Kinesiology

Faculty

John K. Petrella, Chair, Professor
Robert W. Hensarling, Jr., Professor
Alan P. Jung, Professor
Mallory R. Marshall, Associate Professor
Christopher G. Ballmann, Assistant Professor
Courteney L. Benjamin, Assistant Professor
Allison J. Jackson, Assistant Professor
Thomas J. Kopec, Assistant Professor
J. Patrick Marsh, Assistant Professor
Justin R. Moody, Assistant Professor
Joseph A. Pederson, Assistant Professor
Rebecca R. Rogers, Assistant Professor
Tyler D. Williams, Assistant Professor

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
Exercise Science Major (B.S.)
Health Sciences Major (B.S.)
Sport Administration Major (B.S.)
Sports Medicine Major (B.S.)

Minor
Sport and Recreation Ministry Minor *

Accelerated Bachelor’s to DPT Pathway Program
Fast-Track Doctor of Physical Therapy (B.S./D.P.T.)

The Department of Kinesiology offers majors in exercise science (EXER), health sciences (HESC), sport administration (SADM), and sports medicine (SMED) leading to a bachelor of science degree. The department also offers a fast-track program for students pursuing a bachelor of science in exercise science and a doctor of physical therapy degree. See department chair for details.
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*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

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 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.
Maintain a 3.50 GPA and complete 60 convocation hours by the start of Summer III.
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.

The doctor of physical therapy program at Samford University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703:706-3245; accreditation@apta.org. The program received full accreditation for five years, which is the maximum amount. Graduate from a physical therapist education program accredited by CAPTE is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Programs

Major

Minor

Sport and Recreation Ministry Minor

Courses

Kinesiology