By Tyler Hansen
The good news: Now you can earn your kinesiology bachelor’s degree through Oregon State University Ecampus, one of the nation’s most respected providers of online education.
Oregon State’s kinesiology program examines physical activity across the lifespan and will equip you with the skills to become a professional in the health and wellness industry.
The better news: As a kinesiology student, you’ll learn online from Oregon State faculty who are active leaders in the field of study. That means having access to current research, clinical practices and valuable learning experiences that will lay the foundation of a successful career.
One such faculty member is Sean Newsom, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. He’s co-director of OSU’s Translational Metabolism Research Laboratory, which investigates critical metabolic health issues in order to identify ways to improve human health.
We recently asked Sean a series of questions about the new kinesiology online program, and here are six highlights he shared.
Now is a good time to earn a degree in kinesiology online.
“Students graduating from our program go on to diverse careers, most of which have a direct relationship to human health. This is a growing appreciation for the role of physical activity as a component of a healthy lifestyle and a need for healthcare professionals who can help to address our many public health challenges.”
The program covers everything related to physical activity.
“By gaining exposure to such diverse aspects of human movement, students gain a more holistic appreciation for the impact of physical activity. This also helps introduce students to diverse potential career paths following completion of their degree.”
Oregon State’s kinesiology faculty embrace teaching online.
“I enjoyed the experience and was impressed by the student engagement. It was fun to meet students, learn more about their personality and motivation for taking Ecampus courses, and the benefits of the Ecampus delivery. Students genuinely appreciate the outstanding learning resources available to them as part of the Ecampus platform.”
You can get involved in research with your professors.
“There are many ways to become engaged. Many faculty have data or conduct programs that could be accessed by Ecampus students. Others, such as myself, can engage students with discussions of current research. This can include review of recently published articles and data analysis for a given ongoing research project.”
Teaching complex scientific concepts is an Oregon State specialty.
“Effectively communicating the physiologic responses to physical activity to students is one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of my position. My overall approach involves presenting information in multiple formats, including written guidance, figures to help visualize key concepts and engagement activities that help students to integrate material. Every student is unique and my hope is that one, if not all, ways of presenting information will resonate and facilitate learning.”
Sean earned a kinesiology bachelor’s degree. He knows how it can impact a career.
“The benefit of a kinesiology degree is that it cracks many doors. It is then up to students to open the doors that are of greatest interest to them. I implore students to make connections with individuals doing jobs and in careers of interest to them. Find out how they got to that position, the pros and cons of the role, and more.”
“For students not going onto a defined career path, it is important they recognize that they will need to forge their own path. This takes persistence and patience. By connecting with professionals in the working world students will not only build their network, but also gain appreciation for the opportunities available to them.”