Kinesiology

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Faculty

John K. Petrella, Chair, Associate Professor
Alan P. Jung, Professor
Robert W. Hensarling, Jr., Associate Professor
Christopher Ballmann, Assistant Professor
Darrell Jon Gililland, Jr., Assistant Professor
Allison J. Jackson, Assistant Professor
W. Nathan Kirkpatrick, Assistant Professor
Thomas J. Kopec, Assistant Professor
Mallory Marshall, Assistant Professor
Joseph A. Pederson, Assistant Professor
Tyler D. Williams, Assistant Professor
Shannon M. Ashe, Instructor
Rebecca R. Rogers, Instructor, Human Performance Lab Coordinator
Kyle Southall, Visiting Instructor, Clinical Coordinator

Mission

In the Department of Kinesiology, we are called to nurture and prepare students to positively impact the health and well-being of members of society and to instill in all students, faculty, and staff, a commitment to lifetime fitness and positive health. An exemplary education provided in a Christian context, by individuals with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in scholarship, service and teaching provide the mechanism to fulfill this mission.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Kinesiology is to challenge students continually to improve the health and well-being of society by exhibiting the highest standards of quality in teaching, scholarship and service; and to assume the leadership role among academic programs in our field in meeting the challenges of preventive medicine and health care.

Values

Five fundamental values form the foundation of the Department of Kinesiology culture.

Collaboration - The phrase “to act as a unit” forms the basis of the kinesiology department. This value ensures that all students will benefit from the collective wisdom of a team of education professionals.

Excellence - A commitment to excellence has created the kinesiology department’s legacy of achievement and innovation in curricular and programmatic areas resulting in high achievement for students and faculty.

Integrity - Adherence to scientific, professional, and personal integrity are our ethical cornerstones; they underlie our desire to mentor students, conduct clinical research investigations, educate students and allied health professionals, while guiding the fiscal and administrative management of the kinesiology department.

Compassion - A commitment to compassion includes a respect for all persons, while providing the highest level of service.

Commitment - As an institution, the kinesiology department recognizes its responsibilities to the community in which we reside, to the students it services, to Samford University and to the individuals in leadership who oversee the management of its resources.

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors

Athletic Training Major (B.S.)
Exercise Science Major (B.S.)  (Pre-Physical Therapy)
Health Sciences Major (B.S.)
Sport Administration Major (B.S.)
Sports Medicine Major (B.S.)

Minor

Sport and Recreation Ministry Minor

Joint Degree (Undergraduate+Graduate)

Fast Track Master of Athletic Training (B.S./M.A.T.)
Fast Track Doctor of Physical Therapy (B.S./D.P.T.)

The Department of Kinesiology offers majors in athletic training (ATTR), exercise science (pre-physical therapy) (EXER), health sciences (HESC), sport administration (SADM), and sports medicine (SMED) leading to a bachelor of science degree. The department also offers two fast track programs for students pursuing both a bachelor of science degree and a master of athletic training or a doctor of physical therapy degree. Additionally, the University offers an early assurance option for eligible freshmen interested in pursuing the master of athletic training. The department also offers a minor in sport and recreation ministry. See department chair for details.

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all KINE prefix courses within each major and minor.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Fast Track Master of Athletic Training (M.A.T.)

Fast Track B.S./M.A.T. Admission Requirements

The department offers a fast track master of athletic training degree in combination with a bachelor of science degree. Students must first be admitted to Samford University. To apply, go to www.samford.edu/admission.

Students must then meet the following requirements:

Once admitted, students must notify the director of graduate athletic training and the undergraduate advisor for the School of Health Professions.
Achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA as of the end of the fall semester, junior year.
Earn a B- or better in the following courses: NURS 243 ; PHYS 100 ; CHEM 108 and CHEM 109 ; BIOL 105 , BIOL 217 , and BIOL 218 ; and all KINE courses.
Completion (or in-progress) of all of the following: Samford University General Education Requirements (including Core Curriculum) and any other courses specified by the 3/2 Health Science/MAT Sequence.
Completion and submission of the GRE with minimal scores as follows: Verbal: 153, Quantitative: 144, Analytical: 4.0.
Completion of a minimum of 50 clinical observation hours under direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer. These clinical observation hours may be completed during KINE 370 .
Completion and submission of a résumé and personal statement concerning interest in athletic training.
Completion and submission of three recommendation forms from: 1) the supervising certified athletic trainer where observations hours were completed; 2) a professor within the Samford University Kinesiology Department; and 3) a mentor, work supervisor, pastor, academic advisor, etc.
Completion of on-campus interview with the Master of Athletic Training Admissions Committee that will be held in November of the applicant’s junior year at Samford University.
Must hold Current CPR for the professional rescuer certification.

Program Acceptance

Applicants will be notified on or before February 1st of the junior year.
Acceptance is conditional until grades are posted at the conclusion of the junior year.
A non-refundable fee of $500 is required to secure admission upon acceptance. This fee is applied to the MAT-Summer I tuition.

Fast Track Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Fast Track B.S./D.P.T. Admission Requirements

The Samford Departments of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy offer a fast track undergraduate degree in exercise science (B.S.) and doctorate in physical therapy (D.P.T.) that can be completed over a six-year period. Incoming Samford freshmen who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply.

Criteria to apply for the competitive Fast Track program:

Admitting high school seniors only.
Minimum score of 29 on the ACT.
A GPA of 3.80 or higher in high school.
Significant record of service to the community.
Be accepted into the undergraduate exercise science major within the Department of Kinesiology.

Eligible admitted students will be e-mailed a secondary application in late January/early February. From that pool of applicants, select students will be invited to attend an on-campus interview. A faculty selection committee will then determine acceptance into the program.

If accepted, during their freshman year, students will begin taking the undergraduate requirements in the Kinesiology Department’s exercise science major, and continue with that training through the first three years. During the summer before the fourth year, the first year in the graduate cohort of the physical therapy program will begin. Provided students maintain degree requirements and progression standards, they will be awarded a bachelor of science in exercise science degree in December of the fourth year and the doctor of physical therapy degree at the end of the sixth year. This reduces the amount of time typically needed to earn a bachelor’s and doctorate degrees by one year. Students will not need to apply to the doctoral physical therapy program again, because of early acceptance into the program as a freshman.

Progression Policies

During the undergraduate program, students must meet the following progression standards to remain in the program:

Must be a declared exercise science major and follow the precise plan of study.
Complete all exercise science requirements on time in the first three years at Samford University.
Achieve a B or higher in all major KINE courses.
Earn a 3.20 GPA and complete 20 convocation hours by end of freshman year.
Earn a 3.50 GPA and complete 40 convocation hours by end of sophomore year.
Earn a 3.80 GPA and complete 60 convocation hours by end of junior year.
Participate in Samford-approved service or mission work by spring semester of third year.
Meet with an academic advisor once a semester.
Candidates must pay a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to secure admission into the D.P.T. program by January of the junior year, once they have begun the doctoral program, D.P.T. progression standards apply.

In regards to the Physical Therapy Department, the current status of accreditation is as follows: Effective April 29, 2015, Samford University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703:706-3245; Email: accreditation@apta.org). Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the programs is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

Early Assurance Program

Samford University also offers an early assurance option for high performing incoming freshmen who are interested in pursuing athletic training at the masters’ level.

Admission Requirements:

With completion of all program requirements, students are guaranteed admission into the master of athletic training program. To be considered for this program, students must:

Maintain cumulative high school GPA of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale.
Score a 26 on the ACT (or SAT equivalent).
Be accepted into Samford University.
Provide a letter of interest for the guaranteed program to the program director of graduate athletic training. Letters will be accepted from qualified students from October 1st through April 1st.

The Graduate Athletic Training Admission Committee will review applications and invite candidates who meet the standards above to campus for an interview with the committee. Students will be notified via email regarding their status in the guaranteed program. Students not chosen for the guaranteed program may complete the accelerated program by meeting the admissions standards listed in that program.

Once accepted into the Early Assurance Program, students must:

Maintain an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher as of the end of fall semester, junior year. Students who fall below this progression standard will have until the end of the next semester (fall/spring) to return their GPA to 3.50 or higher. Students who have two consecutive semesters below a GPA of 3.50 will have their guaranteed admissions status removed.
Earn a “B” or better in the following:

a. NURS 243
b. PHYS 100
c. CHEM 108 and CHEM 109
d. BIOL 105 , BIOL 217 , and BIOL 218
e. All KINE courses

Completion (or in-progress) of all Samford University following:

a. University Core Curriculum
b. General Education Requirements
c. Other courses as specified by the 3/2 Health Science/MAT sequence.

Completion of Clinical Observation Hours:

a. 50 hours minimum
b. Must be completed under direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer
c. These clinical observation hours may be completed during KINE 370.

Completion of three (3) Recommendation Forms:

a. One from a supervising certified athletic trainer where observations hours were completed
b. One from a professor within the Kinesiology Department
c. One from a mentor, work supervisor, pastor, academic advisor, etc.

Must hold Current CPR for the professional rescuer certification.

Documentation of each item must be submitted to the Graduate Athletic Training Admissions Committee before February 1st of the junior year, along with a nonrefundable fee of $500. The fee will be applied to MAT - Summer I tuition. If students do not meet the above standards, they may apply for admission as outlined in the accelerated program.

Programs

Major

Minor

Sport and Recreation Ministry Minor

Courses

Kinesiology - Undergraduate

Physical Activity Courses (Non-Varsity)

All regular physical activity courses earn standard letter grades.

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