Kinesiology and Athletic Training

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When students begin at UW Oshkosh with an interest in a Kinesiology major, they are entered into the Pre-Kinesiology major.

In order to obtain admission into one of the majors in the Department of Kinesiology, students must submit an application. Students are required to complete the following prerequisite courses to apply: Human Anatomy; Orientation to Kinesiology; Kinesiology Admissions Seminar; Medical Terminology; and Prevention, Recognition & Treatment of Athletic Injuries (Biology 211 along with Kinesiology 121, 122, 170, 171) While there is no official minimum GPA for admissions, students in the Department of Kinesiology must finish with a 2.75 GPA. Therefore, pre-admission grades and GPA are reviewed to assess the likelihood of success in completing the majors. Formal acceptance is necessary prior to completing most upper-level courses within the major.

To apply, a student submits an admissions portfolio that includes a cover letter, a resume, and an admissions essay. The deadline for submission of the admissions portfolio is on the last Friday of each semester.

Students may apply for admission while the courses are in progress; however, admission is dependent upon successful completion of each course. All applications will be reviewed and evaluated within three weeks following the end of the semester. Students will receive formal notification of the admission committee’s decision no later than five weeks after the semester ends. The decision will be sent to each student’s University email address.

If you have any questions about whether or not you should apply please contact the Admissions Committee chair, Dr. Schmidt (schmidtw@uwosh.edu).

Kinesiology students will begin advisement at the  University Advising Resource Center (UARC). Once students are admitted to a major, they will be assigned a faculty advisor in the Department of Kinesiology. Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor each semester, at least one week prior to their registration date.

When students arrive at the meeting with the advisor they should bring:

• An updated Academic Report (don’t print)

• A list of courses they plan to take the following semester
• A copy of the the major 4-Year Plan found on the Student Resources page

A major function of the advisor is to work with the student in designing their curriculum, so they not only complete the requirements of the program but also maximize the worth of their undergraduate education. Another purpose of an academic advisor is to give students counsel with respect to their intended career directions. Although faculty and staff will do their best to follow the student’s progress, it is the student’s responsibility to make absolutely sure they complete all degree requirements and are thus eligible to graduate.

If you have questions prior to program admission, Dr. Dan Schmidt, Mr. Craig Biwer, and Dr. Brian Wallace are the primary faculty advisors for this major. 

NOTE: It is crucial that students meet with an advisor every semester as courses in the department may not be offered each semester. Your advisor will help you choose the best elective courses for your intended career goals.

Wait List Policy

If a class you’d like to take is full, you may elect to get on the wait list. You can view full courses in TitanWeb by unchecking the “Show Open Only” box when searching for Kinesiology. If the full class has an online wait list, it will display a yellow triangle in the status box. To join the wait list simply “enroll” in the course, checking the box for “wait list if class is full.” You should see a message confirming that you’re on the wait list upon completion.

If you need assistance, contact Deb Suess in the Kinesiology office at (920) 424-0834. Don’t procrastinate, or our ability to help may become limited.

The Kinesiology internship provides the opportunity for development and practice at a clinical placement of the student’s choosing (with approval from the Department of Kinesiology). Theory, principles and techniques, as well as the skills learned in the classroom are developed throughout the internship placement. The internship experience is required and is viewed as an integral part of the student’s professional preparation. The internship is designed to provide a quality, hands on leadership experience that is specifically related to the student’s career goals.  The internship experience should be compatible with the goals of the Department of Kinesiology, the student’s professional goals, as well as with the specific needs of the internship site.  Students attain internships in selected business, industry and commercial settings throughout the state, country and possibly internationally.