2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog School of Kinesiology and Recreation

250 McCormick
Campus Box 5120

Director: Brent A. Beggs

Admission/Retention Requirements

A student may be admitted to the Exercise Science Major, Physical Education Teacher Education Major or the Recreation and Park Administration Major as a new freshman, as a transfer student, or as a change of major at Illinois State University. Visit the Admissions website for current admission standards. Retention of students will be determined by the student’s cumulative GPA and other specified criteria required for the major. All courses required in each major must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Course Finder

Honors in Kinesiology and Recreation

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Honors students may choose to focus their Honors Learning in their major and pursue the Honors in the Major designation, which is awarded at graduation. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

Professional Practice and Student Teaching

Internship and cooperative education experiences are available at all levels in Exercise Science (298, 398), and in Recreation and Park Administration (298, 398). No more than 16 hours of internship and cooperative education experiences may be applied toward graduation. Professional Practice experiences are supervised work experiences in businesses, agencies, organizations, and institutions and are either paid or unpaid. For further information, contact the Professional Practice coordinator in your major.

Student Teaching in Physical Education requires being accepted into the Teacher Education program at Illinois State University. Students are placed in schools with physical education cooperating teachers at the elementary, middle school, and/or secondary school levels as required for teacher licensure. Student teachers are supervised by Physical Education faculty supervisors. The Physical Education Student Teaching Coordinator arranges for all student teaching placements.

Exercise Science

Degree Offered: B.S.

Major in Exercise Science

Program Admission Requirements for New and Continuing Students: Admission to this academic program is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to: courses completed, cumulative GPA, hours completed, personal interview or written statement, and samples of work completed. For additional information on minimum requirements for admission and the application and selection process, visit the Majors website or contact the undergraduate advisor for the intended major.

Credentialing Opportunities

There is no single professional credential or certification that is necessary to pursue a career in Exercise Science. However, there are a number of optional credentialing opportunities that students are encouraged to examine. Coursework in this major is focused on the content areas needed for certification preparation by several organizations in this professional field of study. Students graduating in this major can strengthen their professional credentials by pursuing a variety of different certifications offered by organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Students interested in learning more about these recommended certification options should consult the Exercise Science Program Director in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation for further information.

Standards for Progress in the Major

Once admitted to either sequence within the Exercise Science major, the student must maintain a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA. A student falling below the required 2.50 GPA will be placed on probation for one semester. If after one semester the 2.50 GPA has not been re-established, the student will be dropped from the Exercise Science major. A student who has been thus dropped from the Exercise Science major may reapply for admission to the major after raising his or her GPA to the required standard. The student who is not readmitted after one semester of probation and has a minimum 2.00 GPA will have the option of entering the Kinesiology Studies Sequence.

Students in the Exercise Science major must complete one of the following sequences.

Allied Health Professions Sequence

Exercise Science is the study of movement and the associated functional responses and adaptations the body makes as a result of movement/exercise. The Allied Health Professions sequence provides students with a well-rounded foundation in areas of exercise science, including functional anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports and exercise psychology, and motor behavior. In addition, the Allied Health Professions sequence requires advanced science course work to prepare students for graduate studies in athletic training, physical therapy, physician's assistant, and other allied health programs.

View Allied Health Professions Sequence Course Requirements

Health and Human Performance Sequence

Exercise Science is the study of movement and the associated functional responses and adaptations the body makes as a result of movement/exercise. The Health and Human Performance sequence provides students with a well-rounded foundation in areas of exercise science, including exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport and exercise psychology, and motor behavior. The Health and Human Performance sequence prepares students for careers in the fitness and wellness industry.

A student must have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA and have completed all major courses with a grade of C or better to participate in the senior internship (KNR 398A11 Professional Practice: Internship in Exercise Science). Students seeking to take Option 2 (12 hours of advanced coursework in lieu of KNR 378A10 and KNR 398A11) must apply for approval of this option at the start of the semester in which they are registered to take KNR 298A10. The application must include a statement as to why the review committee should allow the student entry into this option, and it must also speak to what steps the student has taken to prepare for academic study beyond the B.S. in Exercise Science. Examples of such preparation might include indications of prerequisites completed, observation hours completed, completion of research statistics or methods courses, applications to graduate or professional schools, etc. Applications for this option will be considered by a committee of Exercise Science faculty.

View Health and Human Performance Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Exercise Science

24 total credit hours required

Required courses

3 hours minimum selected from

Physical Education

Degree Offered: B.S., B.S. in Education

Major in Physical Education

The Physical Education program consists of two sequences. The Physical Education Teacher Education Sequence requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 for admission and retention. The Kinesiology Studies Sequence requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for admission and retention. All physical education major courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Kinesiology Studies Sequence (B.S.)

The Kinesiology Studies sequence is not available for direct admission. Contact the department or undergraduate advisor for more information. Students in the Kinesiology Studies Sequence must have earned a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA.

View Kinesiology Studies Sequence Course Requirements

Physical Education Teacher Education Sequence (PETE) (B.S. in Ed.)

The PETE program for undergraduate majors leads to a professional educator license with K-12 endorsement. All PETE majors planning on becoming licensed teachers must apply for and be admitted to the University’s Teacher Education Program. See the University-Wide Teacher Education Program section.

Program Admission Requirements for New and Continuing Students: Admission to this academic program is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to: courses completed, cumulative GPA, hours completed, personal interview or written statement, and samples of work completed. For additional information on minimum requirements for admission and the application and selection process, visit visit the Majors website or contact the undergraduate advisor for the intended major.

Standards for Progress in the PETE Program

To progress through the program in a timely manner, the teacher candidate must continuously maintain a minimum cumulative 2.50 GPA and a minimum major 2.50 GPA to remain academically eligible.
A teacher candidate falling below the minimum GPA, cumulative or major, will be placed on academic probation within the School of Kinesiology and Recreation for one semester. If after one semester the 2.50 cumulative and/or major GPA has not been reestablished, the teacher candidate will be removed from the PETE Program. A student who is not readmitted after one semester of probation, but has a minimum 2.00 GPA, will have the choice to enter the Kinesiology Studies Sequence or select another major on campus.

The student may submit an application to the program after reestablishing the minimum academic requirements. Acceptance into the program is competitive. (See Admission Requirements for New and Continuing Students.)

View Physical Education Teacher Education Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Athletic Coaching

Students wishing to minor in Athletic Coaching must apply through the School of Kinesiology and Recreation on My.IllinoisState.edu in February. The number of students admitted to the minor each year is limited and highest priority will be given to the most qualified applicants.

Minimum of 20 hours in Kinesiology and Recreation required

Required courses

Elective courses

Certification Opportunity: Students have the opportunity to qualify for the coaching certification.

Recreation and Park Administration

Degree Offered: B.S.

Major in Recreation and Park Administration

Program Admission Requirements for New and Continuing Students

Admission to this academic program is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to: cumulative GPA, hours completed, and written responses on the application. For additional information on minimum requirements for admission and the application and selection process, visit IllinoisState.edu/Majors or contact the undergraduate advisor for the intended major.

Standards for Progress in the Major: A student must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA and have completed all required courses with a grade of C or better.

Students in the Recreation and Park Administration major must complete one of the following sequences.

Recreation Management Sequence

Recreation Management professionals plan, organize, and lead experiences for people with diverse backgrounds and interests. Experiences range from sports and crafts, to camping and other special interests. They also work in a variety of settings including parks, sport facilities, community centers, retirement villages, camps, and tourism attractions. Students in this major put theory into practice by completing two internships. The major also offers opportunities to attend conferences, participate in clubs, and study abroad, which helps students develop a professional network.

Certification Opportunity: Students graduating from this program are immediately eligible to sit for the examination to become a Certified Park and Recreation Professional.

View Recreation Management Sequence Course Requirements

Therapeutic Recreation Sequence

Therapeutic recreation is a human service profession. Professionals typically work in a community or clinical setting. Clients include people who have a disability, injury, illness or other health condition. Using play and other activities, therapists create a healthy physical and social environment. Students in this major use theory in the classroom and the real world by completing two internships. The major also offers opportunities to attend conferences, participate in clubs, and study abroad, which helps students develop a professional network.

Certification Opportunity: Students graduating from the Therapeutic Recreation Sequence who have met all the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) requirements (major and recommended courses including an approved internship) should be eligible to apply to sit for the examination to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Certification requirements are subject to change so students are strongly advised to obtain the latest certification requirements from NCTRC.

View Therapeutic Recreation Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Recreation and Park Administration

24 hours required

Required courses

3 hours of courses selected from