Undergraduate Degree
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
The Department of Kinesiology offers a course of study that leads to a B.S. degree. As with any degree in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, students are required to complete all applicable general education, writing, diversity and language requirements. Specific degree requirements include 34 units of required core courses within kinesiology and 24 units of required collateral courses within the sciences. Students must also complete 16 units from a restricted list of electives. While restricted to the sciences, the electives allow students to tailor the degree to their individual needs. In addition to specific course work, students have several options for acquiring practical experience and/or participating in ongoing research efforts of the faculty.
Pre-health: Kinesiology is an ideal course of study for students wishing to enter the health professions, e.g., physical therapy, medicine, dentistry and occupational therapy. Along with the required core and collateral courses, the elective units allow sufficient flexibility to complete course prerequisites for any of the health fields. Faculty advisors can provide direction in planning course selections toward specific fields. In addition to the post-graduate health fields, students interested in the general area of corporate fitness-wellness will find kinesiology an ideal major.
| Required core courses | Units |
|---|
| EXSC 200L | Nutrition: Macronutrients and Energy Metabolism | 4 |
| EXSC 203 | Individualized Exercise Prescription | 2 |
| EXSC 300L | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXSC 301L | Functional Anatomy | 4 |
| EXSC 310 | Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity | 4 |
| EXSC 400L | Principles of Perceptual-Motor Learning | 4 |
| EXSC 407abL | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 4-4 |
| EXSC 408L | Introduction to Biomechanics | 4 |
| Required collateral courses | Units |
|---|
| BISC 120L | General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution | 4 |
| BISC 220L | General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology | 4 |
| CHEM 105aLbL | General Chemistry, or |
| CHEM 115aLbL | Advanced General Chemistry | 4-4 |
| MATH 108 | Precalculus | 4 |
| PHYS 135aL | Physics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
In addition, a minimum of 16 units is required from the list of science courses that follows. The choices from this list would depend upon the student’s future course of study.
| Electives | Units |
|---|
| BISC 212Lx | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BISC 320L | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BISC 330L | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BISC 421 | Neurobiology | 4 |
| BISC 438 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
| BISC 467L | Histology | 4 |
| CHEM 322abL | Organic Chemistry | 4-4 |
| EXSC 250 | Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Weight Control | 4 |
| EXSC 350L | Nutrition: Micronutrients and Homeostasis | 4 |
| EXSC 441L | Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 442L | Advanced Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 491L | Laboratory Experience in Exercise Science | 2 |
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHBI 462 | Physiology for the Health Professions | 4 |
| PHBI 463L | Physiology Lab for the Health Professions | 1 |
| PHYS 135bL | Physics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| PSYC 274 | Statistics I | 4 |
Grade Point Average Requirements
Students must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or better (cumulative) for the 30 units of required core requirements, the 24 units of required collateral courses, and the 16 units of required electives. In addition, a minimum grade of C- (1.7) will be allowed for each of the courses in the required core courses (30 units). This requirement will be effective for incoming students (freshmen or transfers) as well as for graduation from USC.
Minor in Kinesiology
For students who would like to obtain basic knowledge of kinesiology but are majoring in another area, a minor in this field is offered. The minor may be ideal for someone pursuing a career in the management area of health and corporate fitness.
A minor in a health related science may also be desirable for those in engineering or the physical sciences. Students pursuing a teaching or coaching career at the secondary school level may also benefit from knowledge in this area.
| Required courses, Lower division | Units |
|---|
| EXSC 202L | Principles of Nutrition and Exercise | 2 |
| EXSC 203 | Individualized Exercise Prescription | 2 |
| MATH 108* | Precalculus (or equivalent) | 4 |
| PHYS 135aL | Physics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| Required courses, Upper division | Units |
|---|
| EXSC 300L | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXSC 301L | Functional Anatomy | 4 |
| EXSC 407aL | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 4 |
| EXSC 408L | Introduction to Biomechanics | 4 |
A total of 28 units is required for the minor in kinesiology.
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