Laurea in Formazione Atletica

Why Study Kinesiology?

Love sport, fitness or helping people heal? Kinesiology has you covered. Kinesiology is the study of body movement, and it is home to everything associated with moving bodies. With four majors and six minors, you can gain the skills and education needed to combine your love of sport, fitness and helping people with healthcare, athletic training, teaching, coaching and personal training or business to land the job of your dreams. We are one of the few programs in the state where Athletic Training majors can also compete in intercollegiate athletics - giving our students a competitive edge. Our Business Administration/Sport Management majors can work with faculty to custom tailor their education to match their career goals by adding minors and concentrations. Our exercise science students get hands-on experience with faculty and our large network of successful alumni who work in the fitness industry. Physical Education Teaching majors benefit from small classes with state of the art sport and fitness facilities, giving them the best opportunity for success. No matter your specific major, our Kinesiology department will prepare you for a successful, rewarding and fulfilling career.

How We're Different

Community partnerships, internships, and student teaching provide real-world application and hands-on learning experience. Four majors and six minors - Athletic Training, Business Administration/Sports Management, Teaching Physical Education, and Exercise Science majors; and Allied Health and Sports Science, Athletic Coaching, Exercise Science, Health Education, and Secondary Teaching (with or without Coaching) minors. The Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center and Alksnis Athletics & Recreation Building, home to Kinesiology, have classroom and activity space not usually found at schools our size. Alumni are well placed and respected in their fields, providing students with a network of contacts for internships and employment. Six months after graduation, most Business Administration/Sports Management and Athletic Training Aquinas graduates have employment in the field or are enrolled in graduate school. Student organizations provide community engagement, professional development and philanthropic activities. Business Administration/Sport Management majors and student clubs raise $5,000+ each year for Grand Rapids area sport related charities. Smaller class sizes than similar-sized schools enhance professor-student interaction. Athletic Training majors can compete in intercollegiate athletics. Business Administration/Sport Management majors tailor their education and gain market advantage with minors or concentrations.

The Athletic Training program (ATP) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Major Requirements

Sixty-two (62) credit hours and the senior clinical experience (KN440). Required courses:

• KN149
• KN158
• KN200
• KN249
• KN250
• KN251
• KN256
• KN257
• KN349A
• KN349B
• KN350
• KN354
• KN356
• KN357
• KN360
• KN362
• KN365
• KN366
• KN440
• KN449
• KN460
• BY155
• BY156
• PG100
• PG202

Completion of clinical proficiencies.

Required prerequisites and course sequencing :

Due to the progressive nature in educating a student in the Athletic Training profession, it is imperative for a successful student in this program to adhere to the sequence of courses.

A student may not enrol in a course without the required prerequisite. See course descriptions for applicable prerequisites and the AT web page for the current course sequencing. As part of this program, students are required to complete 800 clinical hours under the direct supervision of a qualified allied health professional. Of those 800 clinical hours, a minimum of 200 clinical hours must be completed in an equipment intensive sport.

Students will be rotated through a variety of different clinical settings including but not limited to the following: men’s and women’s individual sports, men’s and women’s team sports, clinical work (such as a hospital or rehabilitation clinic), and work in a high school, college or professional sports setting. In addition to the coursework, students will be required to demonstrate their proficiency in the clinical skills needed for an entry-level Athletic Trainer to complete the major requirements.

Courses

• KN149 Clinical Experience I (1)
• KN158 Health Education—First Aid (3)
• KN200 Surface Anatomy (2)
• KN249 Clinical Experience II (1)
• KN250 Physiology of Exercise (4)
• KN251 Nutrition for Sports Performance (3)
• KN256 Anatomical Kinesiology/Biomechanical Kinesiology (4)
• KN257 Therapeutic Exercise (2)
• KN349A Clinical Education III (1)
• KN349B Clinical Education III (1)
• KN350 Medical Aspects of Athletics/Physical Education (3)
• KN354 Advanced Athletic Training (3)
• KN356 Therapeutic Modalities (2)
• KN357 Integrated Rehabilitation (3) WI
• KN360 Pharmacology and General Medical Conditions (2)
• KN362 Administration of Sport and Recreation (3)
• KN365 Evaluation Procedures I (3)
• KN366 Evaluation Procedures II (3)
• KN440 Senior Clinical Experience (SCE) (6-12)
• KN449 Clinical Experience IV (1)
• KN460 Athletic Training Capstone (2)
• BY155 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) NL
• BY156 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (3)
• PG100 Introductory Psychology (3) PSC
• PG/SY202 Introduction to Research and Design (4) QR

The close-knit educational environment at Aquinas develops students who thrive in all dimensions of life. Learn more, in our students' words about the Aquinas experience and the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, service, and community.

The Dominican tradition is two-fold: contemplative and communal. At Aquinas, we are committed to gathering for liturgical prayer nourished by God's Word and the Spirit. Prayer leads us into the deeper Truth needed to live out God's call for us in the world. We commit ourselves to a love of learning, both formal and informal. This necessitates an openness to learn from the most unlikely sources as well as tried and true scholarship. Aquinas encourages students to engage in service projects and service-learning programs. It also offers preparation for careers that will enable graduates to spread the truths that they have learned - "to make a difference in the world."