Welcome to the Kinesiology Department at Rice University. Our department is committed to fostering excellence in the fields of health promotion, public health, and human and sports performance through teaching, research, and service.
We offer two distinct and popular degrees at Rice:
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Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences
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Bachelor of Arts in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology
These two programs equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to be successful in public health, kinesiology, or health professions. Our esteemed faculty help students push their boundaries and achieve their full potential.
The goal of the Health Sciences degree is to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to health. Coursework in public & community health, epidemiology, health behavior theories, program planning and evaluation, and statistics form the core of the program with a broad choice of interdisciplinary electives. Viewing health from the broader community level, students acquire the knowledge and skills for careers in public health, medicine, or allied health.
The Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology curriculum provides a strong basic science foundation and then interfaces this foundation with application to the human body. The Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology degree is the only academic specialization on campus that provides detailed instruction in human anatomy and human physiology, in addition to nutrition, biomechanics, motor learning, exercise physiology, and our new exercise testing laboratory, among other topics.
Outside of the classroom, Kinesiology majors have plenty of opportunities to serve, make a difference, and engage with the community. We support two student clubs: HEALAR & SARCOMERE. In addition, there are internship and research opportunities available to our students.
Lastly, I am pleased to announce the opening of the Houston Methodist and Rice University Center for Human Performance. This is a premier research center where physicians and academic researchers will collaborate on research projects related to health, exercise and human performance. We offer an internship program for undergraduate students (geared towards Kinesiology majors) to work with researchers in the Center to learn more about health and exercise research studies, rehabilitation programs and much more.
Each year, our students graduate ready to improve human health and quality of life. They have received competitive fellowships like Fulbright or Wagoner; entered graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, public health, exercise science, law, health policy, or allied health; and secured jobs in consulting or research, to name a few. The Kinesiology Department takes pride in preparing our students to succeed beyond Rice.
“Bienvenidos”
Augusto X. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Department Chair