What can I do with a kinesiology degree?
Students graduating with a major in kinesiology develop many transferable skills and can use their education in a variety of fields!
Below is a list of potential employers and career opportunities for kinesiology. This is not an exhaustive listing. The world of work is always evolving and over time job titles and work settings can change.
Potential employers
- city parks & recreation departments
- colleges and universities
- community organizations
- corporate health centers
- country clubs
- health clubs and fitness centers
- high schools and middle schools
- hospitals
- Olympic training centers
- professional fitness centers
- professional sport teams
- public and private schools
- sport medicine centers
- sports injury clinics
- recreational organizations or leagues
- rehabilitation clinics
Career opportunities in kinesiology
exercise science
- consultation
- ergonomists
- exercise physiologist*
- laboratory technician
- personal trainer*
- performance enhancement
- pharmaceutical sales
- sports medicine clinician
- strength and conditioning specialist*
*certification recommended
fitness-wellness/corporate fitness
- corporate fitness
- corporate wellness manager
- employee fitness director
- event manager
- fitness and wellness trainer
- fitness center director
- fitness choreographer
- fitness consultant
- fitness instructor
- health promotions
- instructor/coordinator
- sales/marketing
- spa manager
- sports store manager
- wellness director
pre-physical education teaching
- high school coach
- intramural sports director
- private coach
- program director
- recreational sports
- youth sports
pre-physical therapy or occupational therapy
- Commonly used as a preparatory area for other fields of study such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, dentistry, nursing, physician assistance, and medicine. Visit the Health Careers Center to further explore these careers.
*A kinesiology degree provides excellent preparation for both graduate school and professional programs.
Career opportunities with an advanced or graduate degree
- athletic administrator
- architect for sports facility
- chiropractor
- college athletic director
- college coach
- dance/movement therapist
- designer of sports/fitness equipment
- dietician
- exercise physiologist
- historian
- occupational physiologist
- occupational therapist
- physical education teacher K-12
- physical therapist
- physician
- physician assistant
- professional coach
- research scientist
- sports dentist
- sports physician
- sports psychologist
- sports lawyer
- sports researcher
- strength and conditioning coach
- university professor
Kinesiology career Web sites
- Careers in sports medicine and exercise science [.pdf]
- ACE Career Center (American Council on Exercise)
- Kinesiology career paths [.pdf]
- Careers in sports psychology
- American Society of Exercise Physiologists job board
- Association for Applied Sports Psychology
- Jobs in sports
- Fields of study in sport and movement studies
For assistance clarifying your career direction, or for assistance regarding internships, job searches, and résumé writing, visit the ETC Services center in Appleby Hall 127 or call 612-625-3339 to schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor.
September 2007