Kinesiology and Exercise Science
What this major studies in college, the health tracks it can lead to, and careers open with a bachelor’s degree. Every fact below names its source.
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What it is
Exercise and sport science examines the physics, physiology and psychology of sport and exercise. [1]
Kinesiology is a comprehensive program of study in the science of human movement, and its Exercise Science option is a program of study in the science of exercise. [2]
UNC-Chapel Hill's exercise and sport science B.S. aims to prepare students for graduate programs in the health sciences, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, physician assistant studies and medicine. [1]
Typical college courses
Every kinesiology option there also requires Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, exercise physiology, biomechanics, the neurobiology of motor control, introductory nutrition and a statistics course. [2]
The B.S. core requires Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Research in Exercise and Sport Science, Physiological Basis of Human Performance, Neuromuscular Control and Learning, and Biomechanics of Sport, plus five electives. [1]
The B.S. also requires Principles of Biology with lab, three courses chosen from general chemistry I and II, physics I and II, and Calculus of Functions of One Variable I, and four allied science electives. [1]
The rows below show one named program as an example: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. in exercise and sport science, 2026–2027 catalog. Course descriptions are in our own words. Course names and numbers differ at every college; confirm each college’s own list.
| Course | Status | What it covers (example: UNC-Chapel Hill catalog) | Comes after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II | Required in this example program[1] | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (EXSS 155) takes a body-systems approach focused on the muscles, bones, joints and nervous system, with anatomical terms and homeostasis, and Human Anatomy and Physiology II (EXSS 256) covers the metabolic, endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, skin and immune systems. [3] | No prerequisites are required for EXSS 155, and EXSS 256 comes after EXSS 155. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Anatomy, physiology and levels of organization · Anatomical position, directional terms and body planes · Homeostasis and feedback loops · Cells and membrane transport · Tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous · The heart and the cardiac cycle · Body systems working together | |||
| Research in Exercise and Sport Science | Required in this example program[1] | Research in Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS 273) introduces research in physical education, exercise and sport science, with emphasis on understanding and applying research findings. [3] | No requisites are listed for it. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Experiments and observational studies · Sampling methods and bias · Research methods: experiments, correlation and ethics · Evaluating health information and research | |||
| Physiological Basis of Human Performance, with lab | Required in this example program[1] | Physiological Basis of Human Performance (EXSS 376) applies physiology to sport and physical activity, studying both immediate and long-term adaptations to exercise, with two lecture and two lab hours a week. [3] | It comes after EXSS 155 and EXSS 256, or EXSS 175 and EXSS 276. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Muscle tissue and contraction · The heart and the cardiac cycle · The respiratory system and gas exchange · Metabolism and nutrition · Physical activity and fitness | |||
| Neuromuscular Control and Learning | Required in this example program[1] | Neuromuscular Control and Learning (EXSS 380) introduces how the nervous system controls movement and how motor skills are learned, with uses in rehabilitation and training. [3] | It comes after EXSS 155 or EXSS 175. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Nervous tissue and the nerve impulse · The brain and spinal cord · Peripheral and autonomic nervous systems · The muscular system and movement | |||
| Biomechanics of Sport | Required in this example program[1] | Biomechanics of Sport (EXSS 385) introduces kinematics, kinetics, projectile motion, fluid forces and statics, applied to joint motion and sport. [3] | It comes after EXSS 155 or EXSS 175. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Describing motion: position, velocity and acceleration · Newton's second law: net force, mass and acceleration · Projectile motion · Torque, rotation and equilibrium · Joints and movement · The muscular system and movement | |||
| Principles of Biology, with lab | Required in this example program[1] | Principles of Biology (BIOL 101) introduces the basic ideas of biology: how cells are built and work, their chemistry, genetics, evolution, adaptation and ecology. [4] | It is open to all undergraduates and is the prerequisite to most higher biology courses. [4] |
Get ready with these topics: The molecules of life · Cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes · The cell membrane and transport · Cellular respiration · From DNA to protein · Meiosis, mutations and genetic variation | |||
| Calculus of Functions of One Variable I | One of the choices in this example program[1] | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I (MATH 231) covers limits, derivatives and integrals of functions of one variable. [5] | It comes after MATH 110 and MATH 130 (C- or better in MATH 130), or placement by the department. [5] |
Get ready with these topics: Functions: domain, range and composition · Exponential and logarithmic models · Identities and trig equations · Limits from graphs and tables · Limits algebraically and continuity · The tangent line problem | |||
Typical high school preparation
We did not find an official source that gives high school course advice for this major, so none is listed. For the high school courses colleges ask for in general, see the College Preparation page.
Pre-Health Foundations: coming soon
Health tracks this can lead to
Each card opens that track’s page. A reason is shown only where a cited source gives one. Every program sets its own prerequisites, so confirm them with each school.
Pre-PT (Physical Therapy)
Physical therapy is one of the graduate health programs its exercise and sport science B.S. aims to prepare students for. [1]
Physical therapy programs typically require a bachelor's degree, which may be in recreation and fitness or healthcare and related fields, and prerequisite courses such as anatomy, chemistry and physics. [6]
Pre-Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational therapy is one of the graduate health programs its B.S. aims to prepare students for. [1]
Master’s degree programs in occupational therapy typically include courses such as kinesiology, neuroscience and anatomy. [7]
Pre-PA (Physician Assistant)
Physician assistant studies are among the graduate health programs its B.S. aims to prepare students for. [1]
Pre-Med (MD / DO)
Medicine is one of the graduate health programs its B.S. aims to prepare students for. [1]
Pre-Chiropractic (DC)
Where this degree can lead with a bachelor’s
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
Examples from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Other careers may need more study after the bachelor’s degree.
Exercise physiologists
Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs to help people improve their health. [8]
The median annual wage for exercise physiologists was $59,460 in May 2025. [8]
Employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. [8]
Exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology or another healthcare and related field. [8]
Recreational therapists
Recreational therapists plan, direct and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs. [9]
The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $61,960 in May 2025. [9]
Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. [9]
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor's degree in a healthcare field, such as recreational therapy, or in recreation and fitness. [9]
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
What can you do with a kinesiology degree?
Exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology or another healthcare and related field. [8]
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor's degree in a healthcare field, such as recreational therapy, or in recreation and fitness. [9]
UNC-Chapel Hill's exercise and sport science B.S. aims to prepare students for graduate programs in the health sciences, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, physician assistant studies and medicine. [1]
Kinesiology vs exercise science: what is the difference?
Kinesiology is a comprehensive program of study in the science of human movement, and its Exercise Science option is a program of study in the science of exercise. [2]
Exercise and sport science examines the physics, physiology and psychology of sport and exercise. [1]
Is kinesiology a good major for physical therapy?
Physical therapy programs typically require a bachelor's degree, which may be in recreation and fitness or healthcare and related fields, and prerequisite courses such as anatomy, chemistry and physics. [6]
Physical therapy is one of the graduate health programs its exercise and sport science B.S. aims to prepare students for. [1]
Your next step
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Sources
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.S.. https://catalog.unc.edu/undergraduate/programs-study/exercise-sport-science-major-bs/. 2026–2027 Academic Catalog. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Kinesiology, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/health-human-development/kinesiology-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS) courses. https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/exss/. current Academic Catalog (the BIOL course page and the program pages show 2026–2027). Checked .
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Biology (BIOL) courses. https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/biol/. 2026–2027 Academic Catalog. Checked .
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mathematics (MATH) courses. https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/math/. current Academic Catalog (the BIOL course page and the program pages show 2026–2027). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm. OOH page last modified October 29, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Exercise Physiologists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm. OOH page last modified October 29, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Recreational Therapists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.