University of Houston-Victoria students pursuing a degree in kinesiology will be able to specialize in exercise sports science or pre-allied health starting in the spring.
“We wanted to offer our students more career opportunities,” said Raymond Tucker, a UHV assistant professor of kinesiology. “Some of our students expressed a desire to obtain a kinesiology degree and desired career options in addition to teaching and coaching.”
The Bachelor of Science in kinesiology has been offered by the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development since fall 2015. The program allows students to receive a second certification in specific subjects so that they can teach both physical education and another subject, which helps them be more competitive when applying for teaching positions. Both concentrations offer a range of career options outside of K-12 education, Tucker said.
All of the UHV kinesiology program options are taught face to face. Three new courses will be offered in the spring for both concentrations: “Sports Psychology,” “Sport Nutrition” and “Facility Management and Design.”
The exercise sports science concentration will prepare students for careers as fitness trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and exercise technologists. Careers in personal training, and strength and conditioning coaching are especially popular right now, Tucker said.
The pre-allied health concentration will get students ready for careers in physical or occupational therapy as well as exercise physiology and cardiac rehabilitation. Both concentrations also will prepare students for graduate studies, Tucker said.
Adding these concentrations will help the university be more compatible and competitive with other institutions in the area, Tucker said. In addition to the new concentrations, the school hopes to add internship opportunities to allow students to gain more hands-on experience.
“The UHV kinesiology program is flourishing, and I am excited to see these new opportunities take shape,” said Fred Litton, dean of the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development. “These additions will help our students explore and pursue their passion for taking care of people’s physical wellness and needs and will render our program more competitive with other Texas universities.”
To learn more about the kinesiology program offered by the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development, go to www.uhv.edu/education/kinesiology or contact Tucker at 361-570-4381 or tuckerr1@uhv.edu.