A total of 120 credits, including elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. Students must complete University Integrative Studies and Writing Requirements, requirements for the Kinesiology major, and requirements for at least one cognate or minor.
All undergraduate students at Michigan State University must complete University Integrative Studies and Writing requirements. Course selections are tailored to various majors.
Integrative Studies Requirements
To satisfy the University’s requirement for 24 credits of Integrative Studies, kinesiology students must complete:
NOTE: In lieu of 8 credits in Integrative Studies in General Science (ISB (3 credits), ISP (3 credits) and 2 credit Lab course), students in the Kinesiology major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree may complete an alternative science track that consists of the following courses: Chemistry 141 and 161, Kinesiology 251, and Physiology 250. The completion of Chemistry 161 and Kinesiology 251 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Chemistry 141 and 161, Kinesiology 251, and Physiology 250 may be counted toward both the alternative science track and requirements for the major.
Writing Requirements
To fulfill the University’s writing requirement a student must:
Kinesiology Foundational and Applied Course Requirements (starting fall 2023)
Cognate or Minor Requirement
Completion of an approved cognate in kinesiology (a minimum of 12 credits)
Internship Requirement
Completion of a minimum of 3 credits in Experiential Learning. Completion may be fulfilled by enrollment in:
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology must create a 12-credit cognate from any of the following courses. Course taken to satisfy KIN Major, Health Promotion minor and Coaching minor CANNOT be used to satisfy the KIN Cognate requirement.
KIN 127 Taping and Bracing (1 cr)
KIN 174 Human Medical Terminology (3 cr – as of fall 2023)
KIN 217 Anatomy Cadaver Lab (1 cr)
KIN 371 Intro to Research Methods (3 cr)
KIN 400 Principles of Coaching I (4 cr)
KIN 401 Principles of Coaching II (4 cr)
KIN 402 Coaching Strength and Conditioning (2 cr)
KIN 424 Psychology of Injury (3 cr)
KIN 440 Advanced Sport Psychology (3 cr)
KIN 411 Exercise Physiology Lab (2 cr)
KIN 443 Psychophysiological Aspects of KIN (3 cr)
KIN 445 Sociocultural Analysis of Physical Activity (3 cr)
KIN 456 Ethical Issues in Athletics (2 cr)
KIN/HNF 457 Sport and Cardiovascular Nutrition (3 cr)
KIN 461 Neural Control of Human Movement (3 cr)
KIN 465 Adapted Physical Activity (3 cr)
A minimum of three credit hours of internship (see requirements above) is required for students in Kinesiology. Students must work 45 hours for each credit earned Please see the complete internship guide.
Minor in Coaching
The Coaching Minor is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills and experiences that will enable them to coach effectively and safely in school, community-youth and adult sports programs.
Minor in Health Promotion
The Health Promotion Minor is designed to assist students in gaining a deeper understanding of health issues and their impact on overall quality of life. The multidisciplinary course options will provide a basis for personal and professional growth, emphasize positive lifestyle choices and explore global health/wellness concerns.
To help you keep track of your requirements, please see the Undergraduate Kinesiology Planning Grids:
To help you plan your course schedule prior to enrollment, please see a Kinesiology advisor. In addition to academic year enrollment, some students may also opt to take classes during the summer semesters.