Why is kinesiology important? What else can one do with a kinesiology degree? And who benefits from kinesiology? Not everybody understands or even knows what kinesiology really is and what it can be used for. Sometimes when I am asked what my major is, I respond, "kinesiology," and then the other person usually automatically assumes I want to be a P.E. teacher. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it is dismaying when people are ignorant about the topic and just assume one can only be a P.E. teacher when studying the beautiful science of kinesiology.
So why exactly is it important? I believe kinesiology is a significant topic to study because it involves health and many groups of people, not just athletes (which is what is assumed). As I said before, kinesiology is the study of human movement. When studying it at a college or university, the main intellectual focus is movement and physical activity. By physical activity, I mean exercises that help improve health and fitness, and learning movement skills that improve one’s well-being. This is regarding the general population (children, adults and the elderly) and special groups such as people with disabilities, diseases that affect their motor movement, injuries and of course athletes.
When studying kinesiology, students are not only learning about exercises and physical education, we are learning every concept and specialized areas that revolve around kinesiology itself. Such as: biomechanics, psychology of physical activity, history of physical activity, exercise physiology, measurement of physical activity, motor development, motor control and learning, sociology of physical activity, philosophy of physical activity, public health, physical education instruction, sports medicine, and sport management.
So why exactly is it important? I believe kinesiology is a significant topic to study because it involves health and many groups of people, not just athletes (which is what is assumed). As I said before, kinesiology is the study of human movement. When studying it at a college or university, the main intellectual focus is movement and physical activity. By physical activity, I mean exercises that help improve health and fitness, and learning movement skills that improve one’s well-being. This is regarding the general population (children, adults and the elderly) and special groups such as people with disabilities, diseases that affect their motor movement, injuries and of course athletes.
When studying kinesiology, students are not only learning about exercises and physical education, we are learning every concept and specialized areas that revolve around kinesiology itself. Such as: biomechanics, psychology of physical activity, history of physical activity, exercise physiology, measurement of physical activity, motor development, motor control and learning, sociology of physical activity, philosophy of physical activity, public health, physical education instruction, sports medicine, and sport management.
The actual study of kinesiology can lead to multiple careers and experiences, and not just becoming a physical education teacher. One can not only be a teacher of the science, but may do research with it, coaching, fitness leadership and delivering special services related to health promotion, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and high-performance athletic competitions, and then there is also managing sport-related enterprises. Of course, depending on the person one may seem better than the other and one may seem more fulfilling than the other as well. For myself, I obviously enjoy delivering special service related rehabilitation; physical therapy. Although some of these professions may overlap or seem as if they are all similar, they have their differences. For instance, these professions are located in different settings which include schools, colleges, universities, both public and private agencies, businesses, government, military, clinical environments and hospitals.
Also, not all of these professions require just a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, some also require a master’s, doctoral and or specialized certificates that are recognized in one’s area. No matter the similarities or differences, kinesiology is important to society and it does improve society as a whole and for numerous individuals. Athletes are not the only ones who benefit from kinesiology and a person can have a career in many more professions other than the respectable P.E teacher.
Also, not all of these professions require just a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, some also require a master’s, doctoral and or specialized certificates that are recognized in one’s area. No matter the similarities or differences, kinesiology is important to society and it does improve society as a whole and for numerous individuals. Athletes are not the only ones who benefit from kinesiology and a person can have a career in many more professions other than the respectable P.E teacher.