Offices & Services
Kinesiology
This guide contains only a partial list of occupational titles and career fields that may be of interest to students considering a physical education and recreation major. In addition to the skills and knowledge gained through your college course work in this major, you may also need to acquire career related work experience, additional work related skills and or additional education. Some of the occupations require an advanced degree to enter the field.
After you have identified possible occupations of interest to you, it is important to investigate the nature of work; education and training requirements; skills and special talents needed; types of employers; future trends and employment outlook related to each of these careers.
We have set up links to internet sites that provide detailed descriptions of these occupations. You may also want to research these occupations by reading the books and literature available in the Philadelphia House Career Resource Library, by talking with individuals working in the field, and by contacting related professional associations.
This guide also provides information about obtaining related work experience including links to possible internships. However for the best information on current, local internships contact Sally Cardenas, Director of Internships and Community-Based Learning at 562-464-4533 or email her at scardenas@whittier.edu.
Career Options
| Kinesiology Related Occupations | ||
| Academic counselor for athletes | Activity director | Adapted physical education teacher |
| Adventure travel coordinator | Agent | Amusement park supervisor |
| Athletic trainer | Baseball player | Body movement therapist |
| Camp director | City manager | Club manager |
| Coach | College/university professor | Community center director |
| Convention center manager | Corporate fitness program manager | Concert promoter |
| County club manager | Creative arts therapist | Dance therapist |
| Director, player development | Director, sporting events | Employee recreation manager |
| Equipment manager | Exercise specialist for the aging | Exercise physiologist |
| Facility manager | Festival director | Fitness/nutrition counselor |
| Fitness specialist | Health education | Health club/spa manager |
| Health psychologist | Health services administrator | Histopathologyst |
| Hotel manager | Industrial recreation specialist | Journalist |
| Kinesiologist | League manager | Leisure consultant |
| Manager, sports club | Motor development specialist | Naturopathic doctor |
| Newspaper sportswriter | Nursing home activities director | Occupational therapist |
| Outdoor adventure guide | Parks and recreation manager/director | Park naturalist |
| Park ranger | Personal trainer | Physical education instructor |
| Physical therapist aide | Physical therapist | Professional sports scout |
| Professional athlete | Public health educator | Public relations specialist |
| Radio newscaster | Recreation director | Recreation manager, hotel |
| Recreation facility manager | Recreation therapist | Rehabilitation worker |
| Resort manager | Resort sports coordinator | School athletic director |
| Senior citizens activities director | Social director | Special events planner |
| Sporting goods dealer/salesperson | Sports broadcaster | Sports director on ships |
| Sports editor | Sports historian | Sports information director |
| Sports marketing | Sports official | Sports physician |
| Sports psychologist | Sports public relations | Sports statistician |
| Sports team manager | Sports writer | Stress management consultant |
| Student activities director, college | Teacher, elementary | Teacher, high school |
| Therapeutic recreation specialist | Tournaments planner | Travel agent/consultant |
| Wilderness tour guide | YMCA/YWCA director | Youth agency counselor |
| Youth program director | General Sports Careers | |
Typical Employers
Camps and parks, colleges and universities, community organizations, fitness centers, forest service, government agencies, hospitals, hotels and resorts, magazines and newspapers, non-profit organizations, nursing homes, physical rehabilitation hospitals, professional sports teams, public and private schools, radio and TV stations, ranches, recreation centers, retirement communities, social service agencies, sports and health clubs, therapeutic recreation offices, treatment centers, youth organizations
Liberal Arts Related Occupations (click here for more options)
Marketable Skills Related to PER Major
- Leadership, programming and administration skills
- Managing, organizing and meeting deadlines
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Proficient in interpersonal communication; persuading/influencing; selling; teaching; helping people
- Ability to read and write articulately
- Thorough knowledge of community resources
- Ability to interact effectively with people of different backgrounds in various situations
- Understanding of human behavior
Getting Career Related Work Experience
To be competitive in today's job market and to improve your qualifications for graduate school, gaining career related work experience while you are a college student is very important. Career related work experience can include various forms of paid and volunteer experience (i.e. internships, some work study positions, summer or part-time jobs in your career field of interest, possibly fellowships, and some volunteer positions)
