Overview
Overview
Get to know the brains behind the brawn.
Description
Have you ever really looked at your hand? Seriously—look at your hand right now and think about all the things it can do. Pick something up. Okay, now put it back down. Seems pretty simple, right?
Au contraire. There are actually tons of processes at work inside your body that enable your hands to grip, lift, twist, and do a whole host of other things you do every single day without even realizing.
The human body, hands and all, is capable of incredible feats of strength and agility. Whether it's used to lift hundreds of pounds, run a marathon, or do that awesome head-spin breakdancing move, there's a lot going on. Kinesiology, the study of human movement, helps us understand exactly what's taking place behind the scenes, allowing us do even more of those impressive dance moves (preferably without injury).
As a kinesiology major, you'll not only learn about how the body works, but how to manipulate it to be better, faster, and stronger. You'll get the sweet satisfaction of seeing the practical applications of what you learn firsthand (get it?).
However, unless you're Canadian, a career as a straight-up kinesiologist doesn't exist.
Don't fret, though. The career path options available to you as a kinesiology major are quite plentiful, ranging from physical therapist to dietitian to chiropractor. Some graduates even get jobs as camp directors or physical education teachers. You may even get to teach them your signature dance moves as an added bonus.
Because you can pretty much make a kinesiology major work for you in whatever way you choose, unemployment for graduates is incredibly low—even lower if you choose to pursue a higher degree related to the major. So if you're flexible, you can hit the ground running right after college and only gain momentum.
Famous People who majored in Kinesiology
- Thurgood Marshall, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice
- Eva Longoria, actress
- Trish Stratus, former WWE wrestler
- Terry Fox, Canadian athlete who attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research
Percentage of US students who major in Kinesiology:
0.57%
Stats obtained from this source.