Department of Kinesiology

UNCP Kinesiology equips students with a deep understanding of human movement and wellness through a range of specialized undergraduate and graduate pathways. With award-winning faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, we nurture future health and wellness professionals dedicated to community impact and lifelong learning.

Our programs are designed to prepare students for meaningful careers in health, fitness, recreation and sport management. Through hands-on learning and a focus on lifelong wellness, students gain the skills to lead healthier lives—and help others do the same. Each program option supports this mission, offering pathways that combine academic excellence with real-world impact.

students in a UNCP sports science classroom

Undergraduate

UNC Pembroke’s Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science gives you the skills and flexibility to lead in the fitness, wellness and sports industries. Choose from three career-focused tracks — each offering hands-on experience and a strong academic foundation for the workforce or graduate school. You can also add a minor in Sport Leadership to amplify your impact.

Graduate

Advance your career with UNC Pembroke’s Master of Arts in Sport Administration. Designed for professionals ready to lead in athletics, fitness, and recreation, this program blends real-world experience with proven leadership strategies. Whether you're pursuing college athletics, facility management, or wellness programming, you'll gain the expertise and confidence to thrive in today’s dynamic sport industry.

HAWKS Club

Get involved with HAWKS — Health Advocates for Wellness with Kinesiology Students — and take your passion for wellness beyond the classroom.

This student-led club offers opportunities to build leadership skills, earn professional certifications, connect with peers and professionals, and grow through service, research and presentation experiences. It's a smart way to strengthen your resume — and your impact.

Explore HAWKS

After UNCP

As a lifelong lover of sports and being active, I knew as soon as I got to high school that I wanted to work in this field! By playing sports, I was introduced to kinesiology and from there I was hooked. However, there were other related professions I didn't know about until much later. I have been fortunate to work as a Kinesiology professional at the university level my entire career, as a coach, an athletic trainer and an instructor.

Dr. Beverly Justice

SR. LECTURER

Common Careers

Exercise Physiologist
Design and implement fitness programs to help people recover from illness and improve health.
Physical Therapist (with advanced degree)
Help patients regain mobility and manage pain through therapeutic techniques.
Occupational Therapist (with advanced degree)
Support individuals in developing or regaining the skills needed for daily living and work.
Personal Trainer or Strength & Conditioning Coach
Work one-on-one or with teams to improve physical performance and promote fitness.
Sports Coach or Scout
Lead teams and athletes to success through training, strategy, and talent development.
Recreation Director or Program Coordinator
Plan and oversee community or campus recreation programs that promote healthy lifestyles.
Corporate Wellness Coordinator
Develop health and fitness programs to boost employee well-being and productivity.
Kinesiology Researcher or Lab Technician
Conduct research on human movement, biomechanics, or performance in clinical or academic settings.
Health Educator or Wellness Coach
Promote healthy behaviors and lifestyle changes through education and support.

Nationally Recognized Instructors

At UNCP Kinesiology includes full-time faculty, instructors, adjuncts and coaches who have split appointments working with athletics and teaching within the department. Our department is made up of individuals who have distinctions at the national and international levels. These include the following:

NC Shape Young Professional of the Year - 2021
Phi Epsilon Kappa
Past Presidents of the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education
National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education Distinguished Service Award
Visiting Scholar/Professor, Danish Institute of Sport
Erasmus Mundus Visiting Scholar Limerick Ireland
Research Consortium Fellow (SHAPE America)
Celia Brackenridge International Research Award – Anita White Foundation, 2021
Coaches who present at sport specific local and national conferences.
Linda H. Rudsill Lifetime Achievement Award

Scholarly Activity within the Department

Faculty and students in Kinesiology are engaged in scholarship. Below are recent projects that have resulted in faculty publications and additional student work in progress:

Graziani, S., & Kozub, F. M. (2024). Batting for primary age children: A movement concepts medley. Journal of Physical Education Recreation and Dance, 95(3), 44-47.
Groothuis, E. F., Wooten, M. H., Fiorentino, L. H., & Phillips, C. (2023). College students' perceptions of images of female athletes. NC Journal.
Hardin, R., Taylor, E. A., Smith, A. B., Siegele, J., & Koo, G. (2022). Female Senior-Level Administrators Experiences of Gender Bias in Collegiate Athletics. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 15, 24-49.
Kozub, F. M. & Walker, A. (2025). Using linear positioning transducers to improve snatch performance in weightlifters. Strength and Conditioning Journal. Accepted manuscript published on line first at https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/toc/publishahead.
Kozub, F. M. (2025). Interscholastic athletic participation for individuals with disabilities over the past 15 years: Did the 2013 Dear Colleague letter make a difference? PALAESTRA, 39(1), 23-30.
Kozub, F. M., Faller, J., & Kozub, J. M. (2023). Using autoregulation to safely return to weightlifting during cancer treatments. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 45, 498-508. DOI: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000756
Kozub, F. M. (2022) Other Health-Impaired Conditions. In J. P. Winnick & D. L. Porretta (Ed). Adapted Physical Education and Sport (7th ed). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Mezzoni, R., & Kozub, F. M. (2023). Sensory obstacle courses to promote movement concepts in elementary physical education. STRATEGIES, 36, p.10-17.
Siegele, J. (2023). Recreation and sport in indigenous cultures: A new course for a new graduation requirement. NC Journal.
Siegele, J., Taylor, E., Saxe, K., & Smith, A. (2023). Mothers as Others in Collegiate Athletic Departments: The Impact of a Gendered Organization on Women Coaches. International Sport Coaching Journal. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0117
Smith, E.A., Hardin, R., Siegele, J., Taylor, E.A., & Saxe, K. (2025). Role satisfaction and perceived mattering of the Faculty Athletics Representative role in the NCAA. Journal of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Wooten, M. H., Fiorentino, L. H., & Bastone, F. (2025) Impact of gender and sport affiliation on collegiate student-athletes’ psychological well-being. North Carolina Journal.

Wooten, M. H., Fiorentino, L. H., & Bastone, F. (2023). The impact of gender in athletic and academic identity for collegiate student-athletes. NC Journal.

Grants

Dr. Teri Schlosser (evaluator) and Dr. Susan Edkins (Co-PI) are part of an interdisciplinary team that was awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant to reduce racial disparities for expecting and parenting mothers in rural southeastern North Carolina. The grant was awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as part of the company’s effort to decrease racial disparities in maternal and child health care in North Carolina by 50% in five years. Funding will support the Health Equity Project, which is designed to improve maternal health through service provider education using evidence-based strategies to reduce and address structural racism and implicit bias among healthcare and education professionals who engage with mothers who are pregnant or parenting. Similar training will be offered to health and education students.
Dr. Ash Walker (PI) UNC Chapel Hill/Kenan Family Charitable Trust, 211,847 to support student internships in Health Sciences.