Kinesiology

(formerly Physical Education)

College of Health and Human Services
Dean: Donald P. Zingale

Department of Kinesiology
GYM 201
415-338-1258
Fax: 415-338-7566
Chair: Susan Higgins

Undergraduate Adviser: Allen Abraham

Graduate Coordinator: Frank Verducci

Faculty

Professors—Abraham, Bennett, Birkie, Evans, Higgins, Schleihauf, Schmid, Summerford, Verducci, Wallace

Associate Professor—Kern

Assistant Professors—Anderson, Lock, Zieff

Programs

B.S. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Exercise Science and Fitness
B.S. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Human Movement Studies
B.S. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Physical Education
B.S. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Athletic Training
B.A. in Kinesiology
Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum
Adapted Physical Education Curriculum
Minor in Athletic Coaching
Certificate in Athletic Coaching
M.A. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Exercise Science
M.A. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Movement Science
M.A. in Kinesiology: Concentration in Sports Science

Program Scope

All major programs are carefully designed so that students experience the multidisciplinary foundations of human movement. Students gain theoretical and practical knowledge related to the biological, socio-cultural, philosophical, and psychological factors underlying movement. Movement and exercise are studied in the context of skill in activities of daily living and/or sport with application to conditioning, learning, and rehabilitation; and sport is studied as a personal endeavor and social institution. Concentrations or thematic emphases allow students to select patterns of courses tailored to meet individual interests or career goals.

For the general student and the major student, the department also offers a wide array of activity classes providing instruction in motor skills from the beginning to the advanced level, and an array of general education courses examining aspects of physical activity and performance from the psychological, biological, and sociological perspectives.

Bachelor of Science. All of the undergraduate program concentrations in the 124-unit B.S. degree have as their basis a foundation in science, mathematics, psychology, and a sequence of courses designed to progressively and integratively develop the students' knowledge of movement, exercise, and skill. This focus will serve as a basis for application to one of three selected concentrations: Exercise Science and Fitness, Human Movement Studies, or Physical Education.

The graduating B.S. degree student shall have the skills and knowledge to engage in the observation, analysis, and measurement of movement, fitness, performance, and/or learning; shall have the tools and knowledge to engage in synthesis and systematic inquiry; and shall be capable of using the computer and supporting technologies as a tool for systematic inquiry and/or professional practice.

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science, students will be prepared for immediate careers in exercise leadership, for advanced study in a number of movement and exercise related fields, or for entry into a teacher credential program. The concentrations in Exercise Science and Fitness or Human Movement Studies are recommended options for students interested in careers in physical or occupational therapy and related rehabilitative fields.

The Exercise Science and Fitness Concentration prepares students who wish to become exercise physiologists or fitness specialists in clinical, research, educational, or business settings, or who wish to pursue graduate studies in exercise sciences. Those who desire expertise in personal training (i.e., one-to-one exercise advisers), cardiac rehabilitation, and exercise program direction should also select this concentration.

This program examines the effects of acute and chronic exercise on the human physiology. There is substantial application to physical fitness, wellness, and rehabilitation. Students will study the effects of exercise on factors influencing work performance, training programs, and adaptations including reduction of risk factors for medical conditions; such as, coronary heart disease, diabetes, cerebral vascular disease, as well as special conditions such as pregnancy, and other hypokinetic illnesses. Finally, the program examines various types of training centers, with regard to their approaches to physical fitness and wellness, including their organizational and managerial practices.

Successful completion of the Exercise Science and Fitness Concentration requires that students demonstrate knowledge and skill in assessment of physical fitness and wellness, including body composition, aerobic power, flexibility, muscular power, strength, and endurance; exercise prescription for a variety of age groups and physical, social, or environmental conditions to develop or maintain fitness; evaluation of the effectiveness of various types of health and fitness centers with regard to their approach to physical fitness and wellness, evaluating and conducting exercise programs, and administrative and managerial practices.

The Human Movement Studies Concentration prepares students for advanced study in a number of movement related fields. This concentration should be elected by students who wish to pursue graduate study in areas such as physical or occupational therapy, biomechanics, motor learning and development, and ergonomics, or by any individual whose primary interest is in the study of human movement.

The programmatic approach is multidisciplinary and invites study in the sciences, psychology, philosophy, and communication. The program examines those factors that influence the form, function, and effectiveness of movement. The framework for study is the understanding of variables which influence development, acquisition, and control of movement and skill, including factors that affect performance, refinement, or relearning of motor skill.

Students become adept in observation and analysis of movement and in use of videography and computer technology to study movement related questions. Throughout their studies, students apply the knowledge and skills they gain to analysis of movement problem(s) which are of personal interest and significance.

Successful completion of the Human Movement Studies condentration requires that students demonstrate the knowledge and skill to examine the factors which influence the development, acquisition, and control of movement and skill; discuss factors which influence the form, function, and effectiveness of movement; discuss factors which effect performance, refinement, or relearning of motor skill; interpret meanings associated with movement; perform detailed qualitative and quantitative analyses of movement in a variety of contexts; understand the literature of human movement; discuss the various levels on which movement and skill can be analyzed; identify a movement-related problem and determine the appropriate tool for analysis; and solve problems in a variety of scholarly and professional settings.

The Physical Education Concentration prepares students for entry to a teacher credentialing program. The course of study satisfies state requirements for the Subject Matter Program in Physical Education and for departmental standards of competence in Physical Education.

Successful completion of the Concentration in Physical Education requires that the student demonstrate knowledge about human movement, learning, and development; competence in analyzing and applying movement concepts to facilitate motor skill acquisition; broad-based personal movement literacy, skillfulness, and fitness; knowledge about a variety of movement and sport forms; knowledge about health-related fitness and wellness in the school age population; knowledge about working with individuals who are challenged physically, cognitively, or emotionally, and with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds; familiarity with a variety of pedagogical techniques appropriate to a variety of ages, contexts, and conditions; familiarity with assessment techniques appropriate to the teaching environment; familiarity with the problems and issues facing physical educators within the school system; and knowledge of the historical and philosophical bases of practices in physical education.

The Athletic Training Concentration/Curriculum prepares students to achieve certification as athletic trainers. Admission to the Athletic Training Concentration has been suspended since Fall of 1998. However, students seeking certification in Athletic Training are advised to see the athletic trainer to plan a course of study. Students can opt for a B.S. in Kinesiology in either Exercise Science and Fitness or in Human Movement Studies, and see their adviser regarding the additional courses necessary to seek certification.

Physical Education and Adapted Physical Education Teaching. Students who wish to become credentialed as public school teachers in physical education or as adapted physical education specialists should select the Bachelor of Science with Concentration in Physical Education program. However, to be eligible for admission to the credential program at San Francisco State University, students must attain a GPA of 2.75 in the Subject Matter Program curriculum. Students must work closely with an adviser to fulfill the requirements of the Subject Matter Program. They should also contact the College of Education Student Services Office at 338-7038 regarding teaching credential information.

Pre-Physical Therapy. The Bachelor of Science with Concentration in Exercise Science and Fitness or Human Movement Studies supports preparation for advanced study in physical or occupational therapy and other therapeutic or rehabilitative fields. With the addition of specific courses required for admission to various graduate programs, the student will graduate with a strong foundation in the movement sciences as well as with the prerequisites necessary for entry to programs of their choice. Admission to graduate programs in physical therapy is extremely competitive. The Kinesiology Department faculty and the Kinesiology Student Association have a strong commitment to providing excellent advising and assistance to students who wish to become therapists.

Advising. Students in all the programs must work closely with an adviser to select the proper degree program, concentration, and configuration of courses to support career and scholarly interest related to the study of human movement. Students seeking an adviser should consult the department advising coordinator in GYM 107.

Many of the courses listed in the major patterns which follow have prerequisites or corequisites. Thus, they must be taken in a particular sequence. (Consult the online course descriptions.) Further, up to twelve units may overlap between the major and General Education where a specific course is also approved for a segment of General Education. Prior approval by the student's major adviser is required for all individually tailored groups of courses and for course substitutions.

The course of study in the kinesiology major is very rigorous. It demands that the student has completed all Segment I requirements, including ENG 214, with a grade of C or better, prior to enrolling in the major courses. The major courses, projects, internships, and culminating experiences require competence in written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, logical and critical thinking, computer facility, and a thorough grounding in biological and physical science. The Bachelor of Science is both unit and science intensive. Successful and timely progress through this program requires careful planning and organization. Students must show proof of completion of prerequisites to the instructor at the start of all applicable courses.

Transfer students are encouraged to visit the department prior to enrollment at SFSU, or as soon as possible thereafter, in order to learn about the major and the expectations for student performance. Students having academic difficulty for any reason are encouraged to seek assistance immediately by speaking to their adviser, a peer counselor in the Kinesiology Student Association, and/or the Advising Center of SFSU.

All courses used to satisfy completion of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade. No CR/NC grades may be used on the major petition for graduation.

Master of Arts. The Master of Arts in Kinesiology is designed for students wishing to expand their knowlege and understanding in exercise and movement science. This program of study is applicable to professionals in teaching, coaching, physical or occupational therapy, and other related fitness, sport, physical activity, exercise, and rehabilitative fields.

This program is intended to provide physical and occupational therapists, teachers, coaches, specialists in exercise and fitness, and other movement-related professionals an opportunity to study movement and exercise processes within a multidimensional framework emphasizing both theory and research, and their clinical or practical implications. The program is designed to provide students with basic knowlege as well as critical and evaluative skills necessary to find bridges between theory and practice as they relate to their unique professional interests.

The program is designed to allow students an area of emphasis in either Exercise, Movement, or Sport Science. The Exercise Science Emphasis will support further knowledge in physiological applications to exercise and skill. The Movement Science Emphasis will support further knowledge on the development, (re)acquisition, and performance of motor skills. The Sport Science Emphasis will support application of knowledge to sport-related contexts and questions. Study of the techniques in the physiological, behavioral, and biomechanical analysis of human movement is common in each emphasis. Course work which supports the study of movement disability, socio-cultural influences on exercise and skill, and psychological bases of optimum performance is also offered.

Career Outlook

Graduates from our programs can gain immediate entry into a number of exercise and movement related jobs or can seek advanced study leading to careers in: teaching, adapted physical education, coaching, athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise leadership, fitness program management, cardiac rehabilitation, biomechanical analysis of movement, work-hardening, ergonomics, sports-related endeavors, research in movement and skill development and learning, and research in exercise physiology, or careers in technical writing or computer technology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN KINESIOLOGY

The department offers a 124-unit Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Concentrations in Athletic Training, Exercise Science and Fitness, Human Movement Studies, and Physical Education. Each concentration's course of study includes: (1) a set of core requirements, some of which may be utilized to fulfill general education requirements, and which establish the framework for the study of movement, exercise, and skill from a variety of perspectives; and (2) a set of concentration-specific courses which serve the purpose of preparing the student for specific careers and/or graduate study within the field or other related disciplines. Students must select one of the three concentrations.

Online course descriptions are available.

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Concentration in Exercise Science and Fitness

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Concentration in Human Movement Studies

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Concentration in Physical Education

Additional Required Experiences

These experiences are required for satisfactory completion of the Physical Education Subject Matter Preparation Program. Students may complete these experiences in courses available at a college or university or off-campus. However, these experiences do not bear credit toward completion of the major.

• Life Guard Training and Water Safety Instruction.
• First Aid-CPR Certification.
• Active participation in student CAHPERD, AAHPERD, and/or the Kinesiology Student Association, or other related professional organization.
• Gain experience in coaching, teaching physical education, recreation, or intramurals through working as a volunteer or paid assistant.

Portfolio Preparation

Each student in the Subject Matter Preparation Program develops and maintains a professional portfolio. Students' professional growth and development, through completion of courses and required/recommended non-credit bearing experiences, should be subject to the student's own on-going critical reflection and should be thoughtfully documented. This process should in itself serve as a mechanism for professional growth. The resulting professional portfolio is an evolving document; a means for personal goal-setting and assessment; and a means for formative and summative evaluation.

Expectations for Student Performance

• Earn at least a C in all required KIN theory courses and at least a B in all movement-based courses. Courses may be repeated until the appropriate grade is achieved. However, units will count only once toward fulfilling major requirements and only once toward fulfilling graduation requirements. Maintain a B average in all instructional analysis and practica courses.
• Demonstrate understanding of and possess demonstration level skill competence in twelve activity areas. Students must pre-plan their routes to meet this requirement upon consultation with faculty and in conjunction with KIN 340, Orientation to Teaching Physical Education.
• Successful completion of a fitness assessment test in conjunction with KIN 415, Health-Related Fitness and Wellness.
• Demonstrate a high level of personal skill and coaching expertise in at least one sport.

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Concentration in Athletic Training

Students interested in pursuing this career path are encouraged to enroll in either the Exercise Science or Human Movement Studies concentration, and to see their adviser and/or the athletic trainer to plan the additional courses that may lead to certification.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN KINESIOLOGY

The Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology is currently under review. Admission to this program has been temporarily suspended. See the associate chair for advice on alternative programs that support similar career and/or educational goals.

ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

By completing the following courses, along with the Subject Matter Credential in Physical Education, a Specialist Credential in Adapted Physical Education can be achieved.

At the present time, job opportunities within the area of adapted physical education are abundant within the public school setting. The demand for adapted physical education teachers far exceeds the number of existing credentialed teachers. It is estimated that there will be numerous job opportunities in the future for individuals with a Specialist Credential in Adapted Physical Education.

PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY CURRICULUM

Students who wish to enter graduate or certificate programs in physical or occupational therapy may elect the Bachelor of Science program with a concentration in either Exercise Science and Fitness or Human Movement Studies. These programs include a number of courses typically required for admission to physical or occupational therapy programs. By choosing either concentration, the student will have more than one career/graduate study option upon completion of the major.

Physical and occupational therapy programs vary in their admissions requirements. The courses listed below, when added to the major, provide a strong profile for application to many programs. However, students are strongly advised to check the specific requirements of each program to which they plan to apply. Some of the courses listed below may be substituted for parallel courses in the major, upon approval of the student's adviser in the Department of Kinesiology. Others may be taken as free electives or, in some cases, to fulfill General Education requirements. To stay informed and to optimize planning, students must work closely with a departmental adviser, and should become involved in the Physical Therapy Student Association.

MINOR/CERTIFICATE IN ATHLETIC COACHING

MASTER OF ARTS IN KINESIOLOGY

Admission to Program

The applicant must have an undergraduate major or equivalency in kinesiology or physical education which would include the following courses: human anatomy, human physiology, anatomical kinesiology and biomechanics (can be substituted with a combined kinesiology course), exercise physiology, motor learning or development, computer applications, statistics. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in these courses. For students without an undergraduate major in kinesiology or physical education, a 24-unit equivalency in course work related to exercise and movement science is required and must include the courses listed above. Students cannot enroll in graduate level classes (700-800) prior to completing a minimum of eighteen (18) undergraduate major units.

A statement of purpose must be included in the Application for Admission or sent directly to the Department of Kinesiology.

The student may be conditionally admitted pending:

• Completion of the required entry courses and/or the minimum 24-unit undergraduate equivalency.
• Other circumstances.

Students conditionally admitted may not count more than six units of work taken prior to achieving classified status as part of their Graduate Approved Program for the degree.

International students must achieve a minimum score of 600 on the TOEFL (or 250 on the computerized TOEFL). The TOEFL standard must be completed prior to admission to the graduate program.

Upon admission, the department sends a letter to the candidate containing the name of the assigned adviser and classification conditions.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

There are two levels of literacy examinations required by the university.

Level One: The Department of Kinesiology requires each graduate student to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) the first time it is given after they are admitted. The test should be taken prior to the first semester of enrollment. Students should contact the Testing Center for exact dates and fees. Students who do not receive a Pass must register for and successfully complete ENG 414, Elements of Writing, with a minimum grade of B during the second semester in residence. Students will not be permitted to register for graduate classes in Kinesiology beyond the second semester unless they have passed the GET or successfully completed ENG 414. Level Two: the second level assessment of literacy proficiency occurs by virtue of the written thesis or master's project.

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Kinesiology is 33 units and includes a core, concentration, culminating experience, and electives. Students are to select an emphasis relating to exercise or movement science and, in consultation with their adviser, select electives and a culminating experience that best meets their professional/personal needs. Final approval of the student's program rests with the graduate faculty.

Online course descriptions are available.

Continuous Enrollment: Students actively working on their master's research project or thesis are expected to maintain continuous enrollment and/or pay a laboratory fee until the project/thesis is completed, unless the remaining work is not deemed substantial by the graduate program director.

Assistantships: Opportunities may be available to work in the Kinesiology Department as a graduate student at San Francisco State University. Qualified students may apply, when available, to work in the activity program, as laboratory assistants, or as supervisors in the Intramural and Recreation Program. Students may also apply for financial aid through the university.

Footnotes

1. Limited to Wrestling under the supervision of the head coach of that sport.
2. PSY 571 may be substituted for KIN 715 with approval of a graduate program director.