About the Department of Kinesiology
The Department of Kinesiology at Penn State University focuses on the art and science of human movement, broadly defined. The department is committed to providing outstanding instruction and educational opportunities for our students; discovering and disseminating new knowledge about physical activity, exercise, and human movement and its relationship to human health and disease; and providing outstanding service and outreach to the field of kinesiology and our community. Department faculty expertise reflects considerable breadth and diversity. Faculty teaching and research interests touch on biomechanical, historical, neuromotor, pedagogical, philosophical, physiological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives of human movement, physical activity, and exercise. The Department is one of nine academic units in the College of Health and Human Development, an innovative college focusing on human health and well being throughout the lifespan. The college features a blend of disciplines that address life quality issues in a comprehensive way.
The undergraduate program in Kinesiology is designed to accommodate the diverse interests and needs of our more than 500 majors. Five undergraduate options are offered within the Kinesiology major: athletic training, fitness studies, movement science, physical and health education teacher education, and exercise science (Penn State Berks only). These options provide concentrated programs of study designed to prepare students for careers in athletic training and sports medicine, strength and conditioning leadership, health and physical education teaching, fitness management and instruction, and personal training. The undergraduate program can also set a solid foundation for post graduate training in kinesiology as well as fields such as cardiac rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, podiatry, prosthetics and orthotics, and medicine.
The department offers graduate training at both the master's and doctoral levels. The graduate program in Kinesiology, which supports the activities of approximately 60 students each year, is nationally and internationally prominent in multiple areas of specialization within the broad field of Kinesiology. This prominence is due to individual faculty excellence, the production and dissemination of quality research, and a long history of success by our students following graduation. The program emphasizes research and scholarly activity in a chosen area of emphasis. This emphasis on research is strengthened by continuing collaborations between the Kinesiology graduate faculty and faculty in other departments that contribute to the science of the discipline (e.g., engineering, history, neuroscience, physiology, psychology). Graduate training is enhanced by the availability of excellent laboratory facilities and the considerable success of faculty in generating external funding (> $3 million annually) in support of their research and graduate training agendas.
The 2008-2013 Strategic Plan (.pdf 39.9 KB) outlines the Department's mission and vision for undergraduate and graduate education, research, diversifying student and faculty populations, and strengthening diversity content in our curriculum. Actions we are taking to address our goals and the ways in which we are measuring our success are included.