Going back to school...

[AKIRA]

...at the age of 27.

Welp, off to UF I am supposed to go come the end of August! I am going to try to change my major to some sort of exercise science.

Since a lot of you kids on here are already taking some sort of exercise science, I want to know what it is youre taking, why, level of difficulty/enjoyment, and what type of job it will enable you to get?

 

[fufu]

I just finished my freshman year of kinesiology. I like it, most of the stuff they teach is stuff I want to learn.

If you are already lifting weights and into nutrition etc it makes it alot more interesting. You can apply so much of it to what you are doing.

There are the easy classes and tough classes, of course if you enjoy it you don't really think of it in terms of hard and easy as much. You'll probably have to take the anatomy and physiology courses which can be alot of memorizing (bones, agh). I don't know how it gauges in difficultly compared to other majors. I hear it is one of the more difficult ones, but I really don't know. I'd assume the sciences would be more difficult in general.

Like I said before, you are already a step ahead since you are engaging regulary in "fitness". There are bound to be a few classes that are cake because you already understand it all. If you know anyone in the major ask around and find out what profs are good because the teacher really makes all the difference.

 

[Witchblade]

I'm not doing anything yet, but I'm going to get two degrees in Personal Training as a part time study. It will take about a year. Then I'll have all the necessary theory covered and I'll have job experience so I'll be ready to start working for money, part time at least, because I'll still have a second study to look after.
I might get other certificates or something later on, but I think I'll focus on my main study when I can work.

 

[AKIRA]

Now see, Personal Training can be aquired over a weekend rather than going to school. If a CPT just so happens to be a by-product of a degree, then by all means.

Kinesiology for example...what jobs does that net?

 

[NordicNacho]

PE Teacher

 

[fufu]

hardly.

 

[fufu]

Hospitals, "wellness centers", sports, lab work/research (relatively new field, alot of unknown stuff), others I can't think of right now.

 

[fufu]

OK, this is from my university's career option section on the major -

"An undergraduate degree in Kinesiology is excellent preparation for pursuit of an advanced degree that will lead to a career in medicine, research science, physical therapy, or academia. Many kinesiologists also work in the health care system, especially in cardiac, pulmonary, and stroke rehabilitation. Increasingly, kinesiologists are providing their specialized expertise to the growing biotechnology industry, particularly in areas related to cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health."

Then they spouted some lame bullshit about working hard and using critical thinking to be the best you can...

 

[tucker01]

OK, this is from my university's career option section on the major -

"An undergraduate degree in Kinesiology is excellent preparation for pursuit of an advanced degree that will lead to a career in medicine, research science, physical therapy, or academia. Many kinesiologists also work in the health care system, especially in cardiac, pulmonary, and stroke rehabilitation. Increasingly, kinesiologists are providing their specialized expertise to the growing biotechnology industry, particularly in areas related to cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health."

Then they spouted some lame bullshit about working hard and using critical thinking to be the best you can...

Yeah but you have to go into that, understanding that you will have to advance your degree beyond just a BSC in Kin.

 

[fufu]

^ Yeah, that is what it says.

 

[tucker01]

Actually that is what I said. It said something similar

 

[fufu]

 

[maniclion]

Hospitals, "wellness centers", sports, lab work/research (relatively new field, alot of unknown stuff), others I can't think of right now.

So basically a glorified physical therapist....

 

[fufu]

So basically a glorified physical therapist....

Well, you can take the degree further and go into physical therapy.

 

[fufu]

You can take it farther into alot of stuff as well as physical therapy - endocrinology, biomechanics, renal physio, neural physio, cardiovascular physio, the list goes on.

 

[fufu]

Athletic/sports nutrition, another one I thought of.

 

[Double D]

NO SHIT?!?!

I thought about going back, but then I also thought I am 25 freakin years old! More power to ya Nick! Hope everything works out well for you!

Oh not to mention I will have 3 kids by the time school would start....

 

[Little Wing]

i went to college at 27 too.

 

[Witchblade]

Now see, Personal Training can be aquired over a weekend rather than going to school.

Compared to actually learning the job, a certificate is utter shit. You don't learn how to evaluate people and customize a program to their needs on paper.

 

[P-funk]

A degree in exercise science, kineseolog, exercise phys., etc. wont exactly qualify you for any other job besides being a personal trainer (which I think it should be instead of all these certifications).

you need to go on and get advanced degrees...physical therapy, nutrition, etc. to really make it work.

Those degrees will set you up with knowledge and sometimes you can turn that into a cool gig, like working at a hospital and doing some sort of rehab type of job. You wont be making six figures doing this though.

It is a tough call. You really need to do those courses and work on gaining experience to make it turn into something profitable.

You also are going to have to chose to focus on something and really be good at it. For example, some kineseolgists will work in rehab settings. Some exercise physiologists will work in a cardiac rehab center or a bariatric facility, etc. Some may want to try and work with a college team (which take time to work your way up the ladder, lots of shitty pay and long hours, lots of experience and most colleges want you to have a masters or higher to be the head strength coach).

They are great degrees and you cna learn a ton from them. Like anything though, to really turn it into something profitable, you have to be able to specialize in something, be really good at it and be marketable (which usualy means lots of experience, more education (ie advanced degrees and certifications) and good ability to deal with people).

 

[oaktownboy]

PE Teacher

this guy is one of the biggest idiots on the board AKIRA..don't listen to anything he has to say..with a major in kinesiology you can become a trainer for professional teams, teach at a college/university (although teaching requires more schooling), etc..

 

[P-funk]

Now see, Personal Training can be aquired over a weekend rather than going to school.
QUOTE]

that pretty dumb statement. just because it can be aquired over a weekend doesn't mean that it is worthy of anything and it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be required over a weekend. Those certs are BS.

 

[P-funk]

this guy is one of the biggest idiots on the board AKIRA..don't listen to anything he has to say..with a major in kinesiology you can become a trainer for professional teams, teach at a college/university (although teaching requires more schooling), etc..

no....you can't.

you can not be a teacher at a college without a PhD (some colleges will let you teach with an MS).

Being a strength coach for a pro team isn't somethign you just walk into. that takes tons of time getting to know people and paying dues.

Being a trainer (as in Athletic Trainer) for a pro team is the same as the above, paying dues and eating shit, as well as a 4 year degree in Athletic Training.


Lots of people get a degree in Kineseology with a teaching certificate and go to teach at high schools (health and gym class) as well as doing strength coaching for the schools. One of my good friends just finished his Masters in Exercise Science and Nutrition with a K-12 teaching certificate. He is a phys. ed teacher and he is the strength coach for football, track, and girls volleyball. He gets paid incredibly well and it is a great job.

If you are only looking for a 4 year degree and not interested in working in clinical settings, lab settings or rehab.....the BS in execise science (or kines. or exer. phys) with a teacher certificate is an awesome way to go and it garuntees you a job. Also, lots of teams that look for strength coaches like to have someone with a teaching degree as it shows you have taken course work in how to deal with groups of people.

 

[oaktownboy]

no....you can't.

you can not be a teacher at a college without a PhD (some colleges will let you teach with an MS).

i take it you didn't see what I wrote after that in parentheses? needs more schooling

 

[AKIRA]

Now see, Personal Training can be aquired over a weekend rather than going to school.
QUOTE]

that pretty dumb statement. just because it can be aquired over a weekend doesn't mean that it is worthy of anything and it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be required over a weekend. Those certs are BS.

That was the basis of my comment. Why go to school and get the same thing someone can get in a weekend? In other words, someone goes to school and gets a degree that nets him a CPT job. Someone else goes and gets the certification right away. Both are good with people and both do research online.

When I made that statement I wasnt talking about a person that takes a weekend course, gets a cert, then thinks he/she is a know-at-all. I am talking about someone that actually has the desire to learn more as well as instruct.

 

[Double D]

Ya I would have to say (Even though I am certified now)......should have to have a degree. I mean these people are paying you their money, shouldnt you be an expert? Kinda lame if you ask me, but thats how things work!

 

[P-funk]

I think that being a trainer should be a degree field as well. it sucks that it isn't.

The biggest problem with the degree is that there is very little (if any) real world application of what you are learning. You are pretty much learning science in a classroom and not out there actually doing it and teaching it and working with other people. There should be a practical portion or a mentorship portion that go along with degrees like exercise sci., exercise phys. and kineseology. We often get phone calls from undergrad. Kineseology majors at ASU asking us to come up and shadow us for the day and ask us questions because they are unsure if they want to go on and study physical therapy and go on and study exercise phys. and work with people in a training environmen (like I do).

 

[Double D]

I think that being a trainer should be a degree field as well. it sucks that it isn't.

The biggest problem with the degree is that there is very little (if any) real world application of what you are learning. You are pretty much learning science in a classroom and not out there actually doing it and teaching it and working with other people. There should be a practical portion or a mentorship portion that go along with degrees like exercise sci., exercise phys. and kineseology. We often get phone calls from undergrad. Kineseology majors at ASU asking us to come up and shadow us for the day and ask us questions because they are unsure if they want to go on and study physical therapy and go on and study exercise phys. and work with people in a training environmen (like I do).

I think the biggest problem is there is such a demand for trainers and if it took a degree there would be a serious shortage so they take what they can get.

 

[P-funk]

I think the biggest problem is there is such a demand for trainers and if it took a degree there would be a serious shortage so they take what they can get.

a serious shortage means more quality trainers though.

 

[AKIRA]

Bingo. And thats what I am hoping for!