Kinesiology Majors/Teachers
Updated: May 17
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Jordan Howard - (B.S./M.S Kinesiology) - Weight Training Teacher
Interest
I have a B.S and M.S. degree in Kinesiology. I majored in Kinesiology because I knew that I wanted to do something related to health and fitness/exercise. Keep in mind that Kinesiology is a broad career path/major, so you also have a subtopic that you specialize in. My emphasis was on physical education. With my profession (teaching), I suggest going with a masters degree. At Cal State Long Beach specifically, kinesiology is all under one program, so I didn’t have to re-apply to get my masters degree. In terms of the science aspect of Kinesiology, there is exercise physiology. You could get a masters in that and work for a sports medicine team. Those are the main popular fields. I am not super familiar with the other subgenres, but common settings to work in would be health clinics, fitness centers, professional athletic teams to name a few.
When I got into Cal State Long Beach, it was actually for physical therapy. I realized that I had to take a lot of science classes like pre-calculus, chemistry, physics for example. What deterred me away from the physical therapy, is the requirement of a PhD. From what I have seen, physical therapists generally make good money, but California is a very impacted profession for job outlook. You have to be incredibly good at what you do, and it can be difficult to get hired unless you have strong academics, and experience.
Information about Massage Therapy
For massage therapy however, you don’t need a degree for it. I will tell you that my friend’s wife is a massage therapist, and recently built a studio outside of their home so that she could run her own independent business. She keeps all the money she makes, because she isn’t under a company. Even better, many of her previous clients have followed her after changing locations.
[Another reason for why I wanted to interview Mr. Howard is due his purchase of a massage gun for our weight lifting class. He taught us about the importance of getting massages, and it can strongly benefit us during our exercise journey. The following information is tips from him on why it is beneficial, and tips for how to use one.]
Importance of Massage Guns, & Advice
If you turn on any professional sports game, you are going to see any bench having a massage gun. It is for multiple reasons, such as being able to provide a deeper level of massage that the average athlete person may not have the time to attain mid-game. People use massage guns because of practicality as well. When you purchase one, it has various heads that can be used, and the box will help you determine the one that will work best for you in the moment. I use a massage gun in general when I am sore from working out. There is no indefinite way of understanding when to ‘stop’ because soreness may be intensified from too much stimulation, so I suggest also looking at YouTube videos to understand proper techniques.
Thomas Gaucher - (B.S. Kinesiology) - P.E./Weight Training Teacher
Experience
I knew I wanted to become a kinesiology major because I was heavily involved in sports in high school and had a passion for exercise. I also knew that I did not want to sit behind a desk working a corporate job and that a kinesiology major could lead to job opportunities that would involve moving around and being active.
What Classes Did You Take?
The Kinesiology - exercise science major involved both math/physics and science courses. The first two years of my undergraduate were spent taking foundational classes such as calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry, and human biology/anatomy which can be quite tedious but definitely beneficial later down the road. Once you reach the upper division units or your last two years of undergrad you begin to take more major specific courses such as; exercise physiology, motor control and learning, applied biomechanics, and strength and conditioning. These courses are more hands-on and in my opinion more interesting as you really begin to dive into material that will be useful for future jobs. Overall, this major requires a lot of science and math which comes with the added lab classes, so be aware of that when you begin your degree.
What Can You Do With a Kinesiology Degree?
I had some classmates get their personal training license after completing their B.S in kinesiology and begin working as personal trainers in gyms. With a B.S in kinesiology I find that you are more restricted to entry level positions such as personal trainers and physical therapist aides. People typically use this major as a prerequisite to continue onto physical therapy school and obtain their doctorate. The ones that go on to obtain their M.S in kinesiology can go into becoming strength and conditioning coaches, teaching in higher ed., or becoming exercise physiologists, along with some other careers. I have typically seen success in kinesiology majors when they go on to achieve their physical therapist degree of continue on to get their M.S.
How Do You Get Stronger?
To maximize muscular strength, I would recommend heavy compound exercises paired with accessory work. The ideal rep range for muscular strength is between 3-6 reps at a high intensity or heavy weight. I personally like to structure my workouts by beginning with one or two heavy compound movements, for example, and barbell back squat, or Incline dumbbell press and then add in accessory exercises that support whatever muscle group(s) I am targeting that session. Making training sessions productive begins with your mindset when you enter the gym. You have to come into the gym ready to work out and to physically push yourself. Set a timer for your rest time in between sets and get to it right away instead of scrolling mindlessly on your phone. My workouts typically last about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes and I feel satisfied at the end.
If people are not into weight training and rather just play a sport, that's fine. I think it's important that that individual finds a sport that they genuinely enjoy playing rather than focusing on how it might make them more physically fit. Obviously certain sports are going to have more of an impact on overall physical health. For example, the cardio aspect between playing basketball and golf is quite different however golf still requires people to move their bodies which is better than not moving at all! As long as someone finds something they enjoy and it requires them to move, I find it beneficial. In terms of sports that benefit massage therapists, I would argue that yoga could be beneficial in that setting. The various poses and positions that you are performing help keep flexibility and also strengthen smaller muscles to some degree. I don't think any sports necessarily hinders performance; however, I do believe that certain sports increase the likelihood of certain injuries which may be important to take into consideration.
Pros and Cons of a Kinesiology Major
Pros:
A better understanding of how the human body works under certain conditions.
You learn how to take care of your body (for the most part).
You have the tools required to lead an active and healthy life.
You have the knowledge to help others improve their quality of life.
Cons:
Prerequisite courses might be tedious and difficult for some.
Job prospects with a B.S can be limited and entry level.
Higher education is typically involved, M.S and Doctorate programs (can be viewed as a pro to some).
Why Did You Choose Teaching After Your Degree?
I chose to go into teaching because I was looking at job security, pay, and retirement benefits. However, with everything happening in the world right now and the current state of our government it is becoming difficult to find a full-time teaching position (womp womp). Despite these issues, I believe that educating the youth on how to properly take care of their bodies and providing them with the tools to do so is extremely important and that's the main reason that keeps me going in this field.
Eduardo Nunes - (B.S. Kinesiology) - Soccer Coach/Teacher (LBCC)
Interest
What made me interested in kinesiology was through coaching. I’ve been a soccer coach since I was 16, and I immediately fell in love with it. That passion pushed me to want to be as knowledgeable and effective as possible. Pursuing a kinesiology degree gave me both the scientific understanding and the credibility to better support my athletes. I enjoyed learning how the body works and how different systems connect to movement, performance, and recovery. Some classes were definitely challenging, but they were also very rewarding because I could directly apply what I was learning to coaching and training. When I was getting my degree, I was working full time and took classes online via Cal Baptist University. Although it took time and a lot of work, I feel it was well worth it.
Advice
My advice for Kinesiology majors would be to take advantage of hands-on experiences as much as possible—internships, coaching, training, or working with athletes. The classroom knowledge is important, but applying it is where everything really starts to make sense. Also, don’t be afraid to explore different career paths within kinesiology.
Injury Prevention for Massage Therapists
If you want to lower your risk of injuries as a massage therapist, I always emphasize proper technique, consistency, and listening to your body. When injuries happen, I encourage my students to be patient, follow proper recovery protocols, and focus on what they can do during the process. Injuries are frustrating, but they can also be opportunities to learn more about the body and come back stronger.
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