5 Rationale to Pursue a Degree in Kinesiology
- Part of the Fast-Growing Healthcare Field
- Provides Varied Options for Employment
- Employability and Salary
- Opportunity for Advanced Degree
- Applications in Ergonomics Sought by Many Industries
All humans move; it’s an indisputable fact. Our movement lets us play sports, go to work, and socialize. It allows us to feed ourselves and enjoy our lives. Kinesiologists learn biomechanics, physiology, and psychological mechanisms of movement so that they can help us to maximize or improve our ability to move. Kinesiology, the scientific study of movement, is a field with a lot of potential because it allows graduates to follow a variety of paths.
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1. Part of the Fast-Growing Healthcare Field
The combination of aging Baby Boomers and improvements in medical science has resulted in a large population of senior citizens who want to remain healthy and lead active lifestyles. The burgeoning healthcare system needs qualified people to work not only as doctors but also in fields that will allow seniors to continue to work and live with vigor.
2. Provides Varied Options for Employment
People who graduate with a degree in kinesiology have many employment options. To get the degree, students study biomechanics, anatomy, exercise psychology, neuroscience, physiology, nutrition, physical conditioning, and therapy techniques. Therefore, graduates with a kinesiology degree are prepared to work in varied fields. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical education, occupational health and safety, sports medicine, athletic training, coaching, chiropractic medicine, dietetics, and recreational therapy are just a few of the options available.
Related Resource: What is an Exercise Physiologist?
3. Employability and Salary
According to PayScale, the average yearly salary for an individual with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology is $59,000. There is a wide salary range depending upon the type of job. For example, personal trainers average $39,000 per year while process improvement managers average $75,000 and physician assistants average $100,000.
4. Opportunity for Advanced Degree
A bachelor’s degree in kinesiology also prepares you for graduate study. Indeed if you want to go into fields such as physical therapy or clinical dietetics, you will need to pursue a master’s degree or a doctorate. An undergraduate degree in kinesiology will also provide you with many of the prerequisites necessary to pass your MCATs (medical college admission tests) and apply to medical schools.
Related Resource: 20 Best Online Masters in Kinesiology and Exercise Science
5. Applications in Ergonomics Sought by Many Industries
Not only is kinesiology useful in educational and medical fields, it applies to both public and private sector workplaces. Ergonomics is the application of physiological and psychological principles to workplace environments. Both public and private industries want to design work environments that maximize workers’ time on task and satisfaction. Ergonomists also make the workplace safer by analyzing the physical requirements of the work to be done and creating protocols that prevent injury. A degree in kinesiology provides you with knowledge that makes you an asset to any employer who is concerned with productivity.
A degree in kinesiology offers many interesting options to those who pursue it. Studying kinesiology can offer both immediate employment and graduate study opportunities. Pursuing a degree in kinesiology is a smart move because it is not only interesting but potentially lucrative.
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