Education and university requirements should be referred to an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
School of Education Degree Requirements
Communication: Breadth and Depth
Courses designated as Communication A (Comm A) and Communication B (Comm B) help students learn how to gather and assess information from a variety of sources and to present different kinds of information, insight, and analysis to diverse audiences. Comm A courses focus on essential communication skills and Comm B courses teach research, writing, and communication skills within a disciplinary area.
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Communication B | One course with the Communication B designation. |
Quantitative Reasoning: Breadth and Depth
Quantitative Reasoning A courses provide students with foundational skills in mathematics, computer science, statistics or formal logic that are needed for dealing with quantitative information. In Quantitative Reasoning B courses, students use quantitative tools in the context of other disciplines or course material.
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning B | One course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
Liberal Studies Requirements
All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits of Liberal Studies coursework. This requirement provides an opportunity to do some academic exploration beyond the scope of the major. Students take courses in areas of particular interest and also have an opportunity to sample the wide selection of courses offered across the university. Coursework is required in humanities, social studies (social science), science, and cultural and historical studies. Some elective coursework is also needed to reach the required number of credits.
The School of Education’s Liberal Studies requirements can be used to satisfy the campus-wide Core General Education requirements. Communication A and B, and Quantitative Reasoning A and B coursework can also be used towards Core General Education and other requirements. Academic advisors can suggest courses that will count in multiple places.
A basic outline of the liberal studies is included below. Students must consult the detailed version of the requirements for more information about course selection and how the liberal studies requirements apply to this major.
Are you interested in switching to the School of Education? If so, you should run a “what-if” DARS report. It will show how many of these requirements you have already met and are unmet.
Humanities
Complete a minimum of 9 credits from these categories.
| Literature | Complete a course with the Literature designation, minimum of 2 credits |
| Fine Arts | Complete a minimum of 2 credits from the list of courses below. |
| Humanities | Courses to total 9 Humanities credits. Select from:
|
Fine Arts Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 220 | HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 233 | Global HipHop and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFROAMER 154 | Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER 156 | Black Music and American Cultural History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 225 | Introduction to African American Dramatic Literature | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 241 | Introduction to African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 242 | Introduction to Afro-American Art | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 267 | Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women | 3 |
| AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| AFROAMER 338 | The Black Arts Movement | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 367 | Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | 3 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN 413 | Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama | 3-4 |
| AMER IND 325 | American Indians in Film | 3 |
| Any ART course | ||
| Any ART HIST course | ||
| COM ARTS 350 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| COM ARTS 357 | History of the Animated Film | 3 |
| Any DANCE course | ||
| DS 120 | Design: Fundamentals I | 3 |
| ENGL 207 | Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 307 | Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 407 | Creative Writing: Nonfiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 408 | Creative Writing: Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 409 | Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 410 | Creative Writing: Playwriting Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 411 | Creative Writing: Special Topics Workshop | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 103 | Introduction to Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| GERMAN 253 | Introduction to German Cinema | 3 |
| GERMAN 267 | Yiddish Song and the Jewish Experience | 3-4 |
| ILS 203 | Western Culture: Literature and the Arts I | 3 |
| ILS 204 | Western Culture: Literature and the Arts II | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 207 | Slavic Science Fiction through Literature and Film | 3 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 232 | Anime | 3 |
| LITTRANS 233 | Russian Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (to 1917) | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 234 | Soviet Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (from 1917) | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS/FOLKLORE 327 | Vampires | 3 |
| LITTRANS/THEATRE 335 | In Translation: The Drama of Henrik Ibsen | 3-4 |
| Any MUSIC course | ||
| Any MUS PERF course | ||
| Any THEATRE course | ||
Social Studies
| Social Studies | Complete 9 credits with the Social Science designation. The following programs have specific requirements:
|
Science
Complete a minimum of 9 credits, including Physical and Biological Science. A laboratory science course is also required. The lab course can count toward the Biological or Physical Science requirement if it has the requisite breadth designation.
| Physical Science | Complete one course with the Physical Science designation. |
| Biological Science | Complete one course with the Biological Science designation. |
| Lab Science | Complete one course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation with a lab component; see Course Search and Enroll. Additional eligible courses are listed below. |
| Science Elective(s) | If needed, complete a course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation to total 9 Science credits. |
Laboratory Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 105 | Principles of Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| BOTANY 100 | Survey of Botany | 3 |
| BOTANY/PL PATH 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People | 3 |
| FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 324 | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| GEOSCI 100 | Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works | 3 |
| PHYSICS 109 | Physics in the Arts | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 110 | Introduction to Plant Science and Technology | 4 |
Cultural and Historical Studies
Complete three requirements met by separate courses. Any of these courses can also be used to meet other requirements if it has the relevant breadth designation. A single course cannot satisfy more than one of the three Cultural and Historical Studies requirements listed below.
| Ethnic Studies | Complete 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies Designation. |
| United States or European History | Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below. |
| Global Perspectives | Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below. |
United States or European History Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFROAMER 154 | Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER 156 | Black Music and American Cultural History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 231 | Introduction to African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 272 | Race and American Politics from the New Deal to the New Right | 3 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| AFROAMER 302 | Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 321 | African American History Since 1900 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 322 | African American History to 1900 | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 324 | Black Women in America: Reconstruction to the Present | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 326 | Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 393 | Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HIST SCI/MED HIST 523 | Race, American Medicine and Public Health | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ED POL 567 | History of African American Education | 3 |
| AFROAMER 621 | Slavery and Capitalism in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER 623 | Women and Slavery in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 624 | African American Women's Activism (19th & 20th Centuries) | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 625 | Gender, Race and the Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| AFROAMER 626 | Slavery and Emancipation in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 628 | History of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER 631 | Colloquium in African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 671 | Selected Topics in African American History | 3 |
| AMER IND 100 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMER IND 185 | Indigenous Athletes and Sports | 3 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 190 | Introduction to American Indian History | 3-4 |
| AMER IND 230 | Indigenous Resistance and Activism | 3 |
| AMER IND 250 | Indians of Wisconsin | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 380 | Sovereignty and the Schoolhouse | 3 |
| AMER IND/SOC WORK 636 | Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act | 3 |
| ART HIST 357 | History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/AFROAMER/AMER IND/CHICLA 102 | Introduction to Comparative US Ethnic, American Indian, and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/HISTORY 160 | Asian American History: Movement and Dislocation | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM/HISTORY 161 | Asian American History: Settlement and National Belonging | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM 170 | Hmong American Experiences in the United States | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/SOC 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM/ASIAN/HISTORY 246 | Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War | 4 |
| ASIAN AM 253 | Critical Refugee Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN AM 441 | Hmong American Social Movements in the 20th and 21st Centuries | 3 |
| C&E SOC/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 259 | Forward? The Wisconsin Idea, Past and Present | 1-3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 151 | The North American West to 1850 | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 152 | The United States West Since 1850 | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 153 | Latina/Latino/Latinx History | 3-4 |
| CHICLA 201 | Introduction to Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS/HISTORY 245 | Chicana and Latina History | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 268 | The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | 3 |
| CHICLA 301 | Chicana/o and Latina/o History | 3 |
| CHICLA 315 | Racial Formation and Whiteness | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| CHICLA/SPANISH 364 | Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 435 | Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY 110 | The Ancient Mediterranean | 4 |
| CLASSICS 206 | Classical Influences on Western Art and Science | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY/POLI SCI 362 | Athenian Democracy | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY/RELIG ST 517 | Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean | 3 |
| CURRIC/ED POL/HISTORY/JEWISH 515 | Holocaust: History, Memory and Education | 3 |
| ECON/HISTORY 466 | The American Economy Since 1865 | 3-4 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 107 | The History of the University in the West | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 143 | History of Race and Inequality in Urban America | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 412 | History of American Education | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 478 | Comparative History of Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 612 | History of Student Activism from the Popular Front to Black Lives Matter | 3 |
| ENGL/HISTORY/RELIG ST 360 | Early Medieval England | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GNS 210 | Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 328 | Environmental History of Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY/LEGAL ST 430 | Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/GNS 200 | Folklore of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 442 | Immigration and Indigeneity in the Upper Midwest | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 353 | Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 354 | Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 392 | Women and Gender in Modern Europe | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HIST SCI 537 | Childbirth in the United States | 3 |
| GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SLAVIC 253 | Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SLAVIC 254 | Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY/MED HIST 132 | Bees, Trees, Germs, and Genes: A History of Biology | 3 |
| HIST SCI 150 | The Digital Age | 3 |
| HIST SCI 201 | The Origins of Scientific Thought | 3 |
| HIST SCI 218 | History of Twentieth Century American Medicine | 3 |
| HIST SCI/AFROAMER 275 | Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY 323 | The Scientific Revolution: From Copernicus to Newton | 3 |
| HIST SCI 404 | A History of Disease | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY/MED HIST 508 | Health, Disease and Healing II | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/MED HIST 509 | The Development of Public Health in America | 3 |
| HIST SCI/GEN&WS/MED HIST 531 | Women and Health in American History | 3 |
| HIST SCI/GEN&WS/MED HIST 532 | The History of the (American) Body | 3 |
| HISTORY 101 | Amer Hist to the Civil War Era, the Origin & Growth of the U S | 4 |
| HISTORY 102 | American History, Civil War Era to the Present | 4 |
| HISTORY 109 | Introduction to U.S. History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 115 | Medieval Europe 410-1500 | 4 |
| HISTORY 119 | Europe and the World, 1400-1815 | 4 |
| HISTORY 120 | Europe and the Modern World 1815 to the Present | 4 |
| HISTORY 124 | Britain since 1688 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 136 | Sport, Recreation, & Society in the United States | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 154 | Who is an American? | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 155 | The Long Black Freedom Struggle from the Civil War to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 156 | The American Jewish Experience: From Shtetl to Suburb | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 170 | East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 201 | The Historian's Craft (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 208 | Western Intellectual and Religious History to 1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 209 | Western Intellectual and Religious History since 1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 212 | The History of Western Christianity to 1750 | 4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 213 | Jews and American Pop. Culture | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 220 | Introduction to Modern Jewish History | 4 |
| HISTORY 221 | Explorations in American History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 223 | Explorations in European History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 227 | Explorations in the History of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| HISTORY/ART HIST/ENVIR ST/GEOG/LAND ARC 239 | Making the American Landscape | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LACIS 243 | Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 261 | American Legal History to 1860 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 262 | American Legal History, 1860 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 269 | War, Race, and Religion in Europe and the United States, from the Scramble for Africa to Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 270 | Eastern Europe since 1900 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 271 | Study Abroad in History: European History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 272 | Study Abroad in History: United States History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 302 | History of American Thought, 1859 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 303 | A History of Greek Civilization | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 306 | The United States Since 1945 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 307 | A History of Rome | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST 309 | The Crusades: Christianity and Islam | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 310 | The Holocaust | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 329 | History of American Capitalism | 4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 344 | The Age of the American Revolution, 1763-1789 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 345 | Military History of the United States | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 348 | France from Napoleon to the Great War, 1799-1914 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 349 | Contemporary France, 1914 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 350 | The First World War and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Europe | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/LACIS/POLI SCI 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| HISTORY 357 | The Second World War | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 358 | French Revolution and Napoleon | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 359 | History of Europe Since 1945 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 366 | From Fascism to Today: Social Movements and Politics in Europe | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 401 | Public History Workshop | 3 |
| HISTORY 403 | Immigration and Assimilation in American History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 409 | Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800 | 3 |
| HISTORY 410 | History of Germany, 1871 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 411 | The Enlightenment and Its Critics | 3 |
| HISTORY 417 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 418 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 419 | History of Soviet Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 420 | Russian Social and Intellectual History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 424 | The Soviet Union and the World, 1917-1991 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 426 | The History of Punishment | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 427 | The American Military Experience to 1902 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 428 | The American Military Experience Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 431 | History of Scandinavia to 1815 | 3 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 432 | History of Scandinavia Since 1815 | 3 |
| HISTORY 434 | American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 577 | Contemporary Scandinavia: Politics and History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 459 | Rule of Law: Philosophical and Historical Models | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 476 | Medieval Law and Society | 3 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 510 | Legal Pluralism | 3 |
| HISTORY 500 | Reading Seminar in History | 3 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH/SOC 518 | Antisemitism in European Culture | 3 |
| HISTORY/JOURN 560 | History of U.S. Media | 4 |
| HISTORY 607 | The American Impact Abroad: The Historical Dimension | 3 |
| ILS 201 | Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy I | 3 |
| ILS 202 | Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy II | 3 |
| MUSIC 202 | Delta Blues | 3 |
| MUSIC 203 | American Ethnicities and Popular Song | 3 |
| MUSIC 317 | Musical Women in Europe and America: Creativity, Performance, and Identity | 3 |
| SCAND ST 348 | The Second World War in Nordic Culture | 3 |
Global Perspectives Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| AFRICAN/HISTORY 106 | Introduction to African History | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN/HISTORY 129 | Africa on the Global Stage | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN 201 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| AFRICAN 202 | Introductory Topics in African Cultural Studies | 3 |
| AFRICAN 203 | Introductory Topics in African Literature | 3 |
| AFRICAN 204 | Introductory Topics in African Languages | 3 |
| AFRICAN/FOLKLORE 210 | The African Storyteller | 3 |
| AFRICAN 212 | Introduction to African Popular Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/FRENCH 216 | Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 220 | HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal | 3 |
| AFRICAN 230 | Introduction to Yoruba Life and Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 233 | Global HipHop and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFRICAN 231 | Introduction to Arabic Literary Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 277 | Africa: An Introductory Survey | 4 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER/HISTORY/POLI SCI 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| AFRICAN 300 | African Literature in Translation | 3 |
| AFRICAN/INTL ST 302 | Arabic Literature and Cinema | 3 |
| AFRICAN/ASIAN/RELIG ST 370 | Islam: Religion and Culture | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN 403 | Theories of African Cultural Studies | 3 |
| AFRICAN/RELIG ST 408 | Everyday Religion in Africa | 3 |
| AFRICAN/RELIG ST 414 | Islam in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| AFRICAN/COM ARTS/L I S 444 | Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 241 | Introduction to African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 367 | Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| ANTHRO 100 | General Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 102 | Archaeology and the Prehistoric World | 3 |
| ANTHRO 104 | Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity | 3 |
| ANTHRO 105 | Principles of Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO/FOLKLORE/INTL ST/LINGUIS 211 | Global Language Issues | 3 |
| ANTHRO 237 | Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean | 3 |
| ANTHRO 265 | Introduction to Culture and Health | 3 |
| ANTHRO 300 | Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography | 3 |
| ANTHRO/ASIAN 305 | Anthropology of South Asia | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 321 | The Emergence of Human Culture | 3 |
| ANTHRO 322 | The Origins of Civilization | 3 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 333 | Prehistory of Africa | 3 |
| ANTHRO 339 | Archaeology of Warfare and Human Nature | 3 |
| ANTHRO 350 | Political Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 357 | Introduction to the Anthropology of Japan | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 365 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 179 | Passage Through India: South Asia's Global Architectural Histories | 3 |
| ART HIST 205 | Global Arts | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 305 | History of Islamic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ART HIST 307 | From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | 3 |
| ART HIST 308 | The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | 3 |
| ART HIST 354 | Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | 3-4 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ART HIST 411 | Topics in Asian Art | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 412 | Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 413 | Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 428 | Visual Cultures of India | 3 |
| ART HIST 440 | Art and Power in the Arab World | 3 |
| ART HIST 510 | Proseminar in Islamic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ASIAN 100 | Gateway to Asia: Special Topics | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 205 | Animal Ethics in Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/LITTRANS 212 | Classical South Asian Literatures | 3 |
| ASIAN 252 | Contemporary Indian Society | 3 |
| ASIAN 253 | Japanese Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN 254 | Korean Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 274 | Religion in South Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 277 | Kendo: Integration of Martial Arts and Liberal Arts | 2 |
| ASIAN 300 | Topics in Asian Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN 301 | Social Science Topics in Asian Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 303 | Jainism: Religion and Culture of Nonviolence | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 306 | Hinduism | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 307 | A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIG ST 308 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 310 | Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels: Theory, History, Method | 3 |
| ASIAN/SOC 334 | Gender, Work, and Family in East Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/SOC 336 | Social Change in Contemporary South Korea | 3 |
| ASIAN 351 | Survey of Classical Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 352 | Survey of Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 353 | Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 355 | Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 361 | Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| ASIAN 371 | Topics in Chinese Literature | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 374 | Korean Cinema | 3 |
| ASIAN 378 | Anime | 3 |
| ASIAN 403 | Southeast Asian Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 405 | Gods and Goddesses of South Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 444 | Introduction to Sufism (Islamic Mysticism) | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 466 | Buddhist Thought | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 505 | The Perfectible Body in Religions, Medicines, and Politics | 3 |
| ASIAN 533 | Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 642 | History of Chinese Literature II | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/POP HLTH 370 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| CHICLA/SPANISH 215 | Border and Migration Studies of Latinx America | 3 |
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 268 | The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 334 | Feminist Social Movements Across the Americas | 3 |
| CHICLA/ED POL/LACIS 342 | Education across the Americas: Empire, Capitalism, and Resistance | 3 |
| CLASSICS 321 | The Egyptians: History, Society, and Literature | 3 |
| DANCE 118 | African Dance | 1 |
| DANCE 165 | Introduction to the Histories of Dance | 3 |
| ENTOM/NUTR SCI 203 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 205 | Our Planet, Our Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 139 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI 213 | Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 465 | Global Environmental History | 3-4 |
| FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 103 | Introduction to Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 352 | Shamanism | 3 |
| GEN&WS 102 | Gender, Women, and Society in Global Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS 104 | Gender, Sexuality, and Global Health | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 134 | Women and Gender in World History | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 423 | The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 435 | Politics of Gender and Women's Rights in the Middle East | 3 |
| GEN&WS 444 | From Past Feminisms to Postfeminism: Feminisms for the 21st Century | 3 |
| GEN&WS/PORTUG 450 | Brazillian Women Writers | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | Human Geography: Space, Place, Society, and Politics | 4 |
| GEOG/ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 244 | Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines | 4 |
| GEOG/INTL ST 311 | The Global Game: Soccer, Politics, and Identity | 3-4 |
| GEOG 307 | International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | 3 |
| GEOG/INTL ST 315 | Universal Basic Income: The Politics Behind a Global Movement | 3 |
| GEOG 340 | World Regions in Global Context | 3 |
| GEOG 355 | Africa, South of the Sahara | 3 |
| GEOG 358 | Human Geography of Southeast Asia (German, Nordic, and Slavic) | 3 |
| GEOG/GEN&WS 504 | Feminist Geography: Theoretical Approaches | 3 |
| GEOG 507 | Waste Geographies: Politics, People, and Infrastructures | 3 |
| GNS 460 | Readings in Turkish: Contemporary Turkey through Literature and Media | 4 |
| GNS/HISTORY 265 | An Introduction to Central Asia: From the Silk Route to Afghanistan | 3 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 103 | Introduction to East Asian History: China | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 104 | Introduction to East Asian History: Japan | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 108 | Introduction to East Asian History - Korea | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CLASSICS 110 | The Ancient Mediterranean | 4 |
| HISTORY 130 | An Introduction to World History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 133 | Global Military History (5000 BCE - Present) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 137 | The History of War in Film | 3 |
| HISTORY 139 | Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 142 | History of South Asia to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 146 | A Global History of Now | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 170 | East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 179 | Afro-Atlantic Histories and Peoples, 1791-Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 201 | The Historian's Craft (Latin American Topics) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 205 | The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 225 | Explorations in Third World History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 229 | Explorations in Transnational/Comparative History (Humanities) (topic must be approved) | 3 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST/LACIS 242 | Modern Latin America | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LACIS 243 | Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/GEN&WS 245 | Chicana and Latina History | 3 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN/ASIAN AM 246 | Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War | 4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 273 | Study Abroad in History: Non-Western History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 278 | Africans in the Americas, 1492-1808 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST 309 | The Crusades: Christianity and Islam | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 319 | The Vietnam Wars | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 335 | The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 336 | Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 340 | Cultural History of Korea | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 341 | History of Modern China, 1800-1949 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 342 | History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/AFROAMER 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 363 | China and World War II in Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 375 | The Cold War - From World War II to End of Soviet Empire | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 409 | Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800 | 3 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA 435 | Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | 3 |
| HISTORY 450 | Making of Modern South Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 454 | Samurai: History and Image | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 456 | Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 458 | History of Southeast Asia Since 1800 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/HIST SCI/MED HIST 564 | Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| INTL BUS 200 | International Business | 3 |
| INTL ST 101 | Introduction to International Studies | 3-4 |
| INTL ST 266 | Introduction to the Middle East | 3 |
| INTL ST 310 | International Learning Community Seminar (topic must be approved) | 1-3 |
| INTL ST/ED POL 335 | Globalization and Education | 3 |
| JOURN 567 | Mass Media and Global Communication | 4 |
| LITTRANS 226 | Introduction to Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature | 3 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 261 | Survey of Chinese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 263 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 264 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 373 | Topics in Japanese Literature | 3 |
| MUSIC 260 | Global Hand Drumming Ensemble: Survey of Selected Global Hand Drumming Traditions | 1 |
| POLI SCI 120 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLI SCI 182 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (Honors) | 3 |
| POLI SCI 320 | Governments and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 324 | Chinese Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 325 | Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 328 | Politics of East and Southeast Asia | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 329 | African Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 336 | Democracy (and Its Uncertain Future) | 4 |
| POLI SCI 349 | Global Access to Justice | 3 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| POLI SCI 370 | Islam and Politics | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST/ASIAN 206 | The Qur'an: Religious Scripture & Literature | 3 |
| RELIG ST 400 | Topics in Religious Studies - Humanities (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST 401 | Topics in Religious Studies - Social Studies (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST 407 | Buddhism and Anti-Racism | 3 |
| SOC 170 | Population Problems | 3-4 |
| SPANISH 223 | Introduction to Hispanic Cultures | 3 |
| THEATRE 526 | The Theatres of China and Japan | 3 |
Liberal Studies Electives
| Liberal Studies Electives | Complete additional liberal studies coursework as needed to reach the required 40 Liberal Studies credits. |
Program Structure
The Kinesiology program has five components:
- Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. The university-wide General Education requirements also encourage this breadth of study.
- Science core coursework offers in-depth study of the basic sciences and mathematics.
- Kinesiology core courses look at how the body responds and adapts to exercise, the role of psychological factors in sports and exercise, mechanics applied to biological systems, and how movement is controlled, learned, and developed over the life span.
- Advanced coursework in Kinesiology requires at least 11 credits of Kinesiology electives, thus giving students some flexibility to tailor the program to their specific interests.
- Elective classes are generally related to the student's area of study and are taken to reach the minimum of 120 credits.
Science Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 5-10 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
AP or IB Biology score of 4 or above | ||
| Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| PSYCH 202 | Introduction to Psychology | 3-4 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one option: | 0-10 | |
Placement into MATH 221 | ||
| College Algebra and Trigonometry (or test out of MATH 112 and/or MATH 113) | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Basic Statistics for Psychology | ||
| ANAT&PHY 335 | Physiology | 5 |
| ANAT&PHY 337 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| ANAT&PHY 338 | Human Anatomy Laboratory | 2 |
Kinesiology Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| KINES 116 | First Aid and Basic Life Support 1 | 2 |
| KINES 119 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 2 |
| KINES 314 | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| KINES 318 | Biomechanics of Human Movement | 3 |
| KINES 330 | Research in Kinesiology | 2 |
| KINES 350 | Introduction to Exercise Psychology | 3 |
| KINES 361 | Motor Learning and Performance | 3 |
| KINES 500 | Practicum in Kinesiology 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Socio-Cultural Aspects of Physical Activity | ||
| Physical Activity and Health | ||
| Diversity in Health and Physical Activity Settings | ||
| Senior Research Writing in Kinesiology | ||
| Advanced Exercise Psychology | ||
| Biological Factors Influencing Exercise Performance | ||
- 1
Students may exempt from KINES 116 First Aid and Basic Life Support by completing American Red Cross First Aid AND either American Red Cross Basic Life Support or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers.
If a student wishes to request that a different course (or courses) be considered, contact the Department of Kinesiology undergraduate office PRIOR to enrolling.
- 2
Criminal background investigations may be conducted for some students, based on the site of the practicum assignment. The cooperating agency to which the student has been assigned will determine if a background check is necessary.
Advanced Coursework in Kinesiology
Select a minimum of 11 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| KINES 214 | Culture and Environment in Exercise Physiology Abroad | 3 |
| KINES 250 | Sedentary Behavior in the U.S. and Abroad | 3 |
| KINES 260 | Inclusive Physical Activity, Sport & Rehabilitation in Ireland | 3 |
| KINES 312 | Technology for Physical Activity and Health Professionals | 2 |
| KINES 325 | Group Development and Behavior Management | 3 |
| KINES 360 | Lifespan Motor Development | 3 |
| KINES 387 | The Young Athlete: Considerations for Exercise, Medicine, and Activity | 2 |
| KINES 390 | Principles of Exercise Leadership | 2 |
| KINES 427 | Fitness Testing and Exercise Prescription | 3 |
| KINES 501 | Theory-Based Health Education and Health Promotion Programs | 3 |
| KINES 508 | Workshop in Kinesiology (Topic: Theories and Strategies for Behavioral Change) | 3 |
| KINES 523 | Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription for Health Professionals | 3 |
| KINES/NUTR SCI 525 | Nutrition in Physical Activity and Health | 3 |
| KINES 527 | Principles of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| KINES 531 | Neural Control of Movement | 3 |
| KINES 555 | Sports Science & Athlete Monitoring | 3 |
| KINES 614 | Biological Factors Influencing Exercise Performance | 3 |
| KINES 615 | Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology | 2 |
| KINES 618 | Biomechanics | 2-3 |
Elective Coursework
Select additional courses to reach the minimum of 120 credits.
Continuation Requirement: Department of Kinesiology
All students admitted to undergraduate programs in the Department of Kinesiology, including Physical Education, must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75, based on all UW–Madison campus coursework. Consult the School of Education's Academic Policies and Procedures for additional information about the Continuation requirement.
GPA and Other Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements
These requirements are based on UW-Madison coursework.
- Must earn a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average. Graduation GPA may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule.
- Major residency: Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits from the Department of Kinesiology while enrolled on the UW–Madison campus.
- Senior residency: Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UW–Madison campus, excluding retroactive credits and credits granted by examination.
- Must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
Degree Audit (DARS)
UW–Madison uses “DARS” to document a student's progress toward the completion of their degree, including any additional majors and certificates. A DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report shows all the requirements for completing a degree and, against courses that are planned or completed, shows the requirements that have been met, and those that are unmet. A report can offer suggestions about courses that may be taken to meet specific requirements and can assist in the academic planning and enrollment process. Students can access a DARS report in the Course Search & Enroll app or Student Center via My UW.
DARS also has a "what-if" function. This feature makes it possible to request a DARS report as if pursuing another program, major, or certificate. It is an excellent tool if considering a new or additional area of study. School of Education students in a pre-professional classification such as Pre-Elementary (PRE) or Pre-Kinesiology should request a "what if" DARS report of their professional program of interest. For example, Pre-Elementary Education (PRE) students will request Elementary Education K-9; Pre-Kinesiology (PKN) students will request the Kinesiology report. Minors have their own DARS programs and are run separately from the main degree audit.
More information (including tutorials) on how to request and read regular and what-if DARS reports is available under the Resources tab on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
DARS is not intended to replace student contact with academic advisors. It creates more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, graduate school, or issues of personal interest or concern to students.
DARS is used as the document of record for degree program, major, and certificate completion in the School of Education.
Learning Outcomes
- (Knowledge) Define and explain major concepts across the breadth of kinesiology.
- (Application) Apply their knowledge related to movement and physical activity techniques and approaches in clinical and applied settings to enhance human health and quality of life.
- (Critical Thinking) Demonstrate competence in the scientific research process, which includes the ability to consume, analyze, interpret and critically review scientific literature.
- (Communication) Develop appropriate styles of written and oral communication to use both within and outside of the scientific community.
Four-Year Plan
Kinesiology: Sample Four-Year Plans
A four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report, the Guide, and the Course Search and Enroll app to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests.
There are many ways to complete the degree and course selection should reflect your own situation. Consult with an advisor in Education Student Services, 139 Education Building, to develop a personalized plan of study. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.
Three plans are presented below. The first is for students who need to take MATH 112 Algebra, followed by a plan for students testing out it. The third is for students who test into MATH 96.
Starting with MATH 112
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 | Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 |
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 1022 | 2 | KINES 119 (or fall sophomore year) | 2 |
| MATH 112 (also meets Quantitative Reasoning A) | 3 | CHEM 103 | 4 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 7-10 | Liberal Studies course work | 0-3 |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | ||
| PSYCH 202 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 or 1512 | 3 | PHYSICS 103 | 4 |
| CHEM 104 | 5 | Choose One: Also Meets Quantitative Reasoning B | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 2-4 | ||
| MATH 113 | 3 | ||
| KINES 116 | 2 | ||
| Liberal Studies or General Elective course work | 6 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 330 or 361 | 2-3 | KINES 361 or 330 | 2-3 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective)1 | 3 | KINES 314 | 4 |
| ANAT&PHY 335 | 5 | ANAT&PHY 337 | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective1 | 3 | ANAT&PHY 338 | 2 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 318 or 500 | 3 | KINES 500 or 318 | 3 |
| Communication B - Select one of the following in the fall or spring semester | 3 | Communication B - Select one of the following in the fall or spring semester. 600 is not offered in the spring. | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective | 3 | ||
| Advanced Kines Elective | 2 | Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 7-10 |
| Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 8-11 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
A total of 11 credits of Advanced Kines Electives are required. Elective course options are 2-3 credits.
- 2
Select either BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 Animal Biology/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 Animal Biology Laboratory or BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 Introductory Biology
Testing out of MATH 112
The Quantitative Reasoning A requirement has already been met.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 | Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | KINES 119 (or fall sophomore year) | 2 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 8-11 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| MATH 113 | 3 | ||
| Liberal Studies course work | 2-5 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYSICS 103 | 4 | Choose One: 2 | 5 |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | ||
| PSYCH 202 | 3 | ||
| Liberal Studies course work | 6 | Choose One: Also meets Quantitative Reasoning B | 3 |
| KINES 116 | 2 | ||
| Liberal Studies or General Elective course work | 5 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 330 or 361 | 2-3 | KINES 361 or 330 | 2-3 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective)1 | 3 | KINES 314 | 4 |
| ANAT&PHY 335 | 5 | ANAT&PHY 337 | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective1 | 3 | ANAT&PHY 338 | 2 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 318 or 500 | 3 | KINES 500 or 318 | 3 |
| Communication B - Select one of the following either in the fall or spring semester | 3 | Communication B - Select one of the following either in the fall or spring semester (KINES 600 is not offered in the spring) | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective | 3 | ||
| Advanced Kines Elective | 2 | Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 7-10 |
| Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 7-10 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
A total of 11 credits of Advanced Kines Electives are required. Elective course options are 2-3 credits.
- 2
Select either BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 Animal Biology/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 Animal Biology Laboratory or BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 Introductory Biology
Starting with MATH 96
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 | Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 |
| Math 096 | 3 | BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 or 1512 | 3-5 |
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 1022 | 2 | MATH 112 | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 7-10 | PSYCH 202 | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 1-6 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| KINES 119 | 2 | PHYSICS 103 | 4 |
| Choose One: Also meets Quantitative Reasoning B | 3 | KINES 116 | 2 |
| Liberal Studies or General Elective course work | 4 | ||
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | ||
| Liberal Studies course work | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 330 or 361 | 2-3 | KINES 361 or 330 | 2-3 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective)1 | 3 | KINES 314 | 4 |
| ANAT&PHY 335 | 5 | ANAT&PHY 337 | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective1 | 3 | ANAT&PHY 338 | 2 |
| KINES 350 (or Advanced Kines Elective) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 318 or 500 | 3 | KINES 500 or 318 | 3 |
| Communication B - Select one of the following in the fall or spring semester | 3 | Communication B - Select one of the following in the fall or spring semester. 600 is not offered in the spring. | 3 |
| Advanced Kines Elective | 3 | ||
| Advanced Kines Elective | 2 | Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 6-9 |
| MATH 113 | 3 | ||
| Liberal Studies, Advanced Kines Elective or General Elective course work | 4-7 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
A total of 11 credits of Advanced Kines Electives are required. Elective course options are 2-3 credits.
- 2
Select either BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 Animal Biology/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 Animal Biology Laboratory or BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 Introductory Biology
Advising and Careers
Kinesiology Advising
Students not yet admitted to Kinesiology meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office, see below. Once admitted to the professional program, students are also advised in the Department of Kinesiology.
School of Education Advising
Academic Advising in the School of Education
Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, academic advisors are here to assist students with the adjustment to college, understanding their degree and career goals, and connecting them to resources. Advisors support prospective and current School of Education students in all programs through:
- Course selection
- Mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students
- Understanding degree requirements and progression
- Interpreting academic policies
- Helping students recognize their strengths and suggesting ways to expand their skills
- Expanding learning through activities such as study abroad, volunteering/work/internship, and by assuming leadership roles
Advising appointments are available in person, virtually, or over the phone. Current students schedule appointments through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by calling 608-262-1651, or in person in Room 139 Education Building.
Academic Dean Support staff are also here for you when facing academic or personal challenges. We provide undergraduate School of Education students support, problem-solving, advocacy, resources, and approve exceptions to policies.
Career Advising in the School of Education
Through individual appointments, events, courses, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development.
Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with:
- Exploration of career and academic pathways
- Resumes
- Cover letters
- Job/Internship search
- Interview preparation
- Mock interviews
- Graduate school search, applications and decisions
- Negotiating job or internship offers
- Professional networking
- Connecting with employers
Students are encouraged to meet with their Career and Internship Advisor early in their college experience to take full advantage of the resources and support available.
To make an appointment: log into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard.
For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at career-center@education.wisc.edu.
Information about common career pathways, ways to get involved and gain experience, and transferrable skills developed through this major can be found on the School of Education Career Center's Kinesiology Pathways webpage.
Wisconsin Experience
UW–Madison’s vision for the total student experience, the Wisconsin Experience, combines learning in and out of the classroom. Tied to the Wisconsin Idea and steeped in long-standing institutional values — the commitment to the truth, shared participation in decision-making, and service to local and global communities — the Wisconsin Experience describes how students develop and integrate these core values across their educational experience.
UW–Madison encourages students to mindfully engage in four core concepts throughout their time on campus: Empathy & Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action.
Since its inception, the School of Education has embraced the concepts of the Wisconsin Experience, providing opportunities for students to learn in venues beyond the traditional classroom. Our students also independently seek out related activities and experiences, thus creating their own unique Wisconsin Experience.
Kinesiology and the Wisconsin Experience
Research in the Kinesiology Department
Throughout their program, students engage in research opportunities as part of their coursework. Students also have opportunities to serve as research assistants in top research labs within the kinesiology department, participating in research on topics like dementia, adapted fitness, mental health and physical activity, health promotion in rural or under-served communities, cardiovascular activity, injury in sports, epidemiology, exercise and brain health, motor control and behavior, geriatric health, wellness promotion, neural control, and more.
Kinesiology students may apply for available fellowships and financial awards, including the American Physiological Society Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Participation in Departmental Activities
The kinesiology department provides several leadership opportunities for students at the department level. Undergraduate students serve as representatives in the department Well-Being Committee and Undergraduate Studies Committee, as peer learning facilitators, and can get involved in the KinEqT Mentorship Program.
- The Kinesiology Undergraduate Studies Committee is the formal body that reviews and approves program updates to the undergraduate majors and certificates. Student leaders involved in this committee contribute a current student perspective to programmatic decisions.
- Peer learning facilitators (called Peer Study Group Leaders) hold study groups for current kinesiology students enrolled in either in ANAT&PHY 335 or ANAT&PHY 337 and, in turn, earn credit that satisfies their required practicum experience. These student leaders have a weekly meeting with the instructional staff to cover common challenges in the content, develop and lead study sessions to supplement in-class learning, and gain skills and knowledge related to community building, active learning, and peer facilitation.
- The KinEqT mentorship program is organized by kinesiology graduate students to help undergraduate students connect and build community in the department. The program helps facilitate mentorship and access to resources, both academic and professional, between graduate and undergraduate students with underrepresented racial, disability, social class and gender identities, especially those who are underrepresented within the UW-Madison Department of Kinesiology.
Community-Based Learning Experiences
Each major in the kinesiology department has community-based learning experiences built into their curriculum.
One way that Kinesiology majors get involved in the community is through their required practicum course. This course is designed for students to gain professional experience and skills outside of the classroom. In one of their final semesters, students are placed in a relevant setting for their career goals and spend approximately seven hours per week working with these partners. The options for placements include research labs, strength and conditioning settings, peer facilitating or teaching assistants, public health, and community outreach physical activity programs.
Related Student Organizations
The Kinesiology Club, KinEqT Mentorship Program, Leadership in Adapted Fitness, Sports Medicine & Athletic Healthcare Club, Pre-PT club, Students for Rare, an organization that promotes activism for individuals suffering from rare diseases, and Letters of Love, writing positive letters for children in hospitals, are but a few of the organizations of interest to Kinesiology students. Hundreds of health-focused organizations can be found by filtering for the ‘Health/Wellness’ category within the Wisconsin Involvement Network website.
Many students are interested in pre-health professional clubs, including Pre-PT Club, Pre-OT Club, Aspiring Nurses Association, and the Aspiring PA Association.
Study Abroad Courses
The kinesiology department offers rotating in Portugal, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Ireland. These 2-3 week courses make it possible for students to have a study abroad experience and still have time to work or pursue other activities during the summer.
- Movement as Medicine in Portugal examines the connection between sedentary behavior and health outcomes in Portugal. Participants review definitions and rates of sedentary behavior, physical activity and physical inactivity in the U.S. and across the globe. While in Lisbon, participants hear from local experts and members of the healthcare and educational systems about how physical activity is viewed and promoted across the population. Side trips to relevant local cultural places contribute to the full picture of health in Portugal. An overnight trip to Porto and two additional day trips provide additional opportunities to learn more about local culture and history. Credit is given for KINES 250 or C&E SOC 400.
- Team Building in Costa Rica was designed to enhance the group development skills of its participants while engaging in activities such as whitewater rafting, ziplining and hiking. It combines a very successful kinesiology course, KINES 325 Group Development and Behavior Management, with a unique cultural opportunity in Costa Rica. Each day provides opportunities to not only explore the Pura Vida (Pure Life) of Costa Rica, but also to engage in personal reflection. Participants experience the process of growing together as a community and develop skills to create lasting communities in their personal and professional lives. Students earn credit for KINES 325, a required course in the Physical Education program.
- Inclusive Activity and Sports in Ireland offers a unique learning opportunity for UW–Madison students interested in pursuing careers in allied health, fitness and well-being, health education, and public health. Ireland has a distinct history, culture, and approach to health and movement. It is in the midst of comprehensive and progressive reforms to their health and social care, with an emphasis on providing better outreach and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. This course will focus on applying models, research, and best practices in motor control and motor learning to inclusive physical activity, sports, and rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities in Ireland. Students participate in training seminars led by Active Disability Ireland, Sport Ireland in Dublin, and Munster Technological University in Tralee. Included are visits to rehabilitation facilities and community organizations to attend guest lectures from occupational therapists, physical and physiotherapists, athletes with disabilities, and government employees. At the University of Limerick, students learn about bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the health sciences and hear about relevant research in physical activity, sedentary behavior, sport, and health for individuals with diverse abilities. Co-curricular activities provide an opportunity to explore and participate in sports, recreation, and physical activities through the lens of a tourist/participant with disabilities. Credit is given for KINES 260.
- Crossroads of Culture & Health in New Zealand is a unique winter program focused on learning specific differences in the physiology of physical activity among New Zealanders. With an emphasis on the physiology of exercise responses, this program is open to students of all majors, but especially those particularly interested in the physiology of health. Explore the interaction between the environment, culture, and human physiology amidst the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Credit is given for KINES 214,
Volunteering
Students have volunteered to work with the Madison Metropolitan School District, Ballroom Basics for Balance (BB4B), as well as adapted fitness, assisted living, and pro bono clinic settings.
Paid Work Experiences Related to Kinesiology
While completing their undergraduate studies, Kinesiology students have found employment in some of the following areas: Physical Therapy Aide, University Health Services Student Health Technician – SH/GYN Clinic, Nuclear Cardiac Stress Testing Intern, UnityPoint Health, Nursing Care Partner, Recreation & Well-being, Nicholas Recreation Center Member Services Supervisor, Badger Sports Camps at UW-Madison, Cardiac Rehab Intern SSM St Mary’s Hospital Center of Wellness, Personal Caregiver, and Home Health Aide.
Resources and Scholarships
Information about scholarships, academic and career advising, study abroad opportunities, services related to student well-being, and other resources for students in the School of Education can be found on the School's Resources page.