KINES Suggested Courses: Applied Exercise & Health (AEH) Option (2025)

KINESIOLOGY (KINES) – Applied Exercise & Health (AEH) Option NSO Enrollment Guide

There are two emphases within this option, students need to select one and understand their emphasis selection prior to declaring the KINES/AEH major/option:

  1. Health & Physical Education (HPE, teacher certification) —OR—
  2. Fitness Certification (ACSM/NSCA)

Advising

Center for Student Advising and Engagement
5 Henderson Building
University Park, PA

Find your adviser and schedule an appointment through Starfish: http://starfish.psu.edu Links to an external site.

Important Websites

Entrance to Major Requirements

  • 29.1 or more earned credits
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA

Please note, GPA requirement for KINES/AEH/HPE: 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA prior to Fall semester that HPE Emphasis Courses would be completed.

Course Recommendations

  • Summer: Choose 2 courses (6–7 credits overall) *
    • *LEAP Students: Be sure not to choose courses for the fall that you are taking this summer.
  • Fall: Choose 5–6 courses (15–17 credits overall)

Major (select 1)

  • KINES 100: The Cultural and Behavioral Foundations of Kinesiology
  • KINES 101: Biophysical Basis of Kinesiology

First-Year Seminar

  • KINES 123S (1 credit) —AND— PSU 14: First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
    • Students can take any of the thematic courses offered by the HHD departments including: BBH 123S (1), CSD 297(1), HPA 123S (1), HM 297(1), HDFS 101S (3), KINES 123S (1), NUTR 123S (1) or RPTM 120S (3).
  • BBH 102S (varsity athletes only, to be registered later, 3 credits, fulfills FYS requirement)
  • LEAP and Aurora enrollment are approved subs for FYS. Students enrolled in those programs do not have to schedule a First-Year Seminar and thematic course

Writing/Speaking (GWS) (select 1)

  • Recommended: ENGL 15, ENGL 15A, ENGL 30 or ESL 15: Rhetoric and Composition

Social/Behavioral Science (GS) (select 1-2)

  • PSYCH 100: General Psychology
  • EDPSY 10: Individual Differences in Education

Natural Science (GN) (select 1)

  • BIOL 161: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    • Note: In addition to BIOL 161, schedule BIOL 162: Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, if undecided about KINES Option or if interested in an allied health career field requiring graduate school.
  • CHEM 130: Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry
    • Note: In addition to CHEM 130, schedule CHEM 111 (lab) if interested in pursuing ATHTR Master’s Program

Quantification (GQ) (select 1)

  • MATH 4, 21, or 22 (only if needed per ALEKS score)
  • MATH 26: Plane Trigonometry – required
  • PHYS 250: Introductory Physics I

NOTES to Consider:

  • ALEKS score lower than 61 will need to take MATH 22 —AND— MATH 26 for future PHYS 250 enrollment even though MATH 26 is only required for the major.
  • Students with qualifying ALEKS scores may select Math 40, 41, 110* or 140*.
  • Please note that the pass rate for 1st semester HHD students who take 110 or 140 is approximately 50%.
  • The KINES department strongly encourages students to re-take ALEKS that score below a 61

Arts (GA) (select any 1)

Humanities (GH)

  • Hold off on GH to save for prescribed course CI 280

Integrative Studies (select 1)

Health and Wellness (GHW) (select 1)

  • NUTR 251: Introductory Principles of Nutrition (delay if no recent biology and chemistry)

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