Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Bovorn Sirikul, Interim Department Head

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences offers 3 undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education Grades K-12, and Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (with concentrations in Exercise Science and Fitness and Human Performance). The department also offers master’s degrees: Athletic Training - Master of Science (MASAT); Health and Kinesiology - Master of Science, with concentrations in Exercise Science, Health Studies, Health Promotion & Exercise Science, and Kinesiology; Population Health - Master of Science. Sport and fitness activity courses (KINL prefix) and HS 1330 (Healthy Lifestyles for the 21st Century) are available to students in any major. Students in majors other than those in the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Department are recommended to take HS 1330 and KINL courses because of their lifetime emphasis on health, fitness, and wellness.

Students majoring in degrees in the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Department are required to submit information for criminal background checks as part of clinical/internship requirements.

Senior Internship

Undergraduate degrees in Health Sciences, and Kinesiology culminate with a senior internship course during which students engage in practical experience at field-based sites. Prerequisites for all students include: (1) a cumulative or degree GPA of 2.0 or higher, (2) a grade of “C” or higher in all indicated courses, (3) completion of specific prerequisite courses for the major, and (4) a maximum of 6 hours of coursework remaining to complete the degree. Courses remaining to complete the degree must be taken in conjunction with internship. The senior internship is an unpaid field experience, typically at a site in the area surrounding Hammond (e.g., Baton Rouge, Covington, Mandeville, New Orleans) and is completed during the final Fall or Spring semester of the degree; summer internship experiences are not available. Out-of-region/state internships are allowed in specific cases.

In the semester prior to graduation, students begin preparation for the senior internship. This includes submitting an application to intern, identifying potential internship sites, and completing required tasks. Internship sites must be approved by the department. Deadlines are established for required tasks, including site identification and the completion of a contract between the department and the site. If an internship site has not been approved and a contract completed by the deadline for such, students are required to select a site for which a current contract exists. All students must attend an internship orientation session, usually scheduled during the week prior to the start of the semester, and participate in a drug screening program during the internship. Additional information and prerequisites for each degree/concentration are provided below.

BS in Health Sciences: Prerequisites for HS 4100 , in addition to the prerequisites for all students (above) are achieving a grade of C or higher in all English, Math, Science, Nutrition and Health Studies courses required in the degree.

BS in Kinesiology: Prerequisites for KIN 4100 , in addition to the prerequisites for all students (above), are achieving a grade of C or higher in all English, Math, and Biology courses required in the degree as well as CHEM 1010 /CLAB 1030 or CHEM 1210 /CLAB 1230 , and KIN 3210 , KIN 3720 , KIN 3920 , and KIN 4360 .

Minors

The Department offers minors in Adapted Physical Education , Athletic Coaching , Exercise Science , and Health Promotion .

Honors Diploma in the Discipline

Students participating in the University Honors Program are required to complete 9 hours of upper-level honors courses. These may include a combination of 3000-4000-level HONR courses, study abroad, or H-option courses in the major. Courses that may be taken as H-option in the Department of Kinesiology are:

BS in Health Sciences: HS 3120 , HS 3600 , HS 4200 , HS 4300 , HS 4400 , HS 4540
BS in Health and Physical Education: KIN 2510 , KIN 3210 , KIN 3510 , KIN 3720 , KIN 3920 , KIN 4360
BS in Kinesiology: KIN 3210 , KIN 3720 , KIN 3920 , KIN 4240 , KIN 4340 , KIN 4360