Major Requirements

COURSEWORK

Eight courses (35 units) are required for the Kinesiology major.

Fundamental coursework:

PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychology	4
KINE 300	Human Anatomy I	4
KINE 301	Human Anatomy II	4
KINE 302	Biomechanics	4
KINE 304	Human Physiology	4
KINE 305	Exercise Physiology	4
KINE 310	Motor Learning and Control	4
KINE 490	Senior Seminar	4

Additional Elective:

Choose one course

KINE 201	Sport in American Society	4
KINE 210	Nutrition and Homeostasis	4
KINE 299	Women's Sports and Empowerment	4
KINE 306	Biochemistry of Exercise and Energy	4
KINE 308	Diet, Disease, and Exercise	4
KINE 309	Developmental Motor Behavior	4
KINE 311	Sport and Exercise Psychology	4

Chemistry Component:

Choose one option

Option 1

CHEM 120	Foundations of General Chemistry	4
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4

Option 2

CHEM 130	Advanced Placement General Chemistry	4
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4

Mathematics Component:

Calculus 1	Scientific Modeling and Differential Calculus
Calculus 2	Scientific Modeling and Integral Calculus

Physics Component:

Choose one course

PHYS 110	Introductory Mechanics	4
PHYS 115	General Physics I	4

Biology Component:

Choose one option

Option 1

BIO 110	Organisms on Earth	4
BIO 130	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology	4

Option 2

BIO 115	General Zoology	4
BIO 130	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology	4

Pre-professional students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Health Professions Office and with their academic advisor early in their career. Students planning to apply to medical schools should take two semesters of Physics and four semesters of Chemistry. Students planning to apply to physical therapy schools should take two semesters of Physics and at least two upper-division Psychology courses.

WRITING REQUIREMENT

Students majoring in Kinesiology will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's college-wide writing requirement by successfully completing the written research requirements with a letter grade of "B" or better for two of the following 300-level courses: KINE 302, KINE 305, KINE 306, KINE 309, KINE 310, KINE 311 and KINE 395. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and the department chair for additional information.

COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE

The comprehensive experience is fulfilled by the successful completion of the requirements in KINE 490.

HONORS

Honors in Kinesiology may be awarded at graduation to qualified students. Students eligible for College honors are those who have: 1) earned an overall College grade point average of 3.25 or better, 2) earned a grade point average in departmental courses of 3.5 or better, 3) performed independent research and presented their findings at an undergraduate conference (e.g., Occidental’s summer research program or the Southwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine Conference), or 4) submitted a final research paper complete with the appropriate sections and a comprehensive literature review.