What can you do with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from James Madison University?

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from James Madison University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? On par with the average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 67%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from James Madison University have about the same likelihood of finding work in this field as the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 67%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 53% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduate.

See the details:

View a random Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduate from James Madison University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 56%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Skilled Nursing Department Therapy Coordinator
Select Rehabilitation
Mar 2021 - Sep 2021
The role of Therapy Coordinator in a Skilled Nursing Department directly involves applying knowledge from Kinesiology and Exercise Science to develop and implement rehabilitation programs, making it highly relevant.

Executive Assistant to Executive Director
Heron's Key
Sep 2021 - May 2023
As an Executive Assistant, some organizational and interpersonal skills may be transferable from Kinesiology studies, but the core qualifications do not require specific knowledge in exercise science or kinesiology.

Assistant Administrator
Avamere Living
Sep 2022 - Present
The Assistant Administrator role may require some understanding of health and wellness practices, which could be enhanced by a background in Kinesiology, but it is not primarily focused on the specific skills and knowledge from the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science - MS
University of Northern Colorado
2017 - 2019
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from James Madison University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After looking through the job titles and roles of James Madison University graduates who majored in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, it seems like a lot of them ended up in fields like physical therapy, fitness training, and health supervision. Many of the graduates have worked as physical therapists or student physical therapists, which is super relevant because those jobs require a deep understanding of human movement and rehabilitation, directly applying what they learned in school. On the flip side, there are also quite a few who found themselves in roles like account management, marketing, and administrative positions that don’t really relate to Kinesiology at all. It’s a mixed bag; while some are living the dream in health and wellness careers, others have veered off into areas that don’t make use of their specialized training.

Overall, if we look at the common job patterns, it's clear that positions in health and fitness tend to align well with their Kinesiology and Exercise Science education. However, a surprising number also ventured into roles that seem to stray pretty far from exercise science. So, while these degrees generally open doors to relevant career paths like physical therapy and fitness coaching, it’s evident that some graduates branch out into other fields that may not fully utilize their degree. It’s a great reminder that even if you study something specific, your skills can sometimes be adapted to different roles in the workforce!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates (this is across all Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University):

What kind of career trajectories do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from James Madison University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from James Madison University's Kinesiology and Exercise Science program seem to have a variety of career paths, especially in the early stages after graduation. Many of them kickstart their careers in roles that are very much aligned with their degrees. For instance, we see a significant number of graduates landing jobs as physical therapists, fitness specialists, and in other fitness-related roles immediately after school. This trend continues with many sticking to the health and wellness field, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and personal training positions. Those who graduated in recent years even seem to be diversifying into areas like sports management and sales within health tech companies, which still tangentially relate to their studies.

However, it's important to note that while many graduates initially find positions relevant to their degree, some later shift into roles that are less connected to Kinesiology and Exercise Science. For example, positions in marketing or sales, like those seen in a couple of graduates' trajectories at Envera Health or Stryker, suggest that some alumni pivot into business roles that may not utilize their specialized training. Over time, it's clear that while some graduates stay on course within healthcare and fitness, others find different avenues that might seem a bit distant from their original studies. Overall, it appears that while there's a solid start in relevant fields, career paths diversify significantly, demonstrating that a degree in Kinesiology can lead to a range of opportunities, both directly related and not so much.

How hard is a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from James Madison University?

Hey there! So, a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science can be a pretty solid mix — it’s not super easy, but it's not the hardest thing out there either. At James Madison University, you’ll dive into a lot of cool stuff about how the body works, exercise techniques, and maybe even some sports science. If you’re into fitness and enjoy hands-on activities, it might feel pretty engaging. That said, there are definitely challenging courses, especially in anatomy and physiology, which can get pretty intense. Overall, it’s a balanced degree that requires dedication, but if you’re passionate about it, you’ll probably find it manageable and definitely rewarding!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science.

Do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from James Madison University tend to make good money?

Looking through the job paths of these JMU Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates, it seems like many have found their way into decent-paying positions, especially those who moved into specialized roles like physical therapy or safety management. For example, the graduate who started as a Group Account Manager and eventually became a HSSE Manager at ABB likely earns a solid salary. On the other hand, some, like the Fitness Specialist or the coach just starting out, might not be raking it in just yet. But hey, many have room to grow in their careers or shift into higher-paying roles as they gain more experience. Overall, while not everyone seems to be making bank right away, there's potential for a good income as they advance in their fields.

What buzzwords do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science (this is across all Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
California State University, Long Beach 85 13
Concordia University-St. Paul 82 11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 80 10
Illinois State University 80 10
Liberty University 77 12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 76 13
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 76 21
Texas Woman's University 76 13
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 75 10
Saginaw Valley State University 75 12
Michigan State University 74 38
Central Michigan University 74 10
California State University San Marcos 74 14
Iowa State University 73 17
Washington State University 73 15
Appalachian State University 73 17
Western Washington University 73 11
Rutgers University 73 13
The University of Southern Mississippi 73 11
Salisbury University 73 17
Angelo State University 73 11
Penn State University 72 32
Grand Valley State University 72 22
University of Louisville 72 14
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 71 10
Indiana University Bloomington 70 42
Texas Tech University 70 33
California State University-Long Beach 70 14
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 70 14
University of Rhode Island 69 30
Sonoma State University 69 11
Temple University 68 25
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 68 22
Longwood University 68 13
James Madison University 67 15
University of Delaware 66 21
California State University, Northridge 66 28
Towson University 65 25
Auburn University 64 24
The University of Texas at San Antonio 64 35
Bowling Green State University 63 11
University of Massachusetts Amherst 63 11
Louisiana State University 62 40
San Diego State University 62 21
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 62 25
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 62 12
Oregon State University 61 21
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) 61 14
Tarleton State University 61 12
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 61 11
Virginia Commonwealth University 60 22
Western Kentucky University 60 12
State University of New York College at Cortland 60 17
Truman State University 60 10
University of Utah 59 21
University of Illinois at Chicago 59 16
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 59 13
University of North Texas 58 27
San Francisco State University 58 27
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 58 14
California State University, Fullerton 58 39
University of Maryland 58 19
University of South Carolina 58 17
Stephen F. Austin State University 58 20
Purdue University 57 11
University of Michigan 56 12
San Jose State University 56 18
Florida Atlantic University 56 10
Kansas State University 56 15
Northern Illinois University 56 13
Utah State University 56 10
Louisiana Tech University 56 11
Arizona State University 55 24
Texas A&M University 55 25
University of Houston 55 25
Miami University 55 13
College of Charleston 55 12
Georgia State University 54 16
University of Kentucky 54 25
Georgia Southern University 54 41
The University of Texas at Austin 53 21
The University of Texas at Arlington 53 30
California State University, Fresno 53 18
California State University, Monterey Bay 53 17
Colorado Mesa University 53 12
The University of Alabama 52 12
Sam Houston State University 52 27
University of Maryland College Park 52 17
California Baptist University 52 11
Brigham Young University 51 26
Texas State University 51 17
California State University-Northridge 51 10
California State University-Fullerton 51 10
Eastern Illinois University 51 19
Mississippi State University 50 21
California State University-Sacramento 49 25
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 49 21
San Diego State University-California State University 49 13
University of Arkansas 47 18
University of Mississippi 45 16