Careers in Kinesiology and
Sport Sciences
 Because of high visibility gained from our student
presentations and the advanced multidisciplinary
research, our graduates have consistently enjoyed
success in a variety of different job settings:
Personal Trainer
 A personal trainer typically
works one-on-one with an
individual to improve their
fitness level and general
health. A personal trainer
should have a strong
background in anatomy
and kinesiology, as a large
part of this job deals with
improving muscular
strength and
cardiovascular endurance.
Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist
Cardiopulmonary Specialist
 These clinicians are
typically responsible for
providing exercise
testing, training and
education regarding
disease management.
Clinical settings include
hospitals, outpatient
clinics, and medically
supervised fitness
centers.
Group Exercise Instructor
 A group exercise instructor
leads exercise sessions for a
group of participants.
Examples of group exercise
instruction include land- or
water-based general
classes, dance/step
aerobics, chair aerobics,
and cycling. Group exercise
instructors can be
employed in a variety of
settings including
commercial fitness centers,
employee fitness programs,
and hospitals.
Employee fitness Director
 Employee fitness programs
are common in the
workplace, especially in the
corporate, commercial, and
hospital setting. Along with
conducting exercise
programs and supervising
all fitness staff, the
employee fitness director
may also be trained as a
wellness specialist to
provide broad-based health
promotion and wellness
education programs.
Strength (Sport) and Conditioning Coach
 Sport teams employ
strength and
conditioning coaches to
enhance their athletes’
agility, strength,
endurance, flexibility,
and power. Positions
usually require a
Master’s degree and
certification by the
National Strength and
Conditioning
Association.
Athletic Trainer
 Athletic trainers are health
care professionals that
specialize in the emergency
care and treatment of sportrelated illness and athletic
injuries. One must
successfully pass the NATA
certification examination.
Athletic trainers work with
patients and clients in high
school, college or professional
sports, sports medicine and
rehabilitation clinics,
physician offices, hospitals,
military, performing arts, and
commercial enterprises.
Dietician/Sports Nutritionist
 Dietetics is the study of
nutrient intake and how foods
are digested and metabolized
in order to provide the
necessary energy to fuel
muscular activity. Dieticians
also study dietary patterns in
order to maximize
performance, prevent disease
and improve general health.
Sports nutritionists specialize
in nutritional
recommendations for active
individuals and competitive
and recreational athletes.
Occupational Physiologist
 Occupational physiologists
work with many different
professionals to improve
the performance of workers
by enhancing their health
and occupational abilities,
preventing or rehabilitating
workplace injuries, and
redesigning the work
environment to fit the
worker. They may also
develop and administer
pre-employment physical
capacity tests to determine
if the worker is physically
able to perform the job.
Physical/Occupational Therapist
 The physical therapist
helps people recover
from injuries or diseases
of the muscles, joints,
nerves, or bones. The
occupational therapist
works more with fine
motor skills and
dexterity and both
therapists use various
physical modalities and
exercise, to improve
movement function.
Medical Doctor
 A medical doctor is highly
trained in the art and science
of diagnosis and treatment of
diseases and the maintenance
of health. Medical schools
require a minimum of four
years after a basic college
degree. Beyond medical
school, there are many
specialties to choose from in
order to be part of a sports
medicine or exercise science
team, including primary care
sports medicine, orthopedic
surgery, or cardiology.
Biomechanics Specialist
 Biomechanics is the study
and explanation of the laws
of physics applied to
physical activity, exercise,
and sport. Biomechanics
can be used to explain how
muscles, bones, and joints
are injured under certain
conditions, and how to
improve performance using
motion analysis
techniques.
Researcher
 Researchers conduct studies
from either a basic or applied
scientist’s perspective. Basic
researchers usually conduct
studies on the cellular and
molecular levels, examining
how organ systems work,
adapt, or respond to various
factors. Applied researchers
usually conduct studies with a
more practical focus,
addressing questions that are
more applicable for
immediate use, such as how
to improve general health,
quality of life, and
performance in various
sports.
Sport Administrator
 Sport administrator’s role in
an organization is to handle
all things from reception work
to human resources, and from
marketing to managing a club
or sport organization. They
are equipped with resources
to ensure the smooth
operation of all major
activities and events in an
organization. Duties may
include promotion of a sport
organization’s or club’s
visibility, its services, its
fundraising, or its public
relations efforts.
Sports Medicine Clinic Director
 The clinical director is
usually a trained health
care professional with
managerial experience.
The director ensures
appropriate assessment,
evaluation, treatment
and follow-up of all
patients participating in
his/her clinic.
Chiropractor
 Chiropractors are also known
as doctors of chiropractic
medicine or chiropractic
physicians. They diagnose and
treat patients with health
issues involving the
musculoskeletal system and
treat the effects of those
problems on the nervous
system and on general health.
Many chiropractic treatments
deal specifically with the
spine and the manipulation of
the spine as it enhances painfree physical activity and
movement.
Physician Assistant
 Physician assistants (PAs)
practice medicine under
the supervision of
physicians and surgeons.
PAs are formally trained to
provide diagnostic,
therapeutic, and preventive
healthcare services, as
delegated by physicians.
Working as members of a
healthcare team, they take
medical histories, examine
and treat patients, order
and interpret laboratory
tests and x-rays, and make
diagnoses.
Professor
 College and university faculty
instruct students in a wide
variety of academic and
vocational subjects. In
addition to teaching,
professors, particularly those
at 4-year colleges and
universities, perform a
significant amount of
research in their areas of
expertise. They must also
deliver oral presentations,
keep current in their field,
and often consult with
government, business,
nonprofit, and community
organizations.
References
 Modified from Careers section of American Kinesiology
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Association website (www.AmericanKinesiology.org)
Bureau of Labor Statistics Website (www.bls.gov)
Google (www.google.com)
Google Images (www.google.com/imghp)
Sample Job Descriptions
(www.samplejobdescriptions.org)
University of Miami School of Education Website
(http://www.education.miami.edu/Program/Programs.a
sp?Program_ID=38)