2027 Kinesiology Degrees With Pathways Into Physical Therapy or Athletic Training
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Choosing kinesiology is only the first step: physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), while athletic trainers typically need a professional master's degree from an accredited program. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $101,020 for physical therapists and $60,250 for athletic trainers. This guide helps future rehabilitation and sports-medicine professionals compare degree routes, verify prerequisites, control costs, and select a program that supports their licensure goal.
Key Things You Should Know
- A kinesiology or exercise science bachelor's degree can be an effective pre-PT or pre-athletic-training major, but it does not independently qualify a graduate to practice as a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
- Physical therapists must complete a DPT and state licensure; athletic trainers generally need a CAATE-accredited professional master's degree, Board of Certification examination, and state authorization where required.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects physical therapist employment to grow 11% and athletic trainer employment to grow 13% from 2023 to 2033.
What is a kinesiology degree and how does it prepare you for physical therapy or athletic training?
Kinesiology is the study of human movement. A kinesiology degree examines how anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise, motor behavior, and health affect movement, performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Schools may use related names such as exercise science, human performance, sport and exercise science, or health and human performance.
For students interested in physical therapy or athletic training, the degree is best understood as a foundation and preparation pathway, not a professional license. It can provide the science coursework, observation experiences, communication skills, and movement-analysis background needed to apply to graduate professional programs.
Physical therapy and athletic training overlap in rehabilitation and injury prevention, but their training models differ. Physical therapists evaluate movement problems and develop treatment plans across a broad range of patients. Athletic trainers specialize in prevention, emergency care, clinical evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses, often in sports, school, occupational, and clinical settings.
| Goal | Typical education after high school | Why kinesiology helps |
| Physical therapist | Bachelor's degree, DPT, state licensure | Builds common DPT prerequisites such as anatomy, physiology, psychology, and exercise physiology |
| Athletic trainer | Bachelor's degree, CAATE-accredited professional master's degree, certification and state requirements | Develops movement science knowledge and can support prerequisite and observation requirements |
| Exercise or wellness professional | Bachelor's degree may be sufficient for some roles | Supports work in fitness, health promotion, coaching support, and rehabilitation-related settings |
The key decision is whether the program's course sequence leaves room for the graduate prerequisites your target schools require. A student can major in biology, psychology, public health, or another field and still apply to DPT or athletic training programs, but kinesiology is often a more direct academic fit for students who enjoy applied movement science.
What types of kinesiology and exercise science degrees lead into physical therapy and athletic training careers?
Degree title alone does not determine readiness. The useful comparison is between the level of the degree, the available prerequisite sciences, clinical exposure, and whether the program is designed for graduate-school preparation.
The following options show how each credential can fit a rehabilitation or sports-medicine plan.
| Degree option | Typical purpose | Best fit | Important limitation |
| Associate degree in kinesiology or exercise science | Lower-cost start or transfer pathway | Students who plan to transfer to a bachelor's program | Usually does not include all graduate prerequisites or qualify graduates for professional licensure |
| Bachelor's in kinesiology or exercise science | Preprofessional foundation and entry-level health or fitness preparation | Future DPT or athletic training graduate students | Does not itself qualify someone as a PT or athletic trainer |
| Bachelor's with pre-PT concentration | Structured DPT prerequisite planning | Students certain about physical therapy early | May offer less elective flexibility if career plans change |
| Bachelor's with sport medicine or athletic training emphasis | Sports-injury and performance focus | Students considering athletic training or strength and conditioning | Must still confirm professional athletic training program prerequisites |
| Master's in exercise science | Advanced science, research, performance, or leadership study | Students seeking non-licensure specialization or stronger academic preparation | Usually is not a substitute for a DPT or CAATE-accredited professional athletic training degree |
An associate-to-bachelor's transfer route can reduce the cost of the first two years, particularly when the community college has formal articulation agreements with public universities. Before enrolling, compare transferability course by course; "exercise science" credits do not automatically satisfy every university's laboratory-science or major requirement.
An online bachelor's can also be practical for students who need geographic or work flexibility. When affordability is the main concern, compare published tuition, mandatory fees, transfer-credit rules, and required in-person labs rather than assuming every low-sticker-price option is comparable. A guide to a cheap online bachelor degree can help frame that initial cost comparison.
Choose a pre-PT concentration when you are strongly committed to DPT school and want a prescribed science sequence. Choose a broader kinesiology major when you want room to explore fitness, public health, coaching, occupational therapy, or graduate study.
Students who dislike laboratory science or do not intend to complete graduate professional education should consider whether a different health, business, education, or technical pathway better matches their career goal.
How do you use a kinesiology bachelor's degree to get into physical therapy school or athletic training programs?
A kinesiology bachelor's degree becomes a viable professional-school pathway when you intentionally build the academic record, clinical exposure, and application materials required by your target programs. Start researching DPT or athletic training schools early, because course requirements and application timelines vary.
Use this sequence to turn a general movement-science major into a focused professional preparation plan.
- Identify several accredited DPT or professional athletic training programs and record their prerequisite courses, minimum grades, observation expectations, and application deadlines.
- Meet with an academic adviser before each registration period to map biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, psychology, and anatomy courses in the correct order.
- Protect your cumulative and science GPA by taking a manageable laboratory load and seeking tutoring promptly if foundational science courses become difficult.
- Complete supervised observation or shadowing in more than one setting, such as outpatient rehabilitation, hospital care, secondary schools, college athletics, or sports medicine clinics.
- Develop relationships with faculty members and licensed clinicians who can comment specifically on your academic readiness, professionalism, and communication skills.
- Apply through the relevant centralized application service or institution process early enough to correct missing documents and compare financial-aid offers.
DPT applicants commonly document physical therapy observation hours, although exact hour totals and setting requirements differ by school. Athletic training applicants may need documented observation or clinical exposure and should confirm whether the program expects specific experiences with athletic trainers rather than general sports or fitness work.
Do not choose a graduate degree merely because it appears short or easy. A DPT has specific accreditation and licensure implications, and athletic training requires a qualifying professional program. If you are exploring graduate options outside licensure-based practice, this overview of what is the easiest masters degree to get may help distinguish flexible academic options from the credentials required for regulated clinical careers.
A common mistake is waiting until junior or senior year to check prerequisites. That can create an extra semester or post-baccalaureate coursework, especially when physics, chemistry, and anatomy courses have multi-course sequences. A written four-year plan is one of the most valuable tools a preprofessional student can create.
Admission to a kinesiology bachelor's program is separate from admission to DPT or athletic training graduate school. Undergraduate programs typically review high school or transfer records and may recommend college-preparatory math and science. Graduate professional programs usually evaluate college GPA, prerequisite grades, experiences, recommendations, essays, and evidence of career understanding.
Most future PTs and athletic trainers should expect some version of the following prerequisite pattern, but each target program - not a general checklist - controls the final requirements.
| Common requirement area | DPT applicants | Professional athletic training applicants | Planning note |
| Biology with lab | Frequently required | Frequently required | Confirm whether general biology, human biology, or both are accepted |
| Anatomy and physiology | Frequently required | Frequently required | Programs may require separate courses with laboratories |
| Chemistry and physics | Commonly required | Varies by program | DPT programs often have more extensive physical-science expectations |
| Psychology and statistics | Frequently required | Commonly required or recommended | Developmental psychology may be specifically named for DPT admission |
| Observation or clinical exposure | Often expected | Often expected | Document dates, setting, supervisor, and duties accurately |
| CPR or emergency credentials | May be required before clinical work | Common before enrollment or clinical education | Check accepted provider and renewal rules |
Competitive programs may set minimum GPA thresholds, but meeting a minimum does not ensure admission. Applicants should focus on sustained performance in prerequisite sciences, not just an overall GPA boosted by unrelated coursework. Some schools use holistic review and may value work experience, leadership, service, bilingual communication, and familiarity with underserved communities.
Ask admissions offices whether advanced-placement credit, online laboratory courses, repeated courses, community-college courses, or courses older than a stated time limit will be accepted. These policies can materially affect a transfer student, career changer, or applicant who completed prerequisites years earlier.
Another red flag is treating athletic training as an undergraduate licensure path. Entry-level athletic training education moved to the master's level; prospective students should verify that the graduate program is designed for professional preparation rather than assuming any master's in sports medicine will lead to Board of Certification eligibility.
Online kinesiology programs can deliver much of the academic foundation for future PT or athletic training study, particularly lecture-based courses in psychology, nutrition, health promotion, research methods, and some exercise science subjects. They are not automatically interchangeable with campus programs, however, because laboratory science, skill practice, clinical observation, and graduate-school prerequisites may require in-person participation.
This comparison highlights the practical trade-offs that matter most for a student planning a regulated clinical career.
| Factor | Online or hybrid kinesiology program | Campus-based kinesiology program | Best choice when |
| Schedule flexibility | Often stronger for working adults and commuters | Usually follows fixed meeting times | Online fits students balancing employment or caregiving |
| Laboratory experience | May use intensives, local arrangements, or limited virtual labs | Usually offers routine in-person labs | Campus study fits students needing extensive hands-on science access |
| Clinical networking | Depends on local placement support | May provide easier access to nearby faculty and partner sites | Campus study fits students who need structured mentorship |
| Prerequisite acceptance | Must be checked individually with target graduate schools | Often straightforward when courses include standard labs | Choose the format accepted by intended DPT or AT programs |
| Cost and relocation | Can reduce commuting or relocation costs | May provide access to campus services and resident tuition | Compare total cost, not format alone |
Online learning is strongest for a disciplined student who can complete asynchronous work consistently, arrange local observation opportunities, and verify course acceptability in writing. Campus-based study is often safer for students who need direct laboratory access, frequent faculty contact, or a built-in pathway to local rehabilitation and athletics placements.
Competency-based formats can allow qualified learners to progress after demonstrating mastery, but science prerequisites with laboratory components may not fit every accelerated structure. Students considering this model should compare the available disciplines, grading format, transfer policies, and graduate-school acceptance practices at the best competency-based colleges.
Before choosing any online program, ask whether anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, and exercise physiology include hands-on laboratories; whether labs occur on campus; how proctoring and grading work; and whether the institution will help identify local clinical experiences. Never assume an online degree is unsuitable - or suitable - without checking the policies of the graduate programs you may later apply to.
A well-designed kinesiology curriculum combines foundational sciences with applied movement courses. This mix helps students understand the body at cellular, system, movement, behavioral, and population-health levels. It also gives future clinicians vocabulary and analytical tools they will revisit in graduate education.
Course titles differ by institution, but students planning PT or athletic training commonly encounter the following groups of coursework.
- Foundational sciences: General biology, general chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, and sometimes organic chemistry or biochemistry.
- Movement sciences: Biomechanics, kinesiology, exercise physiology, motor learning, motor development, and functional anatomy.
- Health and behavior: Nutrition, psychology, sociology, health promotion, epidemiology, and research methods or statistics.
- Applied professional subjects: Injury prevention, therapeutic exercise, strength and conditioning, exercise testing, ethics, and health-care communication.
Clinical experience before graduate school is primarily observational or supportive rather than independent patient care. Students may shadow a physical therapist, assist with nonclinical tasks under appropriate supervision, observe athletic trainers in schools or clinics, volunteer in rehabilitation settings, or work in roles such as fitness attendant or rehabilitation aide where permitted.
Quality matters more than simply accumulating hours. Exposure across settings can help you test your assumptions: outpatient orthopedics may look very different from acute hospital rehabilitation, home health, pediatric therapy, industrial injury prevention, or collegiate athletics. Keep a factual log of dates, total hours, supervisor information, patient populations observed, and reflections on what you learned.
Students should not represent themselves as therapists, provide treatment, make injury diagnoses, or perform restricted clinical tasks before they are qualified. Respecting supervision boundaries demonstrates the professional judgment that graduate programs and clinical sites expect.
The full timeline depends on the professional destination. A traditional kinesiology bachelor's degree generally takes four academic years of full-time study. A future physical therapist then completes a DPT, commonly structured as a three-year professional doctorate. A future athletic trainer usually adds a professional master's program, commonly about two years, after the bachelor's degree.
For cost context, the National Center for Education Statistics reported average published tuition and fees for 2024-25 of $11,610 at public four-year institutions for in-state students and $43,350 at private nonprofit four-year institutions.
These are broad institutional averages, not the net price of a kinesiology degree, and they exclude major differences in housing, books, transportation, scholarships, and state residency.
| Route | Typical full-time timeline | Primary cost variables | Decision consideration |
| Associate transfer plus bachelor's | About four years total if transfer is efficient | Community-college pricing, transferred credits, university completion costs | Can lower early costs but requires careful transfer planning |
| Four-year kinesiology bachelor's | About four years | Residency, institution type, lab fees, housing, aid | Offers a conventional preprofessional sequence and campus opportunities |
| Bachelor's plus DPT | About seven years | Undergraduate costs, DPT tuition, clinical travel, lost work time | Necessary route for physical therapist licensure |
| Bachelor's plus professional athletic training master's | About six years | Undergraduate costs, graduate tuition, clinical education expenses | Necessary route for entry-level athletic trainer certification eligibility |
Compare net price, not published tuition alone. Net price reflects grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid, while total attendance cost also includes living expenses and required course materials. Public, private nonprofit, and other institution types can all be financially sensible depending on aid, residency, commute options, graduation rate, and the amount you would need to borrow.
To control costs, apply for financial aid early, use transferable general education credits where appropriate, avoid unnecessary course repeats, and ask whether clinical rotations create travel or housing costs. Part-time study can spread tuition payments but may delay prerequisite completion and professional-school entry.
Accelerated study can work for highly prepared students, but it is risky if it compresses difficult laboratory sciences or leaves little time for clinical observation. Students who are considering non-licensure graduate alternatives can compare quick masters degrees online, while remembering that accelerated options do not replace the clinical education required for DPT or professional athletic training preparation.
Accreditation is especially important when your end goal is a licensed or certified clinical profession. A bachelor's kinesiology program may hold institutional accreditation without having specialized accreditation, and that can still be appropriate. The critical question is whether its curriculum supports admission to the accredited professional program required for your intended role.
Use the following distinctions when evaluating program quality.
| Credential or indicator | Why it matters | What to verify |
| Institutional accreditation | Supports transferability, financial-aid eligibility, and general academic quality review | Confirm the institution's recognized accrediting status |
| CAPTE accreditation for DPT programs | Graduation from an accredited DPT program is central to the PT licensure pathway | Check the exact program's current accreditation status, not just the university name |
| CAATE accreditation for professional athletic training programs | Supports eligibility for the professional athletic training certification pathway | Confirm the program is an entry-level professional program, not simply a sport-related master's degree |
| Published prerequisite map | Shows whether a kinesiology bachelor's supports graduate applications | Compare required courses and labs with several target schools |
| Clinical partnerships and advising | Can affect access to observation, mentoring, and career exploration | Ask how placements are arranged and whether opportunities are guaranteed |
| Outcome transparency | Helps evaluate program value without assuming results | Request graduation, professional-school placement, and employment information with definitions and timeframes |
A strong undergraduate program publishes a clear curriculum, identifies whether students can complete prerequisite labs, offers knowledgeable preprofessional advising, and explains how students find experiential learning. Strong graduate programs are transparent about clinical education, licensure preparation, student support, and program outcomes.
Do not rely on a school's marketing language such as "pre-PT track" or "sports medicine emphasis." Ask for a written course audit against the requirements of two or three target DPT or athletic training programs. Also ask whether prerequisite courses are guaranteed, whether they are offered every term, and whether transferring students can finish them without extending their degree timeline.
Licensure and authorization rules are state-specific and can change. Before committing to a program, check the state where you expect to practice and ask the professional program how it supports graduates seeking authorization in that state.
A kinesiology bachelor's degree can lead to entry-level work while you prepare for graduate school, but independent clinical PT and athletic training practice require the additional credentials described above. The best entry job gives you realistic exposure to the field without delaying prerequisite completion or creating unsustainable work-study demands.
These roles illustrate how responsibilities and settings change as education and credentials advance.
| Role | Typical credential level | Common settings | Career value |
| Rehabilitation aide or technician | Often high school diploma or bachelor's-level preparation, depending on employer | Outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers | Introduces clinic workflow, patient interaction, and PT supervision boundaries |
| Fitness trainer or exercise specialist | Bachelor's degree and employer-preferred certifications may apply | Fitness centers, wellness programs, community organizations | Builds coaching and exercise-programming experience |
| Strength and conditioning support professional | Bachelor's degree; additional certification may be preferred | Schools, colleges, sports organizations, private facilities | Fits performance-oriented students but is distinct from athletic training |
| Physical therapist | DPT and state licensure | Clinics, hospitals, homes, schools, nursing facilities | Evaluates and treats movement dysfunction across patient populations |
| Athletic trainer | Professional master's degree, certification, and applicable state authorization | Schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals, professional sports, industry | Provides injury prevention, emergency response, evaluation, and rehabilitation |
| Advanced clinical, leadership, research, or education roles | Experience plus possible residencies, fellowships, doctorates, or management training | Health systems, universities, specialty practices, organizations | Supports specialization, administration, teaching, or research |
Physical therapists may pursue specialty practice through additional experience and credentialing in areas such as orthopedics, sports, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, or cardiovascular and pulmonary care. Athletic trainers may advance into clinical practice, rehabilitation management, education, physician-practice collaboration, occupational health, or administrative roles.
Technology is changing documentation, motion analysis, telehealth workflows, and performance monitoring. These tools can improve efficiency, but they do not eliminate the need for licensed clinical judgment, hands-on assessment, emergency response, ethical decision-making, and patient communication.
Students benefit from becoming comfortable with electronic health records, evidence appraisal, data privacy, and basic data interpretation.
A common career-planning error is confusing athletic training with personal training, coaching, or strength and conditioning. These fields can overlap in athletic environments, but they have different scopes of practice, credentials, employer expectations, and legal responsibilities. Clarify the day-to-day role you want before selecting a degree concentration.
What salary ranges and job outlook can kinesiology graduates expect in physical therapy and athletic training fields?
Income varies substantially by role, credential, region, setting, experience, work schedule, and employer. A kinesiology bachelor's degree alone generally leads to a different wage range than a licensed clinical credential, so students should evaluate earnings in relation to the full education path rather than assuming all movement-science careers pay alike.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $101,020 for physical therapists and $60,250 for athletic trainers in May 2024. Median pay is the midpoint for workers in each occupation, not a starting salary or a guaranteed outcome for a particular graduate.
| Occupation | Required professional pathway | 2024 median annual wage | Projected employment growth, 2023-33 |
| Physical therapist | DPT and state licensure | $101,020 | 11% |
| Athletic trainer | Professional master's degree, certification, and applicable state authorization | $60,250 | 13% |
These BLS projections indicate faster-than-average demand relative to the overall labor market, but they do not predict hiring in a specific city or guarantee that every graduate will find a preferred role. Physical therapy demand is influenced by aging populations, chronic conditions, injury recovery, and care settings. Athletic training demand can be influenced by expanding sports medicine services, injury prevention needs, and employment outside traditional school athletics.
When assessing return on investment, compare the total cost of the bachelor's and required graduate degree, likely borrowing, time out of the full-time workforce, local wages, and the number of years required to reach licensure. A lower-cost undergraduate route may improve finances, but only if it still allows timely completion of prerequisites and a competitive application.
Students who want a bachelor's-level career with less graduate-school debt should investigate job postings in their intended location before enrolling. Exercise, wellness, rehabilitation-support, and health-promotion roles can be meaningful, but duties and pay vary widely and may require additional industry certifications.
Other Things You Should Know About Exercise Science
No. A kinesiology bachelor's degree can prepare you for DPT admission, but physical therapists must complete an accredited DPT program and meet state licensure requirements. The bachelor's degree is the academic foundation, not the final clinical credential.
Either can work if it includes the prerequisites required by your target DPT programs. Choose the program with accessible laboratory sciences, strong advising, room for observation experiences, and a schedule that supports a high science GPA rather than choosing solely by the degree title.
Yes, entry-level athletic trainers generally need a professional master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program to pursue Board of Certification eligibility. State laws may also require licensure, registration, or another form of authorization to practice.
Most Doctor of Physical Therapy programs require 50 to 100 hours of supervised observation in at least one clinical setting, and some prefer hours across outpatient, inpatient, or acute care environments. Athletic training programs may instead require documented shadowing or clinical exposure before admission.
- Best Colleges for PT, OT, and Kinesiology https://www.collegeflightpath.com/cfp-blog/best-colleges-for-pt-ot-and-kinesiology
- Kinesiologist vs Strength Coach vs Personal Trainer vs… - Vital Performance Care https://vitalperformancecare.com/trainer-vs-strength-coach/
- Kinesiology Online Master's: See & Compare Top Programs https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/kinesiology-degrees/masters/
- Choosing the Right Major for a Future in Physical Therapy | Duny.edu https://www.duny.edu/choosing-right-major-for-future-in-physical-therapy/
- Kinesiology Accreditation Process https://www.ccupeka.org/accreditation/kinesiology-accreditation-process/
- Bachelor of Kinesiology and Health Promotion https://www.sheridancollege.ca/programs/bachelor-of-health-sciences-kinesiology-and-health-promotion
- Kinesiology vs. Exercise Science vs. Sport Performance https://www.pointloma.edu/resources/health-sciences/kinesiology-vs-exercise-science-vs-sport-performance
- How to Build a Successful Sport Psychologist Career: A Step-by-Step Guide https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/how-to-build-a-successful-sport-psychologist-career-a-step-by-step-guide
- Health Promotion https://www.uregina.ca/academics/programs/khs/health-promotion.html
- What is the Best Major for Physical Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide https://tlcnursing.com/blog/what-is-the-best-major-for-physical-therapy/
- 19.4: Jobs and Careers in Sport Psychology https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sports_and_Exercise/Essentials_of_Exercise_and_Sport_Psychology__-_An_Open_Access_Textbook_(Zenko_and_Jones)/19%3A_Taking_the_Field-_An_Introduction_to_the_Field_of_Sport_Psychology/19.04%3A_Jobs_and_Careers_in_Sport_Psychology
