Although it was a program for years, the School of Allied Health Sciences welcomes official School of Kinesiology
After years under the School of Allied Health Sciences, the kinesiology program has become the School of Kinesiology, gaining its school designation this fall.
Divisional Dean of Kinesiology, Lynda Ransdell, highlighted that rather than being a program within the School of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Kinesiology now has more freedom to expand student opportunity due to its increased stature and autonomy as an established school.
The school currently hosts two undergraduate programs, four graduate degree programs and several sub-disciplinary areas of specialization.
With its newfound status, the School of Kinesiology will undergo changes in curriculum, including the number of courses offered and tailoring courses specific to kinesiology. To do so, Ransdell highlighted the importance of the program’s faculty and advisors in identifying “pain points” and areas for it to grow.
These curriculum changes also make the school more competitive, which “puts [Boise State] in line with some of the best programs in the country,” Ransdell said.
Undergraduate advisor Maddison Allsop said two major changes to the curriculum include the Exercise, Physical Activity and Sport (E.P.A.S.) degree and the Sports Coaching Certificate. These changes were kickstarted in recent years and will continue to be streamlined within the school.
The E.P.A.S. degree is an alternative to the Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology, and includes new topics such as telehealth, business and technology in sports, Allsop said. The major is intentionally flexible with a variety of hybrid, online and in-person classes offered, allowing all students to achieve the degree.
The Sports Coaching Certificate will be developed further due to the kinesiology program’s school designation, and how it utilizes courses and classes built into the core kinesiology requirements.
According to Allsop, this makes it easier for students to pursue the certificate depending on their emphasis.
Ransdell noted the kinesiology program’s size and popularity among Boise State students allowed it to come into its own. Much of the program’s work will only be enhanced by its newfound status as a school, with Ransdell noting the school’s designation “validates the work that the [school] makes to the university”.
“We were fortunate that people believed in us and moved it forward,” she said.
Because of the program’s blend of lab work, research and hands-on learning for students, Ransdell looks forward to enhanced facilities, allowing for more opportunities in areas of study such as biomechanics and rehabilitation.
Senior and Kinesiology Club President Stephen Harmon said he has been in the program for the entire duration of his time at Boise State and is excited for the school’s future.
As the Kinesiology Club’s president, Harmon puts on events for the kinesiology program, holds informative events, advertises for the university’s athletics events and attends the American College of Sports Medicine Northwest conference with other club members. He started attending club meetings as a freshman, and said since then, it became an outlet and an opportunity for him to give back to his school community.
Harmon highlighted his experience with the kinesiology program’s faculty and staff adds to his excitement as the school plans to expand course options.
“There are more and more people getting into different emphases of kinesiology,” Harmon said. “We’ll be able to have more people in the kinesiology major, but also branch out and cover different fields.”
He noted the school designation enhances the university’s status and competition with other programs in the country, and he feels a sense of pride being a part of the program.
“It’s exciting, especially thinking that I’ll be an alumnus of a great institution and be so proud of the major and the degree that I have,” Harmon said.After years under the School of Allied Health Sciences, the kinesiology program has become the School of Kinesiology, gaining its school designation this fall.
Divisional Dean of Kinesiology, Lynda Ransdell, highlighted that rather than being a program within the School of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Kinesiology now has more freedom to expand student opportunity due to its increased stature and autonomy as an established school.
The school currently hosts two undergraduate programs, four graduate degree programs and several sub-disciplinary areas of specialization.
With its newfound status, the School of Kinesiology will undergo changes in curriculum, including the number of courses offered and tailoring courses specific to kinesiology. To do so, Ransdell highlighted the importance of the program’s faculty and advisors in identifying “pain points” and areas for it to grow.
These curriculum changes also make the school more competitive, which “puts [Boise State] in line with some of the best programs in the country,” Ransdell said.
Undergraduate advisor Maddison Allsop said two major changes to the curriculum include the Exercise, Physical Activity and Sport (E.P.A.S.) degree and the Sports Coaching Certificate. These changes were kickstarted in recent years and will continue to be streamlined within the school.
The E.P.A.S. degree is an alternative to the Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology, and includes new topics such as telehealth, business and technology in sports, Allsop said. The major is intentionally flexible with a variety of hybrid, online and in-person classes offered, allowing all students to achieve the degree.
The Sports Coaching Certificate will be developed further due to the kinesiology program’s school designation, and how it utilizes courses and classes built into the core kinesiology requirements.
According to Allsop, this makes it easier for students to pursue the certificate depending on their emphasis.
Ransdell noted the kinesiology program’s size and popularity among Boise State students allowed it to come into its own. Much of the program’s work will only be enhanced by its newfound status as a school, with Ransdell noting the school’s designation “validates the work that the [school] makes to the university”.
“We were fortunate that people believed in us and moved it forward,” she said.
Because of the program’s blend of lab work, research and hands-on learning for students, Ransdell looks forward to enhanced facilities, allowing for more opportunities in areas of study such as biomechanics and rehabilitation.
Senior and Kinesiology Club President Stephen Harmon said he has been in the program for the entire duration of his time at Boise State and is excited for the school’s future.
As the Kinesiology Club’s president, Harmon puts on events for the kinesiology program, holds informative events, advertises for the university’s athletics events and attends the American College of Sports Medicine Northwest conference with other club members. He started attending club meetings as a freshman, and said since then, it became an outlet and an opportunity for him to give back to his school community.
Harmon highlighted his experience with the kinesiology program’s faculty and staff adds to his excitement as the school plans to expand course options.
“There are more and more people getting into different emphases of kinesiology,” Harmon said. “We’ll be able to have more people in the kinesiology major, but also branch out and cover different fields.”
He noted the school designation enhances the university’s status and competition with other programs in the country, and he feels a sense of pride being a part of the program.
“It’s exciting, especially thinking that I’ll be an alumnus of a great institution and be so proud of the major and the degree that I have,” Harmon said.
