Choosing kinesiology as a career can lead to a variety of job opportunities, including working as an athletic trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist. In order to optimize one's odds of landing a job afterward, it's important to choose the best kinesiology college possible. Following four main guidelines should help most people make this decision. These include picking an accredited school, deciding between online or offline classes, finding a program that offers internships, and finding affordable tuition.
One of the most important aspects of choosing a kinesiology college is finding one that is fully accredited. With an often competitive job market, graduating from an accredited institution should give an individual the edge with employers. Otherwise, finding a job after graduation could be a harrowing experience. In the U.S., in order to tell if a potential kinesiology college is accredited, a person should check the Department of Education's database. Doing so should provide insight into a school's credibility.
The next thing the prospective kinesiology student should consider is whether to take online or offline classes. Making this decision will ultimately depend upon a few criteria. If the school is near the student's current location, then traditional, offline courses are often the best choice. If the location is a significant distance away, then sometimes online courses are the only possibility. Also, if the student already has a busy work schedule and/or children, the online route is often beneficial.
Another important part of selecting a quality kinesiology college is finding one that offers some type of internship program. Since this is a "hands on" type of career and deals with improving body movement, getting real world experience can be extremely beneficial. Consequently, it's usually helpful to pick a program that offers the opportunity to work alongside currently practicing kinesiologists. Doing so will give an individual real world experience, establish industry connections and should open doors after graduation.
In addition, it's also critical to take the cost of tuition into account. While it's important to find a reputable and accredited kinesiology college, it's also important to find one that fits the student's budget. Since most colleges require four years for completion, costs can build up rather quickly. As a result, it's best to check out at least three or four schools to determine which pricing is most affordable. If possible, an individual should also look for a kinesiology program that offers some form of financial aid.