Welcome to the UW-Madison Department of Kinesiology!
Kinesiology, broadly defined, focusses on how human movement, exercise, sport and occupation affect health and quality of life at individual and societal levels. Our department has a rich history as one of the pioneers in this field and continues to push the boundaries of research, teaching and service. We are currently the fastest growing department in the School of Education and one of the fastest growing departments across campus as a whole. Our department also ranks in the top 10 amongst Kinesiology Departments across the nation (National Academy of Kinesiology, 2021 Rankings). The Department of Kinesiology is composed of a group of prominent faculty and dedicated staff who engage in research and education in both basic and clinical or applied sciences related to our mission.
Faculty research spans the breadth and diversity of the field of Kinesiology – from molecular aspects of muscle use and adaptation, to neural control of simple and complex movements; from psychological aspects of physical activity to health issues of particular populations across the life span. Being in a multidisciplinary field, we also interact with world experts in a wide range of subject areas at UW-Madison, as reflected by the affiliation of our faculty/staff in many departments and units on campus. Our research is supported by extramural grants and gift funds from alumni and friends.
Our department is equally committed to excellence in teaching. We have a vibrant undergraduate program that currently offers three majors: Health Promotion and Health Equity, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Teacher Education. Students with degrees from our majors gain employment after graduation in careers such as K-12 health and physical education teacher, corporate wellness director, strength and condition coach, or health and fitness educator. Many students choose to pursue further clinical training in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, and other allied health professions or pursue graduate studies in a wide variety of fields in biological science, social science, engineering and education. Our graduate program offers Masters and Doctoral degrees in several clinical and research specializations, combining advanced coursework with access to world-class research and clinical labs.
We appreciate the time you have taken to visit our website and hope that you will contact us with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
On Wisconsin,
Andrea Mason
Conway Professor of Kinesiology
Department Chair