Explore a career that enables you to make a difference every day in children’s physical health and well-being.
Shenandoah’s Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology prepares you to become a health and physical education teacher.
Our program emphasizes playing sports at the level of each student and learning how sports can play a positive role and contribute to building the individual character of each student. Our approach is based on Play Practice (Launder & Piltz) and small-sided games, and focuses on the concept that students learn through playing games, not through boring drills.
We also incorporate more tactics, strategies and focus on sportsmanship in our teaching to help develop individuals into better spectators. For some, these small-sided games will be their only competitive sporting experience so it should be fun. We also teach to value each person, part of the Sport Education Model (Siedentop) we incorporate.
The Kinesiology Department offers two Bachelor of Science degrees.
Kinesiology Health and Physical Education Pre K-12
Those who are pursuing a teaching degree will be required to complete the Professional Studies Certificate in Health and Physical Education PreK-12 and the Kinesiology Core courses. Completion of this program meets the professional studies required by the Virginia Department of Licensure Regulations for Health and Physical Education PreK-12 teachers.
Kinesiology Recreation
Students who choose the Recreation major will still be required to complete all courses for the Professional Studies Certificate in Health and Physical Education PreK-12 EXCEPT for student teaching. Those in Recreation will complete an internship in Recreational Leadership; a Seminar in Recreational Leadership course; and a Facility Planning and Event Management course for their final semester. Students in this program will also meet the Kinesiology Core courses.
Learn More About This Program
Lack of activity is a key part of the obesity epidemic. Our program teaches you how to make learning enjoyable for your students, and how to engage all students in health and physical education using a focus on games and technology such as pedometers and heart rate monitors.
Through this program, you’ll learn how to:
- incorporate the Virginia Standards and the NASPE standards
- write unit plans and lesson plans
- assess student learning and your effectiveness as a teacher
- measure and assess students’ psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills
- demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
- present in front of large audiences, including conventions
Shenandoah University’s College of Arts & Sciences is your direct connection to a classic, broad-based education to satisfy both your intellectual curiosity and career goals. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes and individualized learning opportunities, we put students at the center of all our decisions and events.
We blend the liberal arts with pre-professional courses and hands-on learning to prepare you for careers in the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. You’ll learn through small, engaging classes and relationships with faculty mentors; hone your skills to solve problems; and learn to use creativity and critical thinking to make informed decisions.
Coaching Certificate & Minor
Coaching Certificate
The Coaching Certificate is recommended for students interested in coaching interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics at a higher level than a Coaching Minor qualifies them to do.
The majority of Kinesiology Health and Physical Education Pre K-12 majors will complete most of the requirements for the Coaching Certificate in their major.
Students who complete the Kinesiology Recreation major as shown in the semester course listings below may also complete the Coaching Certificate, as it is built into the sequence with the additional coaching courses listed. Kinesiology Recreation majors opting out of the Coaching Certificate need to replace those courses with electives.
Coaching Minor
The Coaching Minor is designed for students not majoring in Kinesiology who are interested in coaching interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics. The minor is less credit hours, so it can be completed in a shorter time.
Internship Possibilities
Students who choose the Recreation major will be required to complete an internship in Recreational Leadership.
The Career Services staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.
Career and Salary Possibilities
Earnings can range from $36,000 to $48,000 depending on the school district you serve.
Alumni Shatora Lane ‘12, ‘14 continued her education in Athletic Training at Shenandoah after graduating with her bachelors degree. She received her masters which led to her successful career. Lane is the head athletic trainer at Shepherd University. Lane works with staff to provide on-site care for athletes, handles prevention programs, and postsurgical rehabilitation. Lane thanks the Shenandoah community for her success and tells future students, “ If you have an idea or passion, reach out to someone on campus that specializes in that area and enlist their advice or mentorship.”
Eric Rhodes ‘13 dream became a reality when he accepted an assistant strength and conditioning coach position at the University of Maryland. “The SU baseball program helped me develop leadership skills and a great work ethic that pushed me every single day to be the best person that I could be.”
Stephen Gober ‘98 is the head athletic trainer for the Louisville Bats, a Triple-A affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. He also use to be an assistant athletic trainer for the Washington Nationals for three years. The faculty and mentors at Shenandoah pushed Gober when he needed it, which served him well. “Take advantage of all the experiences you can while you are there, it’s worth it in the end.”
Jaclyn Mohlmann ‘13, ‘15 was a student-athlete at Shenandoah. Mohlmann set 21 records, winning five Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) titles while keeping up with her studies. Mohlmann is currently an assistant track and field coach for John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. “I came in as a nobody and left as one of the top athletes in the nation.” Mohlmann advice to future students is, “If you don’t have passion in what you’re doing, you’re not going to enjoy it. Don’t settle for average.”
The Career Services Office provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Classes
You can complete Shenandoah’s undergraduate degree in Kinesiology in four years. Our small classes and low faculty-student ratios mean you’ll receive individualized attention from experienced faculty mentors. You’ll also work with a partner in your methods courses, and have opportunities to gain hands-on experience in evaluation methods.
Kinesiology Core Course Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| KIN 106 | Aerobics | 1 |
| KIN 191 | First Aid, CPR, AED | 1 |
| EXSC 270 | Structural Kinesiology | 3 |
| EXSC 280 | Care and Treatment of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| KIN 252 | Personal and Community Health | 3 |
| EXSC 352 | Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance | 3 |
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
Learning Support Services at Shenandoah
Tutoring has taught me that is it okay to get help in subjects that you are having trouble in. It does not mean that you can’t learn the information. I believe that tutoring has helped me more than words can describe. I know that I would not have been able to make it through some of my classes without the help of the tutors at Shenandoah.
Kiersten Michel | Kinesiology, ’16
Student Teaching and Teacher Licensure
You’ll participate in 75-hour field experiences with each methods class, with placements at the elementary, middle and high school levels in both health and physical education to give you a diverse range of teaching experience. Upon completion of the program, you’ll have more than 400 hours of classroom teaching time.
Shenandoah’s many partnerships with local schools offer plenty of opportunities to gain valuable experience through work with the disabled population (such as the Special Olympics), testing real students with the latest assessment tools, and helping local schools with festivals, fun runs, and more.
Join the Honors Program
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Honors Program is a multidisciplinary Honors Program for students who are curious, creative, self-motivated, and eager to engage in their education and community.
Not only do Honors Program students partake in honors courses that emphasize collaboration, service, and communication, but they will also have the opportunity to develop aspects of the program based on their own interests and goals. By participating in the CAS Honors Program you will acquire the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to make meaningful contributions to your community – whether it be globally, locally, or specific to your life’s work. You will have access to unique courses, exciting experiences and a community of peers and faculty who never stop asking questions and striving for excellence.
Faculty
Imagine participating in interesting conversations led by engaging professors who’ve already done what you dream of doing. You’ll be in a small class — the average class size is approximately 12 students — with professors who know your name, care about your success and provide advice as you pursue your academic and career goals.
Application Information
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admission materials, and find our admissions standards.
Study Abroad
Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.
Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.
Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world. These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU. All partner universities offer courses taught in English.
Kinesiology Abroad Course Catalog