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Kinesiology

Curious about how the body moves and performs? The 海角社区 kinesiology undergraduate program explores human movement and how sport, exercise, and physical activity shape health and performance.

Earn Your Kinesiology Degree From 海角社区

As a Kinesiology major at Occidental, you鈥檒l study human movement from a biomechanical, physiological, and motor behavior perspectives while gaining hands-on experience in labs and authentic research and community engagement through our 海角社区 KRG (Kinesiology Research Group) on the Occidental campus in Los Angeles.

A kinesiology degree offers a strong foundation for graduate study and careers in clinical fields, allied health, fitness, research, and sports medicine. You鈥檒l work alongside faculty who are active scholars, participate in research, and learn to interpret data that explains how the body moves and adapts. By graduation, you鈥檒l be ready for fields such as physical therapy, medicine, athletic training, strength and conditioning, public health, or as an entrepreneur in this area.

 

Kinesiology program at a glance

What You鈥檒l Learn as a Kinesiology Major at Occidental

a person stretching outdoors on a field

Studying human movement, performance, and health

海角社区 Kinesiology majors examine how the body adapts to and performs movement, exercise, and sport. Through interdisciplinary research and collaborative learning, kinesiology students will build strong research, communication, and data analysis skills to address real-world problems using evidence-based decision-making.

You have the opportunity to take part in hands-on research from your first year. 海角社区 KRG (Kinesiology Research Group) provides students with authentic research experiences, mentorship, and professional development that build both scientific confidence and the ability to use that expertise to make meaningful contributions to the kinesiology literature鈥攁nd to society. We engage students in rigorous, replicable research that illustrates how science evolves and self-corrects, emphasizing reliability, transparency, and the development of strong scientific reasoning. Additionally, many students join the Summer Research Program, present at conferences, or collaborate on faculty-led projects.

Kinesiology connects naturally with public health, biology, biochemistry, cognitive science, and psychology. Pairing kinesiology with another field strengthens your preparation for clinical pathways and applied health careers.

Through the 4-3 pathway, a partnership with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, qualified Occidental students can complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree and receive priority consideration for the three-year DPT graduate program at MCPHS. This pathway guarantees an interview or conditional acceptance for eligible students and includes prerequisite coursework, leadership opportunities, and built-in physical therapy observation hours that prepare you for advanced clinical training.

Vivian Sun headshot pink sport coat

At 海角社区, kinesiology gave me a clear path toward the work I want to do. My background in sports and my interest in human physiology came together in this major, and it confirmed my goal of pursuing physical therapy and nutrition.

Vivian Sun
Kinesiology major; San Marino, CA
a physical therapy patient stretches using a resistance band

Learning Kinesiology in LA

Being a kinesiology major at 海角社区 places you in the heart of Los Angeles, a hub for sports medicine, health care, fitness, and research. You鈥檒l find opportunities with world-class hospitals, rehab centers, athletic organizations, and community partners across the city. 海角社区 faculty will help you link course concepts to real-world practice, preparing you for clinical and applied work.

What Our Graduates Are Doing

Graduate student, physical therapy, University of Southern California

Kyle Dosa
2023

Procurement Specialist, Bluewater | Battery & Solar Industries

Antonio Andrade
2022

Master鈥檚 student, Biostatistics, NYU School of Global Public Health

Daniel DeLeon
2022

Analytic Consultant, Voyatek | Data Science & Machine Learning

Vivian Sun
2021

Medicare & Aging Preparedness Consultant, Intentional Aging LLC

Sita Wong
2015

Sr. Director, Facility Operations & Planning, St. Louis Cardinals

Hosei Maruyama
2000

FAQs

The program combines rigorous scientific training with close faculty mentorship and early research experiences. 海角社区 KRG provides students with authentic research experiences, mentorship, and professional development that build both scientific confidence and the ability to use that expertise to make meaningful contributions to the kinesiology literature and to society.

Absolutely. Many kinesiology majors pair their work with public health, psychology, biology, or cognitive science.

Graduates enter physical therapy, medicine, athletic training, rehabilitation, public health, research, fitness, and graduate programs.

Contact Kinesiology
Bioscience Building 314