Kinesiology Major

What You'll Learn

Movement is part of everyone’s life. That’s why a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Drake University prepares you for a variety of career paths, like physical therapy, medicine, exercise physiology, athletic training, strength and conditioning, or sport product design. Our recent graduates have also gone on to pursue graduate degrees in disciplines like sport psychology, exercise science, and biomedical engineering.

As a kinesiology professional, you might help people with serious injuries recover their strength and flexibility, shave milliseconds off a sprinter’s personal best, or give older adults the tools to remain mobile and independent. Regardless of which path you take, this pre-professional program helps you find a home at the intersection of human anatomy, physiology, and performance.

Drake’s medically oriented approach to kinesiology connects scientific principles with practical applications and creative problem-solving, providing research opportunities and hands-on experiences in our state-of-the-art labs. In our small classes led by expert faculty, you’ll learn by doing: analyze nutrition history to construct plans that meet a person’s individual dietary needs, palpate muscles and measure joint range-of-motion, and use motion analysis technology to evaluate an athlete’s movement patterns.

This approach not only develops your expertise and skills related to exercise, sports medicine, and nutrition but also prepares you to excel in graduate school or a job in the booming health and wellness field right out of college.

About the Kinesiology Major

• Know your professors: small classes and labs.
• Train on state-of-the-art equipment in our Human Performance Lab.
• Present your research findings in peer-reviewed papers or at scientific conferences.
• Pre-med students can take additional classes to fulfill medical school admission requirements.
• Pursue a well-rounded education through the liberal arts focus of the Drake Curriculum, designed to develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Program Facts

• On campus
• Full-time
• 120 total credits; 59-63 credits for the major
• Four years to completion