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Kinesiology

Overview

Kinesiology encompasses the study of human development, anatomy, physiology, mechanics, and motor learning. Within each sub discipline students study positive and negative stressors that govern human performance. In addition, discussions focus on numerous clinical conditions, and the exercise, nutritional, and medical techniques used to prevent and control these problems. The purpose of this major is to develop and integrate the concepts and principles from each sub-discipline to understand the complexity of the human mind and body. This major prepares students for advanced studies in medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, kinesiology, and other related life science programs.

Departmental Mission Statement: Our mission is to foster in a diverse group of students an understanding and appreciation of human functions and to encourage and develop learning skills that enhance their personal and professional growth.

Goals:

• Critical Thinking. Students should learn how to engage in critical, evidence-based thinking.
• Integration across Levels of Analysis. Students should understand and integrate different levels of analysis in their working model of human form and function.
• Mastery of Core Knowledge. Students are expected to master a significant proportion of the vocabulary and core body of knowledge in Kinesiology.
• Mastery of Discipline-Specific Conventions. Majors should be able to read and understand the primary source literature in Kinesiology (journals and books) and to integrate and present that information in prescribed, discipline-specific ways, including oral and written exposition.

Requirements

Major

In addition to the 37 units of Kinesiology coursework (33 units of required coursework and one Kinesiology elective), the major requires additional course work in Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Biology.

Fundamental coursework:

KINE 300	Human Anatomy I	4 units
KINE 300L	Human Anatomy I Lab	1 unit
KINE 301	Human Anatomy II	4 units
KINE 301L	Human Anatomy II Lab	1 unit
KINE 302	Biomechanics	4 units
KINE 302L	Biomechanics Laboratory	1 unit
KINE 304	Human Physiology	4 units
KINE 304L	Human Physiology Lab	1 unit
KINE 305	Exercise Physiology	4 units
KINE 310/PSYC 310	Motor Learning and Control	4 units
KINE 310L/PSYC 310L	Motor Learning and Control Laboratory	1 unit
KINE 490	Senior Seminar	4 units

Additional Elective:

Choose one additional Kinesiology course:

KINE 201/SOC 210	Sport in American Society	4 units
KINE 210	Nutrition and Homeostasis	4 units
KINE 299	Women's Sports and Empowerment	4 units
KINE 306	Biochemistry of Exercise and Energy	4 units
KINE 308	Diet, Disease, and Exercise	4 units
KINE 309/PSYC 309	Developmental Motor Behavior	4 units
KINE 311/PSYC 311	Sport and Exercise Psychology	4 units

Psychology Component

PSYC 101

Introduction to Psychology

4 units

Chemistry Component:

Choose one option:

Option 1 -

CHEM 120	Foundations of General Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4 units

Option 2 -

CHEM 130	Advanced Placement General Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4 units

Mathematics Component:

Calculus 1		4 units
Calculus 2		4 units

Physics Component:

Choose one course:

PHYS 110	Introductory Mechanics	4 units
PHYS 115	General Physics I	4 units

Biology Component:

A year of biology is needed for kinesiology, but if your goal is to enter a pre-health professional program after graduation, you should take BIO 110 or 115, and BIO 130 as indicated in option 1 or 2 below.

Choose one option:

Option 1-

BIO 110	Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and the Environment	4 units
BIO 130	Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology	4 units

Option 2 -

BIO 115	General Zoology	4 units
BIO 130	Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology	4 units

Pre-professional students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Health Professions Office and with their academic advisor early in their career. Students planning to apply to medical schools should take two semesters of Physics and four semesters of Chemistry. Students planning to apply to physical therapy schools should take two semesters of Physics and at least two upper-division Psychology courses.

Honors in the Major

Honors in Kinesiology may be awarded at graduation to qualified students. Students eligible for College honors are those who have: 1) earned an overall College grade point average of 3.25 or better, 2) earned a grade point average in departmental courses of 3.5 or better, and have 3) performed independent research and presented their findings at an undergraduate conference (e.g., Occidental’s summer research program or the Southwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine Conference).

Minor

Five courses (22-24 units) are required for the Kinesiology minor.

Fundamental Coursework:

KINE 300	Human Anatomy I	4 units
KINE 300L	Human Anatomy I Lab	1 unit
KINE 301	Human Anatomy II	4 units
KINE 301L	Human Anatomy II Lab	1 unit

Additional Electives:

Choose three courses (and co-curricular lab where relevant).

KINE 104	Introduction to Kinesiology	4 units
KINE 201/SOC 210	Sport in American Society	4 units
KINE 299	Women's Sports and Empowerment	4 units
KINE 302	Biomechanics	4 units
KINE 302L	Biomechanics Laboratory	1 unit
KINE 304	Human Physiology	4 units
KINE 304L	Human Physiology Lab	1 unit
KINE 305	Exercise Physiology	4 units
KINE 306	Biochemistry of Exercise and Energy	4 units
KINE 308	Diet, Disease, and Exercise	4 units
KINE 309/PSYC 309	Developmental Motor Behavior	4 units
KINE 310/PSYC 310	Motor Learning and Control	4 units
KINE 310L/PSYC 310L	Motor Learning and Control Laboratory	1 unit
KINE 311/PSYC 311	Sport and Exercise Psychology	4 units

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in Kinesiology will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by successfully completing the written research paper requirements with a letter grade of "B" or better for two of the following 300-level courses: KINE 302, KINE 305, KINE 306, KINE 309, KINE 311 and KINE 395. A student who does not successfully received a letter grade of B or better will be allowed to revise the paper to satisfy the requirement. Students should familiarize themselves with the writing requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the department chair for additional information regarding writing standards for the department.

Comprehensive Requirement

The comprehensive experience is fulfilled by the successful completion of the requirements in KINE 490.

Transfer Credit Policies

The Kinesiology Department policy on transfer credit conforms to College policy. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for details.

Advising Information

First-year students interested in pursuing the Kinesiology major should take CHEM 120 or CHEM 130 during the fall semester and CHEM 240 in the spring semester, and it is strongly recommended that PSYC 101 be completed during their first year. Additionally, Calculus I (MATH 110 or MATH 114); Calculus II (MATH 120 or MATH 128); and BIO 110, BIO 115, or BIO 130 should be taken by the end of the sophomore year. KINE 104: Introduction to Kinesiology is not required for the major, but can be used as one of the Additional Electives.

Placement Information

All incoming students who are interested in Kinesiology should take the Chemistry Placement Exam during the summer before matriculating. Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP exam have the option of enrolling in CHEM 130 directly without taking the placement test, but are encouraged to contact the Chemistry department chair if they have questions about this placement.

 

Most students who are interested in majoring in Kinesiology should also take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if any of the following are true:

• You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam;
• You received an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;
• You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university. 

An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5, or an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above, fulfills the major’s Calculus 1 requirement. An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement. Students should make sure that their official score reports are sent to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Curricular Notes

• PSYC 101 is only open to first years and sophomores. It is highly recommended to complete PSYC 101 in your first year. 

• At least one course take for core should satisfy two core requirements in order to complete all core requirements by the end of the sophomore year

Kinesiology Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Kinesiology:

• Junior transfer students

  • If starting in the fall, should have completed equivalents of Occidental’s PSYC 101, BIO 115, BIO 130; CHEM 120 or CHEM 130, Calculus 1, Calculus 2, and CHEM 240 prior to transferring. If starting in the spring, in addition should have completed one semester of anatomy and/or physiology prior to transferring.  

  • Should have completed most of their Core requirements prior to transferring. It will be possible to get at most one or two more core requirements while at Occidental.

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year:

  • Should have completed the equivalent of PSYC 101, BIO 115 or BIO 130, CHEM 120 or CHEM 130, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2 prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least five Core requirements (with at most three Core requirements to complete while at Occidental) prior to transferring.

• Sophomore transfer students

  • Should have completed PSYC 101, Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least two Core requirements prior to transferring.

General advice for transfer students wanting to major Kinesiology:

• The Senior Seminar, KINE 490, must be taken at Occidental

• Every transfer student should meet with the chair of the department to determine which courses they should enroll in during their first semester.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Junior transfer students must take KINE 300 and either KINE 310 or KINE 302 or both.

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year must take KINE 300 and CHEM 240

• Sophomore students should take KINE 300, and, depending on which chemistry and biology courses they have transferred in, the next course in the required sequence of Biology and/or Chemistry courses.

Courses

Kinesiology Courses

Faculty

Tenure and Tenure Track Faculty

Kirk Bentzen, chair; designated transfer adviser 

Stuart Rugg

Professor

B.S., University of California, Davis; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Christopher G. Berger

Visiting Assistant Professor

B.A., Arizona State University; MS., University of Oregon; Ph.D., University of Kentucky

 

Julius Fink
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.Sc. University of Bern; M.A. Yokohama National University; Ph.D. Nippon Sport Science University

 

Jesse T. Fischer
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.A., Occidental College; M.A., University of Houston; Ph.D., University of Houston

Nicholas O’Connell

Other faculty associated with the Kinesiology department can be viewed here.