Kinesiology Student Resources
For additional student information and assistance, reach out to faculty or staff. Some student resource information has been collected here:
A Sports Medicine Assistant (SMA) is a Cornell College student who is interested in gaining experience in various areas of Sports Medicine. These students are given the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in areas of athletic training, biomechanics, exercise physiology, physical therapy and sports nutrition. This knowledge is then applied in a variety of areas including Cornell's new athletic training room, with Cornell's team physicians, and with local physical therapists. The sports medicine assistants work with the college's 17 intercollegiate athletic teams.
Students who during their academic career at Cornell have distinguished themselves by their outstanding scholarship may be eligible for either or both of the following categories of Commencement Honors:
All-College Honors, based upon a cumulative grade point average for all courses taken for grade point credit at Cornell College, provided that such courses total 20 or more (16 or more for transfer students), are indicated on the diploma as follows if the student's average is within the indicated range:
- summa cum laude: 3.9000 - 4.0000
- magna cum laude: 3.7000 - 3.8999
- cum laude: 3.5000 - 3.6999
Honors in the Major, with the words "with distinction" printed on the diploma, may be awarded by a major to graduating seniors who have successfully completed all of the following:
- A major with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all courses taken within that major
- A project or paper judged to be of honors quality by the faculty of the major
- A public oral examination on the project or paper (reviewed by at least three faculty representing two different departments and selected by the major advisor in consultation with the student) or a public exhibition or recital of artistic merit. Students interested in earning Honors in the Major should confer with their academic advisor and the Kinesiology Department Chair by the beginning of their senior year.
The Ray and Margaret Cook Award is given to a woman in her junior year that is majoring in kinesiology. Selection of the recipient is based on academic excellence, character, and career promise. This award is given by the children of Ray and Margaret Cook in their Mother's memory. At the time of Margaret Cook's death, her granddaughter attended Cornell College and was member of the Women's cross country and track teams.
Recent winners of the Ray and Margaret Cook Award:
2014: Stephanie Kerbel and Hannah O’Brien
2013: Abby Haubold
2009: Laura Dudgeon
2008: Amanda Jepson
2007: Hope Coffin
2006: Emily Decker
2005: Ashley Feltes
2004: Jennifer Labaw
2003: Beth Linderbaum and Amber Tomlin
2002: Kelly Mueller
Seventy percent of sports medicine professionals possess graduate degrees. Through coursework, sports medicine assistantships, and other opportunities, Cornell students are provided opportunities to prepare for graduate programs in sports medicine.
Physical therapy
Cornell can help prepare you to be a competitive candidate and succeed in Physical Therapy school. The general coursework pre-requisites for physical therapy programs are similar to other pre-health programs, with a greater emphasis in human anatomy and physiology. PT programs are highly competitive and have more pre-requisites than medical programs. The average cumulative GPA for those accepted into PT programs is 3.5 or higher. In addition, a GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) composite score of 1000 or higher is needed to be competitive for graduate school.
Clinical experience is required for acceptance into these program. Schools often require a specific number of clinical hours and may stipulate the type(s) of work settings required. Cornell students often meet these requirements through volunteer work, part-time work in a therapy setting, PT internships, job shadowing, or working as Sports Medicine Assistant for Cornell's Athletic Department.
Because not all physical therapy programs require the same pre-requisites, it is best to check specific school pre-requisites during your sophomore year. The Dimensions Associate Director can assist you in obtaining this information. Generally, courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, physics, psychology, statistics, and the social sciences are required. Many Cornell students interested in PT double major in either Biology and Psychology or Kinesiology and Psychology
Some additional resources related to Physical Therapy are:
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)
Athletic training
Although Cornell College's sports medicine program is not an accredited athletic training program. the college's program is geared at offering the students experiences in the area of sports medicine. There are opportunities to go to an entry-level masters program to receive your certification after your education at Cornell College. In fact, over 70% of practicing athletic trainers in the collegiate setting have their masters degree.
A Sports Medicine Assistant (SMA) is a Cornell College student who is interested in gaining experience in various areas of Sports Medicine. These students are given the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in areas of athletic training, biomechanics, exercise physiology, physical therapy and sports nutrition. This knowledge is then applied in a variety of areas including Cornell's new athletic training room, with Cornell's team physicians, and with local physical therapists. The sports medicine assistants work with the college's 17 intercollegiate athletic teams.
Some additional resources related to Athletic Training are:
Sports and exercise psychology
Sport and exercise psychology is the scientific study of psychological factors that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sport and exercise. Sport psychology specialists apply this knowledge to help athletes use psychological principles to enhance competitive performance. They may advise athletes and coaches on issues such as team building, motivation, performance anxiety, preparing for competition, over training prevention, and mental skills such as self-talk, imagery, concentration. Exercise psychology specialists work to gain a better understanding of how participation in exercise affects psychological development, health and well-being throughout the lifespan. They apply psychological principles in health and wellness settings for issues related to obesity management, motivation for diet and exercise adherence, stress management, injury rehabilitation, and using exercise as adjunct treatment for mood disorders.
Some additional resources related to Sport and Exercise Psychology are:
- Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology
- Division 47 of the American Psychological Association-Sport and Exercise Psychology
Nutrition
Students with an interest in nutrition often have a long-term goal of becoming a Registered Dietician. To do so, students must be accepted into a Dietetic Internship (DI) program and pass a national registration exam. Students may also wish to pursue a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a nutrition related field. Assistance in preparation and identification of prerequisite coursework for graduate programs can be found with help from your advisor or the Cornell Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare program.
Some additional resources related to nutrition studies are:
American College of Sports Medicine Certifications
The American College of Sports Medicine offers numerous certifications in health, fitness, clinical, and specialty areas. Some examples of ACSM certification programs include: personal training, health and fitness specialist, clinical exercise physiologist, cancer exercise trainer, and public health specialist. Upon earning your degree from Cornell in Kinesiology, you are positioned well to qualify to sit for an ACSM certification exam. Please see the links below for additional information regarding the wide array of ACSM related opportunities.
American College of Sports Medicine
Association for Applied Sports Psychology
The American College of Sportsmedicine
The American Physiological Society
The American Psychological Association Sport & Exercise Psychology Division