Make a difference every day in the physical health and well-being of others.
Shenandoah’s Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology prepares you to become a health and recreation professional.
Our program provides you with well-rounded experience with all things recreation-related. Courses cover everything from structural kinesiology and care and treatment of athletic injuries to personal and community health, sports nutrition, human anatomy and physiology and principles of strength and conditioning. You’ll also complete both an internship and seminar in recreational leadership, as well as a facility planning and event management course.
You may also complete the Coaching Certificate, as it is built into the sequence with additional coaching courses.
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.
Coaching Minor
The Coaching Minor is designed for students not majoring in Kinesiology who are interested in coaching interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics. The minor requires fewer credit hours, so it can be completed in a shorter time.
Internship Requirement
An internship in recreational administration/leadership is the culminating activity for the kinesiology major. This six-credit, 15-week supervised work experience is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in a parks and recreation program.
Career Possibilities
Alumni Shatora Lane ’12, ’14 continued her education in Athletic Training at Shenandoah after graduating with her bachelor’s degree. She received her master’s degree, which led to her successful career. 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 saw a dream become a reality when he accepted a 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.” He is currently part of Fairfax, Virginia-based HammerZone Sports.
Stephen Gober ’98 is the head athletic trainer for the Louisville Bats, a Triple-A affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. He is also a past assistant athletic trainer for the Washington Nationals. 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 has worked as an assistant track and field coach for John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and in athletics development at James Madison University. “I came in as a nobody and left as one of the top athletes in the nation.” Mohlmann’s 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.”
Career & Professional Development 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.
Courses include, but are not limited to, those in aerobics; First Aid, CPR, and AED; Structural Kinesiology; Care and Treatment of Athletic Injuries; Personal and Community Health; Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance; Physiology of Exercise and Lab; Principles of Strength and Conditioning and Lab; Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II and Lab; Lifespan Development; Motor Development; Seminar in Recreational Leadership; Internship in Recreational Leadership; and Facility Planning and Event Management.
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
Join the Honors Program
The 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 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
