Since you can essentially have any bachelors degree before entering a PT program, what degree are you guys pursuing?
What degree are you pursuing
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I'm about to graduate on the 13th with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise Science! w00t! So, yeah. I'm excited and I'll be wearing all my medals and honors cords and such. lol
I think the large majority of the students I met who were going into PT were Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or something similar. What are you majoring in???
I think the large majority of the students I met who were going into PT were Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or something similar. What are you majoring in???
I was a business major if it makes any difference. I know a lot of people on this board weren't exercise science/kinesiology/etc. majors. As long as you have your pre-reqs completed I think most schools don't really care about what you majored in.
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im planning to go into pt but i figure if grad schools dont require a specific major, theres no reason not to try something practical in case pt doesnt work out.
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Idk what I plan on majoring yet. Still in my first year of college. But I've thinking a lot about it. Are the bachelors of science in Kinesiology, or excercise science, or excercise physiology able to lead you to other paths just in case I decide PT isnt for me?
Not really, unless you want to be personal trainer or a CSCS...those degrees generally aren't deemed "terminal"...you would need to pursue a masters/doctorate in order to make something of them.
I always knew I wanted to be a PT/ATC but I majored in business anyway because it was practical. At least I ended up here in the end...
Exactly. This is what I always warn people about if they're thinking of majoring in Kinesiology/Exercise Science, as these types of degrees aren't terminal, meaning you will most likely need a higher degree, e.g., Masters, Doctorate, in order to really get into a nice career. So, if for some reason you decide not to do PT, then well... yeah
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Agreed, also, I know I've said before even when I went to see about pursuing a master's in exercise science I was told not to bother because even with a master's it was still pretty much useless (or at least in my area it is).
Go for something solid that you can fall back on, I know myself and at least a couple others have degrees in some type of education- we can always fall back on teaching if we need to.
well if you did get a masters or doctrate on those degrees, what other options would open for you? I mean it would only take 2-4 years to get a masters after a bachelors
Agreed, also, I know I've said before even when I went to see about pursuing a master's in exercise science I was told not to bother because even with a master's it was still pretty much useless (or at least in my area it is).
Go for something solid that you can fall back on, I know myself and at least a couple others have degrees in some type of education- we can always fall back on teaching if we need to.
My sister is currently at UVA getting her Master's in Exercise Physiology and she just wants to be a strength and conditioning coach at a college. She has told me that at that level its either cardiac rehab which she has no interest in or a research track, which she also has no interest in (apparently because she sucks at statistics...according to her, not me). So I honestly don't even know why she's there. She can just get a CSCS an be done with it and move on. She has a bachelor's in exercise science....So even with a master's the options are limited and you can probably not spend as much money on the big name degree to do the same things. Ex. Getting a Master's vs. Getting a CSCS to be a strength and conditioning coach.
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A lot of colleges will expect their strength and conditioning coaches to have a Masters Degree. Many of them also require their athletic trainers to have a Masters as well..
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I wanted to go into exercise phys because of cardiac rehab until I talked to a number of people that were master degree holding exercise phys people in cardiac rehab. They said the nurses were getting more money then they were and that most people had been replaced by PTAs and PTs because they are billable. An exercise physiologist is not billable for insurance purposes.
That was the nail in the coffin for me, and although having this background would be great- unless you are lucky enough to break into the fitness world in a BIG way, it's ultimately useless.
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I myself have an undergrad degree in Business Mgmt, and I would highly encourage anybody in undergrad, pursing a path in PT, to seriously consider picking a major that would allow them a back-up plan if things don't work out/ideas change in the future. Undergrad degrees in exercise science, kinesiology, etc. are great...really, they are...and in many instances the extra courswork required in these majors may be helpful/beneficial in PT school. With that being said, it is not necessary to major in any of these areas in order attain acceptance into a PT program. I decided to go the business route because it provided me with a fundamental degree that can be applied to almost anything. A degree in exercise science will not be able to do much for a student who ends up deciding that PT is not the route for them. Things happen, so make sure you pick a degree that you know you could provide you earning power if you ever have a change in direction.
While I was pursing my degree in undergrad, majoring in something that was completely opposite of PT, I took the additional courses and Pre-reqs required for acceptance into PT school. It meant for more work during a couple of years, but I believe it paid off in the end. I started a full-time job in healthcare admin. last august, and after working 9 months, I am happy to share that I have been accepted into a PT program beginning in the summer!
School is all about what you make of it, so I wish everyone the best of luck in their decisions! (regardless of the major you ultimately decide upon)
While I was pursing my degree in undergrad, majoring in something that was completely opposite of PT, I took the additional courses and Pre-reqs required for acceptance into PT school. It meant for more work during a couple of years, but I believe it paid off in the end. I started a full-time job in healthcare admin. last august, and after working 9 months, I am happy to share that I have been accepted into a PT program beginning in the summer!
School is all about what you make of it, so I wish everyone the best of luck in their decisions! (regardless of the major you ultimately decide upon)
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Depends on where I transfer to, if I go to UC Davis I'll major in exercise biology, if go to UCSD it will be human biology. I'm pretty stoked on either possibility.
I agree with you 100%. And that's awesome how you got accepted. How many extra courses did you take? I might pursue a degree in accounting then try and get into a PT program if I'm still up for it
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Well, considering you really do not need any science courses to graduate with a degree in business, all of the pre-reqs that are needed for PT school are outside of the business curriculum. Therefore, I had to take all of the standard pre-reqs along with my business courses. I remember all of my business classmates thinking I was insane taking A&P I & 2 while I was taking courses like Managerial Economics & Retail Management lol. It was really nice adding these science courses to my resume too. Employers were often very impressed when I listed all of the courses "unrelated to my major" and it was definitely a selling point in interviews. It gives employers the impression that you are very well rounded.
Accounting is a great major! It is a highly sought out degree that will allow you instant access into the business world, and there are many graduate options for you to pursue if PT doesn't turn out to be the right fit for you.
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CSCS= certified strength conditioning specialist
ATC= certified athletic trainer
I majored in Exercise Science, but I agree with people who said it might be beneficial to major in something like Business to have a back up. I didn't want to MAJOR in business, but I wish I had thought about it earlier and at least minored in it.
Since getting done with your major in Excercise Science, have you been able to find a decent job ?
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I only graduated last month. I've had 2 jobs (one as a PT aide the other in hospitality) for the past 2 years so I'm just working there until I head off to PT school this fall.
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Which is a great temporary job! But, what if you had to stay at that job forever? Would it pay the bills? Probably not.
I mean, my almost $14/hr job doesn't pay my bills if I weren't living at home with my rents! I can't imagine that an aid makes more than that... BUT-- awesome experience for you for going off to PT school so *HIGH FIVE* for that!!!You are a really good example of utilizing the exercise science degree as a means to pursue PT.
I have a friend who majored in exercise science and she got a job at the YMCA... making pennies, but she loved it. Too bad her personal life is a trainwreck and she lost that job. She may have been able to work her way up to a director (still making pennies).
Another one of my friends is a Les Mills instructor (BodyPump, BodyCombat and Sh'Bam) and she is getting her bachelor's in education, but is really interested in furthering herself with LM, so she's thinking about exercise science as a master's... but she's already been told by some "higher ups" in the LM branch that she can work her way in, so she's doing it with a purpose in mind.
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That's a good idea. You should try for bachelor's degree in physiotherapy if you intend to become a physiotherapist. If you really want to know eligibility needed to pursue the bachelor of Physiotherapy course then you can go through the following sites.
http://www.theoxford.edu/physiotherapy/physiotherapy.html
http://www.manipal.edu/Institutions...pyDepartment/Courses/Pages/UnderGraduate.aspx
Go through them once. It's definitely going to help.
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I'm getting my undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and Design.
I enjoy the course work and it leads to an interesting career. If I decide not to become a PT or fail to get into PT school than I am still prepared for a fulfilling career.
I enjoy the course work and it leads to an interesting career. If I decide not to become a PT or fail to get into PT school than I am still prepared for a fulfilling career.
That is awesome! Since you're pursuing a degree not related to physical therapy, do you think it will eventually lead you away from wanting to do the program? Or would you always have the mind set of becoming a PT?
That's what I'm kind of worried about since I decided I want to pursue an accounting degree but still want to attempt and get into a PT program
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I'm keeping an open mind.
No matter what doing great at my urban planning program is going to be necessary for either
1) Becoming a great urban planner or
2) Getting into PT school.
So if the program leads me away from being a PT thats ok too because that just means I've found a great career for me. Or I'll enjoy the program, get good grades and make it into PT school and become a Physical Therapist.
Neither outcome is one I'm scared of.
No matter what doing great at my urban planning program is going to be necessary for either
1) Becoming a great urban planner or
2) Getting into PT school.
So if the program leads me away from being a PT thats ok too because that just means I've found a great career for me. Or I'll enjoy the program, get good grades and make it into PT school and become a Physical Therapist.
Neither outcome is one I'm scared of.
Well I'm an upcoming freshman and I'm trying to pursue a degree in Athletic Training but first I need to get accepted into an AT program. I'm looking at applying at UGA in the spring of 2012, hopefully I get in (since it's really competitive). If that doesn't work out I think I will major in Exercise sports science. But I've heard you can't do much with that degree.
Yeah I heard you can't do much with that degree and that's what most PT's get before entering the program. That's why I plan on getting a bachelors in accounting and if I can't get into PT, I'll have a back career path with my degree
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People who think you can't get a job with an Exercise Science, etc degree are incorrect. No, the chances of you getting a job making $100k aren't very good, but getting a job with that degree is very doable.
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I am going to respectfully disagree with this notion. I just completed my M.S. in Exercise Science/Physiology and many of the ppl in my class are struggling mightily to find jobs and/or direction. Some are PE teachers, personal trainers some are interested in cardiac rehab(jobs are extremely sparse), and others just have no clue where they are headed next. The jobs are just not really there unless you dedicate your life to research/academia. Even then, it can still be tough to find jobs. This is true for most ppl who I know and are associated with are or were undergrads/grad students in exercise science.
It's not that one cannot or won't be able to find any job with a Kinesiology/Exercise Science degree--it's that it is extrememly difficult to find one and subsequently be chosen for that job. There are few, except for what TheOx777 has already stated, e.g., personal trainers, PE teachers, coaches.
The majority of the BS Kines - Ex Sci classmates I had are going to get their teaching certification, continue with their education (MS or PhD in KIN, or PT, or MD, etc), or are still working in a field that has nothing to do with their degree. There have also been numerous publications about the terminality of the degree, some by KIN professors themselves. There are some who manage to become exercise physiologists for example.
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It's not that you couldn't get a job with a degree in kineselogy. It just isn't likely to be a career related to your career. Most sociology and philosophy majors don't have careers related to their degrees either. So if exercise science is what you enjoy studying than by all means pursue it. Just don't expect it to lead to a career in that field.
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Undergrad at Ariz. State Univ. in Kinesiology, grad May 2012
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Yes, the exercise phys people at my undergrad university actually do everything they can to deter people from doing their major. Crazy, isn't it?
Okay what if you're like me and plan on majoring in accounting, but still want to pursue my dream job which is physical therapy. The only reason I plan on majoring in accounting is because it's a good degree with many options and I can still get into a PT program with it(most PT's pursue a degree like excercise physiology which is a pointless degree). Is this a good idea?
AJYMERCED, yes study accounting and take your pre-reqs for PT school. Definitely do not get a degree in exercise science! I got a BS and MS in Exercise science and it is completely useless! Every single person in my grad program was miserable and wanted to quit a few months into the program. Only 1 person out of my program has a job in fitness. (One guy is doing pharm sales and everyone else is going into PT, PA or nursing school or is taking more courses in order to get into those schools. I think most people from my undergrad program were unemployed for months to years after grad and few if any got jobs within the Exercise science field (personal trainers).....just take exercise science classes as an elective or minor in it if you want to get some exposure to the field.
BGM: Thanks for the info/heads up on the exercise science degree. I was really thinking about majoring in exercise science but I have heard what you said before. I know that my main goal is to become a physical therapist But i just don't know what my back up plan is if I don't get accepted the first year. But I'm an incoming freshman and I still have some time to figure out what i want to major in. Majoring in AT is my first choice but I'ts really competitive, I've heard 20-25 spots are open each year. What do you recommend?
yea my program was horrible (i'll be the first to admit that). However, in my personal opinion if I could do it all over I would have majored in something more marketable for a back up plan.
I'm not bashing all exercise science concentrations.. for example, athletic training I know plenty of people who were hired with that degree and enjoy it. I did a fitness concentration (I'm a real health nut and enjoyed undergrad) but its not the most marketable major for a sustainable salary thats going to help you pay back your student loans....poor planning on my part
I'm not bashing all exercise science concentrations.. for example, athletic training I know plenty of people who were hired with that degree and enjoy it. I did a fitness concentration (I'm a real health nut and enjoyed undergrad) but its not the most marketable major for a sustainable salary thats going to help you pay back your student loans....poor planning on my part
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Don't be discouraged. I have a degree in early childhood & elementary education and I ended up going back to school for the prereqs and guess what? I got accepted into 2 of the 3 programs I applied and waitlisted at the 3rd because they have very few available spots to "outsiders" (who are not doing the 3+3 program).
That is great! When you went back to school, how long did it take you to finish the prereqs?
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I started my pre-reqs Summer 2009 and ended Summer 2010.
I had 10 courses to take/37 credits
Summer 2009: (6 credits)
Developmental Psych
Prob & Stats
Fall 2009: (11 credits)
Bio I
Chem I
Anatomy
Spring 2010: (12 credits)
Bio II
Chem II
Physiology
Summer 2010: (8 credits)
Physics I
Physics II
I had my application all ready (except for final grades for physics) and the GRE (I scheduled them for right after I finished my class in the summer) so I was at the beginning of the apps for the 2011 start year.
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Athletic training seems like a career I would like. But how is the demand for it? what degree will you need?
I started my pre-reqs Summer 2009 and ended Summer 2010.
I had 10 courses to take/37 credits
Summer 2009: (6 credits)
Developmental Psych
Prob & Stats
Fall 2009: (11 credits)
Bio I
Chem I
Anatomy
Spring 2010: (12 credits)
Bio II
Chem II
Physiology
Summer 2010: (8 credits)
Physics I
Physics II
I had my application all ready (except for final grades for physics) and the GRE (I scheduled them for right after I finished my class in the summer) so I was at the beginning of the apps for the 2011 start year.
Did you also have to do some volunteer work?
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I did about 25-30 hours in April 2009 before I started classes that summer, because I was originally going to go PTA, but the PT I was shadowing (also a family friend) really encouraged me to just take the extra courses and go "all the way". So, I had those hours and then I shadowed the rest of my hours Summer 2010; I had class until 2:50 and then I would go to the outpatient clinic at the hospital from 3-5:30/6:00 2-3 times a week (I wanted to do more, but the experience was horrid... so I think I did about 30 hours and then said "Forget this!" I'm not learning anything! Oh, and I did some acute care/in-patient while I was there; sometimes I would go in the mornings before class... 7am-10am) and then as soon as I finished my summer classes I did 2 weeks "full-time" with another out-patient facility. I ended up with like 110 hours, so not much over the minimum... Oh, lucky for me the PT I shadowed first owns her own clinic and also does home care so I got to travel with her to some nursing homes and some other eldery care as well as pediatrics!
I met a girl who was also going back to school to do her pre-reqs and she did all her shadowing over Christmas break... I think she did 3-4 weeks of 40 hours a week and just got it all out of the way in one swoop.
I am getting my bachelor's degree in kinesiology and planning on (...hoping ...PRAYING! 
) that I get into PT school. As everyone has pointed out, my degree itself will not be a good back up plan, but how viable is PTA school as my back up? Thoughts?
Thanks
) that I get into PT school. As everyone has pointed out, my degree itself will not be a good back up plan, but how viable is PTA school as my back up? Thoughts? Thanks
