IMPORTANT NOTE

The requirements below apply to those students with a 2024-2025 catalog year. Students are required by college policy to follow the major (and minor) requirements found in the catalog in effect at the time they declared their first major. To find your catalog year, please visit your Grades and Academic Records found in myOxy and access the catalog that matches your catalog year.

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 300Human Anatomy I

4 units

KINE 300LHuman Anatomy I Lab

1 unit

KINE 301Human Anatomy II

4 units

KINE 301LHuman Anatomy II Lab

1 unit

KINE 302Biomechanics

4 units

KINE 302LBiomechanics Laboratory

1 unit

KINE 304Human Physiology

4 units

KINE 304LHuman Physiology Lab

1 unit

KINE 305Exercise Physiology

4 units

KINE 310/PSYC 310Motor Learning and Control

4 units

KINE 310L/PSYC 310LMotor Learning and Control Laboratory

1 unit

KINE 490Senior Seminar

4 units

Additional Elective:

Choose one additional Kinesiology course:

KINE 201/SOC 210Sport in American Society

4 units

KINE 210Nutrition and Homeostasis

4 units

KINE 299Women's Sports and Empowerment

4 units

KINE 306Biochemistry of Exercise and Energy

4 units

KINE 308Diet, Disease, and Exercise

4 units

KINE 309/PSYC 309Developmental Motor Behavior

4 units

KINE 311/PSYC 311Sport and Exercise Psychology

4 units

Psychology Component

PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology

4 units

Please note: PSYC 101 is a prerequisite for KINE 309, KINE 310, and KINE 311.

Chemistry Component:

Choose one option:

Option 1 -
CHEM 120Foundations of General Chemistry

4 units

CHEM 240Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry

4 units

Option 2 -
CHEM 130Advanced Placement General Chemistry

4 units

CHEM 240Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry

4 units

Mathematics Component:

Calculus 1

4 units

Calculus 2

4 units

Physics Component:

Choose one course:

PHYS 110Introductory Mechanics

4 units

PHYS 115General 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 110Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and the Environment

4 units

BIO 130Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology

4 units

Option 2 -
BIO 115General Zoology

4 units

BIO 130Introductory 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 300Human Anatomy I

4 units

KINE 300LHuman Anatomy I Lab

1 unit

KINE 301Human Anatomy II

4 units

KINE 301LHuman Anatomy II Lab

1 unit

Additional Electives:

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

KINE 104Introduction to Kinesiology

4 units

KINE 201/SOC 210Sport in American Society

4 units

KINE 299Women's Sports and Empowerment

4 units

KINE 302Biomechanics

4 units

KINE 302LBiomechanics Laboratory

1 unit

KINE 304Human Physiology

4 units

KINE 304LHuman Physiology Lab

1 unit

KINE 305Exercise Physiology

4 units

KINE 306Biochemistry of Exercise and Energy

4 units

KINE 308Diet, Disease, and Exercise

4 units

KINE 309/PSYC 309Developmental Motor Behavior

4 units

KINE 310/PSYC 310Motor Learning and Control

4 units

KINE 310L/PSYC 310LMotor Learning and Control Laboratory

1 unit

KINE 311/PSYC 311Sport 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.

Contact Kinesiology
Bioscience Building 313