Is a Kin Degree Worth It? (In-Depth Guide)
Obtaining a kin degree, which stands for kinesiology or human movement science, can prepare students for careers in physical therapy, athletic training, exercise science, and more.
However, these programs require a significant investment of time and money. This article provides an extensive analysis of whether a kin degree is ultimately worthwhile.
The Rising Popularity of Kin Degrees
Kinesiology programs are becoming increasingly popular at colleges and universities.
Over the past decade, kin degrees have seen substantial growth in enrollment numbers across undergraduate and graduate-level programs.
In fact, there are now over 500 colleges and universities that offer kin degrees in the United States alone.
This growth mirrors rising interest in health and wellness careers in fields like physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and more.
So what’s behind this rising popularity? There are a few key factors:
- Increasing health consciousness – More people are prioritizing exercise, movement, injury prevention, and living an active lifestyle. This drives interest in kin careers.
- Aging population – With a growing senior population, careers in rehabilitation and assisting with movement are in high demand.
- Advances in technology – Improved understanding of biomechanics, motion analysis software, wearable devices, and more are expanding the field.
- Healthier lifestyles – From yoga to spin class to apps that track your movement, kin concepts integrate into daily life.
With societal trends fueling enrollment growth, kin degrees are a sensible choice for those interested in health, anatomy, biomechanics, and helping people through movement.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Kin Degree
A kin degree offers many benefits – but also requires weighing some downsides. Here are the key pros and cons to consider:
Pros
Career Versatility:
Kin graduates work in diverse settings from clinics to gyms to sports performance centers.
This versatility provides good job prospects.
Specialized Knowledge:
You gain in-depth understanding of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, health promotion, injury prevention, and rehabilitation concepts.
Hands-on Training:
Most kin programs emphasize practical lab work, clinical rotations, data analysis, and research projects.
This experiential training prepares you for the workforce.
Strong Job Outlook:
Employment for physical therapists, athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, and other kin-related roles is projected to grow 7-21% over the next decade.
Lucrative Salaries:
Many kin careers offer competitive salaries. For example, physical therapists earn a median pay of $91,010 per year.
Personal Fulfillment:
Helping people move better, manage pain, recover from injury, and improve fitness can provide high personal and professional fulfillment.
Cons
Academic rigor – Kin programs typically require taking advanced courses in anatomy, physiology, physics, biomechanics, statistics, and more.
This makes for an intense, demanding curriculum.
Cost – Tuition plus lab fees for kin degrees can be expensive, often exceeding $30,000+ for undergraduate and $60,000+ for graduate programs.
This results in high student debt.
Competitive admissions – For both undergraduate and graduate programs, places are limited while interest keeps rising.
This makes admission highly selective. Strong academics are essential.
Licensure requirements – To become a physical therapist, athletic trainer, or other regulated profession requires meeting licensure and exam requirements after graduating.
Ongoing learning – Given rapid advances in the field, from technology to research, kin graduates must engage in continuing education to stay current and hirable.
If you can embrace the academic challenges and are comfortable making an investment in your education, a kin degree offers versatile career paths and high employment demand.
But financing the degree and securing a spot amid surging competition present key obstacles to overcome.
Exploring Kin Degree Options: Undergraduate vs. Graduate School
There are two main routes to starting a kin career – obtaining either an undergraduate 4-year kin bachelor’s degree or a post-graduate master’s/doctorate degree.
Here’s an overview of each pathway:
Undergraduate Kin Programs
A typical undergraduate kin program covers areas such as:
- Human anatomy
- Exercise physiology
- Biomechanics
- Motor control
- Exercise testing/prescription
- Injury prevention
- Nutrition
- Statistics
- Research methods
- Internships
Common careers include exercise physiologist, strength & conditioning coach, corporate wellness coordinator, health coach, or gym manager.
Some also leverage their bachelor’s to enter physical/occupational therapy master’s programs.Pros of undergrad kin degrees include:
- Faster timeline – complete in 4 years
- Lower cost tuition
- Wider selection of kin focus areas
Cons include:
- Limited earning potential
- Lack qualifications for advanced clinical roles in physical/occupational therapy, athletic training, etc. Additional graduate study is typically required.
In summary, a bachelor’s in kin serves as a quicker, affordable stepping stone to entry-level fitness and wellness roles.
But those wanting to perform rehabilitation, assessments, or other skilled services often need further education.
Graduate Kin Programs
Common graduate degrees include:
- MS in Kinesiology – Typically research-focused. Prepares for PhD programs or research jobs.
- MS in Exercise Science – Emphasizes strength & conditioning, fitness testing, program design, etc.
- MS/DPT in Physical Therapy – Leads to physical therapist licensure after required internship hours.
- MS in Occupational Therapy – Prepares to become a licensed OT.
- MS in Athletic Training – Develops skills to provide rehab and prevent/evaluate sports injuries. Qualifies for athletic trainer certification exam.
Graduate kin programs open up far greater career opportunities – but require major investments of money and time.Pros include:
- Become qualified for clinical roles
- Higher earning potential
- Enter leadership/management roles
- Perform skilled assessments & interventions
Cons encompass:
- Long duration – 2-3+ years
- High tuition fees
- Intense academic workload
- Competitive admission
In summary, graduate degrees unlock the full breadth of prestigious and lucrative kin careers – but expect to work hard and pay large sums for the privilege.
Committing to 3 years for a DPT or enduring a grueling residency after an MS in Athletic Training is not for the faint of heart.
Key Factors to Weigh in Deciding if a Kin Degree Is Worth It
Given the pros, cons, and differences across undergrad vs.
graduate routes, determining if investing in a kin degree makes sense requires some soul searching.
Here are 5 key considerations:
1. Career Goals & Interests
What kin roles most appeal to you? For research-focused careers, an MS in Kinesiology could suffice. Those eyeing leadership roles may need a clinical doctorate like a DPT. Other interests like sports medicine may require becoming an Athletic Trainer instead.
Get clear on your professional aspirations as this will dictate which degree suits you best.
Review job descriptions, talk to kin professionals, research salaries – this will help crystallize your goals.
2. Costs vs. Earning Potential
Adding up tuition, fees, books, housing, and the earnings lost while in school provides a price tag for your degree.
Compare this number against the average pay for kin jobs you’re targeting. Will your improved income eventually offset costs?
For instance, the $80K+ price for many DPT programs seems daunting.
But with physical therapists earning $90K per year on average, costs get recouped in a reasonable timeframe.
Just be sure your earnings projections are realistic.
3. Academic Abilities & Skills
Kin programs are demanding – especially at the graduate level. Assess your abilities in areas like:
- STEM skills – You’ll take advanced courses in sciences, stats, physics, etc.
- Memorization – Anatomy and biomechanics courses require memorizing many intricate facts.
- Stamina – Expect long hours in labs, clinics, and lots of intense studying.
- Interpersonal skills – Most kin careers require working closely with people.
If these areas aren’t strengths, be realistic about whether you can thrive in a rigorous kin program’s academics.
Support services help, but expect to be challenged.
4. Alternatives & Opportunity Costs
Also weigh if alternative health degrees could achieve your goals.
Fewer years of schooling may be needed to become a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, occupational therapy assistant, or community health worker – yet these roles still offer good income and job satisfaction.
Factor in opportunity costs too – the money lost while not working full-time or abandoning another degree.
Could staying employed or finishing your current program faster be better options? Contemplate all angles.
