Careers in Kinesiology
Choose Your Pathway
Our curriculum is intentionally designed to satisfy the rigorous prerequisites of top-tier graduate programs while preparing you for immediate industry success. Recent data highlights the most common professional paths chosen by our graduates:
-
Clinical and Graduate Professional Tracks
- Physical Therapy (DPT): The leading pathway for our graduates (23.3% of recent cohorts). Our heavy emphasis on hands-on musculoskeletal and physiological laboratory experiences makes Miami students highly competitive applicants for Doctor of Physical Therapy programs.
- Physician Assistant (PA) Studies: A rapidly growing track chosen by 14.7% of recent graduates. Our science core aligns seamlessly with clinical PA prerequisites.
- Occupational Therapy (OTD): Chosen by 9.5% of graduates looking to specialize in functional rehabilitation and assistive care.
- Medicine and Dentistry (MD/DO/DDS): A rigorous foundation for students aiming for medical school, dental school, or specialized clinical research tracks.
- Nursing and Chiropractic Care: Seamlessly transition into Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs or Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) pathways.
-
Immediate Career and Corporate Tracks
- Medical and Healthcare Device Sales: A high-growth corporate track chosen by 7.8% of recent graduates. Students who pair their Kinesiology degree with our Healthcare Sales Certificate transition directly into corporate roles right after graduation.
- Strength and Conditioning / Performance Coaching: For professionals dedicated to elite athletic performance, tactical strength design, and youth sports development.
- Clinical Exercise Physiology: Designing exercise interventions for patients managing chronic diseases, cardiac events, or metabolic disorders.
Interactive Planning Toolkit
Don't navigate your future by guesswork. We have built two custom, data-driven interactive tools directly powered by our live curriculum and career tracking database to help you map out your time at Miami University and beyond.
Kinesiology Career Exploration Tool
Best for: Students trying to find their ideal fit, compare daily workflows, or discover smart alternative tracks.
- What it does: This tool lets you compare different professions side-by-side (like Pre-Med vs. Pre-PA vs. Pre-PT), view an interactive "Career Landscape Map," and take a quick self-assessment fit check.
- The Strategic Pivot Feature: If you ever feel like your initial track isn't matching your goals, this tool shows you how to point your existing Kinesiology foundation toward adjacent paths without starting over.
Launch the Career Exploration Tool
Kinesiology Curriculum Navigator
Best for: Mapping out your long-term academic timeline, tracking major requirements, and identifying professional school prerequisites.
- What it does: Select your targeted career track to unlock a flexible, year-by-year sequencing priority list. It maps out your KNH foundation classes alongside necessary pathway add-ons and critical clinical milestones.
- Please note: These are flexible sequencing guides based on recent alumni path mapping, not rigid schedules. You will use this tool to understand planning priorities before finalizing your schedule with your advisor.
Where Our Graduates Work and Study
Graduate Employment at a Glance
With an 87.1% overall employment or continuing education rate, our alumni quickly secure competitive roles across clinical, corporate, and performance industries.
Clinical and Health System Placements
- Cleveland Clinic | Therapy Aide
- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center | Exercise Physiologist
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital | Specialized Clinical Tracks
- Shepherd Center | PT / OT Aide
- Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine | Patient Care Coordinator
- A Step Ahead Physical Therapy | Physical Therapy Aide
Corporate Healthcare and Sports Performance
- Stryker | Corporate Medical and Device Sales
- Abbott Nutrition | Corporate Healthcare and Therapeutics Specialist
- Gartner | Healthcare and Technology Consulting
- U.S. Air Force | Aerospace Physiologist
- Norton Sports Performance | Performance Coach
- Miami University Athletics | Collegiate Softball Coach
- KidStrong | Developmental Performance Coach
- StretchLab | Kinesiologist and Assisted Stretching Practitioner
Graduate School Acceptances
A staggering 89.7% of surveyed graduates are enrolled in or actively preparing for advanced professional degrees.
| Pathway | Recent Destination Institutional Acceptances |
|---|---|
| Medicine (MD) | University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine |
| Dentistry (DDS) | Indiana University School of Dentistry |
| Physician Assistant (PA) | Kettering College, Alvernia University, Lincoln Memorial University |
| Physical Therapy (DPT) | Duke University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, Ohio University, University of Illinois Chicago, Grand Valley State University, Mount Saint Joseph University, Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Manchester University |
| Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Rush University, Cleveland State University |
| Chiropractic (D.C.) | University of Pittsburgh, Life University, Logan University, Palmer College |
| Nursing (ABSN) | Xavier University (Accelerated BSN) |
| Allied Health / Masters | Miami University (Kinesiology, Athletic Training, Dietetics), University of South Carolina (Athletic Training), Ohio University (Exercise Science), Ascension St. Vincent College (Cardiac Sonography) |
Professional Certifications & Licensure
To maximize your marketability, our curriculum directly supports preparation for top industry credentials. We encourage students to map out their target certifications early to align with their chosen career track:
- For Performance Professionals: Prepare for the NSCA-CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)—the gold standard for athletic performance coaches.
- For Clinical and Applied Exercise Professionals: Target the ACSM-EP (Certified Exercise Physiologist) or ACSM-CEP (Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist) to work in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
- For Fitness and Wellness Professionals: Pursue the NASM-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) or specialized health coaching credentials.
- Essential Clinical Baselines: All students are highly encouraged to secure their Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR/AED certifications early through our departmental resources to qualify for immediate clinical shadowing and aid roles.
View our Guide to Professional Certifications and Credentials
Why Choose Miami Kinesiology?
What Our Graduates Say According to recent survey data, our faculty score an incredible 98.3% approval rating for treating students with respect, and a 96.6% approval rating for knowledge and preparation. Students consistently highlight our hands-on laboratory resources and deep faculty mentorship as the defining components of their academic success.
Academic Support and Success Resources
We are committed to helping every student achieve their highest academic potential. If you are aiming to raise your GPA for competitive graduate school applications, looking to declare a minor, or seeking peer mentorship, explore our dedicated student resources:
Here is a highly visible, student-friendly "Interactive Planning Toolkit" section designed to be dropped straight into your website layout. It clearly distinguishes what each tool does so students know exactly how to use them together.
Visit the Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education for information about careers in the health professions and the pre-medical studies co-major. Also check for the specific requirements of schools you are interested in attending.
Contact a Kinesiology Advisor
Physical / Occupational Therapy Advisor:
Dean Smith, Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health
Medical / Dental / Physician Assistant Advisor:
Tailyn Walborn, Department of Biology
Chiropractic Advisor:
Dean Smith, Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health