What can I do with my Kinesiology degree? 

Who you are matters 

Your Kinesiology degree is just one part of what you have to offer. You also bring skills and knowledge from experiences you’ve had, places you’ve been, and the values you share with family, friends, and community. 

Reflecting on your skills and interests can help you make life and career decisions. 

• Identify your values (pdf)
  Clarifying your interests and values can help you determine career possibilities that are a good fit for you. 
• Name your skills (pdf) 
  Reflect on your skills and consider how they may be valued by future employers.
• Know your strengths
  Purchase the Clifton Strengths assessment tool for $28 CAD using your student email address to identify and describe your talents. 
• Discover career possibilities with Challenge Cards
  UBC students can use code xwbgaavpor7vfy7 for free access to this online career exploration game.
  

Develop your Skillset 

Throughout your Kinesiology degree, you’ll develop specific skills that employers are looking for when hiring graduates, including: 

• Knowledge of safe, effective movement techniques in a wide variety of physical activities 
• Creative and strategic problem solving 
• Collaboration with peers, faculty, and community members through group projects and assignments 
• Critical thinking and analysis 
• Familiarity with specialized tools, equipment, and modern technologies connected to exercise physiology, motor performance, and more  
• Data collection, analysis, and interpretation through research within lab and occasional field environments 
• Effective written and oral communication skills to present ideas to a range of audiences 
• Ability to understand, examine, and synthesize concepts while considering multiple perspectives 
• Developing inclusive teaching practices in clinical and educational environments 

Get experience 

UBC offers many opportunities for Kinesiology students to build their careers. 

Workplace experience 

• Work Learn
  Build work experience through a part-time, on-campus job. 
• UBC Kinesiology Work-Integrated Learning
  Develop work skills through experience-based learning in for-credit courses. 
• Kinesiology Outreach Programs
  Apply your class learnings through experiential paid or volunteer opportunities 
• On-campus jobs
  Find student jobs available on campus. 
• Careers Online
  Browse work or volunteer positions on UBC’s online career resources platform. 
• Canada Summer Jobs Program
  Check out summer jobs for full-time students. 
• Federal Student Work Experience Program
  Apply for government positions across Canada through the student recruitment initiative. 

Research 

From volunteering in a lab to getting a research award, there are many possibilities to build your undergrad research experience and prepare you for graduate school or careers in research: 

• Faculty research opportunities
• Undergraduate Research Awards
• Directed Studies (KIN 490) 
• Undergraduate Research Experience (KIN 492) 

Involvement and leadership 

Connect your academic learning to experiences outside of the classroom. Take initiative to engage in different communities to strengthen your communication and collaboration skills. 

• Kinesiology Undergraduate Society (KUS)
  Join your student council to plan events and advocate on behalf of Kinesiology undergraduates. 
• Centre for Community Engaged Learning
  Get involved at a local school or non-profit organization. 
• Student Directed Seminars
  Propose, coordinate, and lead your own seminar class for credit. 
• Student leadership opportunities
  Take on a student leadership role with Residence Life, a Peer Program, Orientations, Collegia, and many more campus groups. 

International experience 

Living, studying, and working abroad build valuable traits. Show employers you are adaptable, can work independently, and have global experience. 

• Go Global
  Go on exchange, attend a global seminar, or conduct research abroad. 
• Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE)
  Make meaningful connections between the wider community and academia around common interests in complex global issues. 

Build your network 

Friends, family, TAs, instructors, and other people you meet can help you navigate your career questions. Uncover possibilities and learn from the experiences, stories, and insights of others. 

• Kinesiology Mentorship Program
  Pair up with an alumni mentor to share experiences, build skills, and explore different career paths in Kinesiology. 
• Kinesiology Alumni Stories
  Meet alumni, hear their stories, and learn how their Kinesiology degrees contributed to where they are now.
• UBC Hub of Ten Thousand Coffees
  Create a free profile and get matched with UBC community members to learn about their career journeys. 
• Find Kinesiology alumni on LinkedIn
  Explore paths alumni have taken by viewing their profiles or reach out for a coffee chat. 

Career possibilities 

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including health care and rehabilitation, fitness and wellness, sports and athletics, research and academia, public health and community programming, entrepreneurship, and ergonomics.   

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. 

Visit the Job Bank Canada website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field. Some career options may require further education or training. 

Professional Associations 

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads. 

• Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) 
• Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE)  
• British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK) 
• Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) 
• Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) 
• Canadian Collaborating Centres for Injury Prevention (CCCIP) 
• Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) 
• Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) 
• Canadian Society for Biomechanics (CSB)  
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) 
• Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management (CSPDM) 
• Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA) 
• Coaching Association of Canada (CAC)  
• International Collegia of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) 
• International Society of Biomechanics (ISB)  
• International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) 
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA) 
• Orthotics Prosthetics Canada (OPC) 

Use your toolkit 

• UBC Career events and workshops 
• Career resources 
• One-on-one career advising