Kinesiology Degree for Transfer 

Description

The Associate in Arts in Kinesiology degree for Transfer curriculum provides a broad perspective of the discipline or body of knowledge that studies physical activity and human movement. Courses will cover the philosophy, history, and sociology of physical activity and the careers available in the profession of physical activity. Courses will address the examination of the systems in the human body and the functions and interrelationships of these systems.

Courses may also cover principles of biology, which include cell theory, cell division, and heredity, as well as the principles of inorganic and organic chemistry. In addition, they may include the study of modern physics with an emphasis on the appreciation for science and its applications.

This curriculum provides a solid foundation upon which to build a Kinesiology major at a four-year school. The degree guarantees transfer to a California State University (CSU) as a junior.

See Taft College’s Transfer Center. Our Transfer Admission Guarantees include many other schools. Check with your Counselor to see if this degree can transfer to other four-year schools.

Earnings Potential

An associate degree in kinesiology offers you the salary potential of $13,115 two years after graduation from Taft College, with expected increases to $25,826 at five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges. These do not reflect salaries with a four-year degree.1

In California, median salaries are more than $88,000 for kinesiologists.2

Career options in sports, science, medicine, and health care supported by this academic foundation typically require a minimum of a four-year degree. For national salary data and job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage is $47,940 for careers in kinesiotherapy and exercise physiology. Employment is projected at nine percent from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage is $85,570 for a career as an occupational therapist, which typically requires a master’s degree. The median annual wage is $95,620 for physical therapists and $75,000 for chiropractors, and both of these require a doctoral or professional degree.3

1 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 19 April 2023.

2 Kinesiologist salary range in California $88,914-$108,043. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark. Accessed 24 February 2024.

3 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.

Program Requirements

To earn an Associate in Arts in Kinesiology degree for Transfer (AA-T), students must complete: (1) all course requirements with a minimum grade of “C” in each course; and (2) must complete the General Education Breadth pattern for CSUs with an overall GPA of 2.0. There are no local graduation requirements associated with this degree.

Additionally, students shall be deemed eligible for transfer into a CSU baccalaureate program when the student meets both the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
    1. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education Breadth Requirements.
    2. A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
  2. Obtain a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the Kinesiology for transfer degree major, a student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a solid knowledge base of the concepts of Kinesiology, which is the study of physical activity through performance, scholarly analysis, and professional practice.
  2. Understand and apply historical, ethical, and philosophical concepts as related to the Health and Kinesiology fields.
  3. Respect and use critical and creative thinking, in the analysis and approach of Health and Kinesiology.
  4. Understand and apply the fundamental concepts of basic movement of Kinesiology and are able to utilize those concepts in everyday life, both personally and professionally.
  5. Act and think ethically and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of Health and Kinesiology as a discipline.

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