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 24 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. Our academic advisor 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 300L | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXSC 301L | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| EXSC 405L | Applied Systems Physiology | 4-4 |
| EXSC 406L | Exercise and Energy Homeostasis | 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 307L | General Physiology | 4 |
| BISC 320L | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BISC 330L | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BISC 421 | Neurobiology | 4 |
| CHEM 322abL | Organic Chemistry | 4-4 |
| EXSC 203L | Individualized Exercise Prescription | 2 |
| EXSC 250 | Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Weight Control | 4 |
| EXSC 310 | Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity | 4 |
| EXSC 350 | Nutrition: Micronutrients and Homeostasis | 4 |
| EXSC 400L | Principles of Perceptual- Motor Learning | 4 |
| EXSC 409 | Metabolic Diseases | 4 |
| EXSC 439L | Human Performance and Bioenergetics | 2 or 4 |
| EXSC 441L | Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 442L | Advanced Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 490x | Directed Research | 2-8, max 8 |
| EXSC 491L | Laboratory Experience in Kinesiology | 2 or 4, max 4 |
| EXSC 499 | Special Topics | 2-4 |
| GERO 310 | Physiology of Aging | 4 |
| GERO 437 | Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying | 2 or 4 |
| ITP 101x | Introduction to Information Technology | 4 |
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 135bL | Physics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| PSYC 274 | Statistics I | 4 |
Bachelor of Arts in Human Performance
The Department of Kinesiology offers a course of study that leads to a B.A. 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 foreign language requirements. Specific degree requirements include 24 units of required core courses within kinesiology and 12 units of required collateral courses within the sciences. Students must also complete 8 units from a restricted list of electives. While restricted to kinesiology, 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.
Human performance is an ideal course of study for students interested in establishing a strong science background and/or pursuing careers in teaching, coaching, sports management, sports law, athletic training, sports communication, sports journalism and many other sports-related professions. Along with the required core and collateral courses, the elective units allow sufficient flexibility to complete course prerequisites for any of the graduate health fields. Academic advisors can provide direction in planning course selections toward specific fields.
| REQUIRED CORE COURSES | Units |
|---|
| EXSC 202L | Principles of Nutrition and Exercise | 2 |
| EXSC 203L | Individualized Exercise Prescription | 2 |
| EXSC 250 | Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Weight Control | 4 |
| EXSC 301L | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| EXSC 310 | Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity | 4 |
| EXSC 400L | Principles of Perceptual-Motor Learning | 4 |
| EXSC 401L | Kinesiology | 4 |
| REQUIRED COLLATERAL COURSES | Units |
|---|
| BISC 220L | General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology | 4 |
| MATH 108 | Precalculus | 4 |
| PSYC 274 | Statistics I | 4 |
In addition, a minimum of 8 units is required from the list of kinesiology courses that follows. The choices from this list would depend upon the student's future course of study.
| ELECTIVES | Units |
|---|
| EXSC 200L | Nutrition: Macronutrients and Energy Metabolism | 4 |
| EXSC 300L | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXSC 350 | Nutrition: Micronutrients and Homeostasis | 4 |
| EXSC 405L | Applied Systems Physiology | 4 |
| EXSC 406L | Exercise and Energy Homeostasis | 4 |
| EXSC 409 | Metabolic Diseases | 4 |
| EXSC 439L | Human Performance and Bioenergetics | 2 or 4 |
| EXSC 441L | Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 442L | Advanced Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries | 4 |
| EXSC 490L | Directed Research | 2-4 |
| EXSC 491L | Laboratory Experience in Kinesiology | 2 or 4, max 4 |
| EXSC 499 | Special Topics | 2-4 |
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 203L | 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 | Human 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.
PDF reflects print version of the catalogue (beginning to Economics)