Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science

This program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience necessary for careers in health, fitness, and physical education while fostering leadership and professional growth in both the exercise science and teaching fields.

The Bachelor of Science in Coaching Athletics and Physical Activity provides students with extensive real-world experience through practicum, internships, and professional development. Nationally accredited by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the program offers pathways for both exercise science professionals and future educators through a curriculum that emphasizes practical application, leadership, and instructional excellence.

Students complete a minimum of 60 clock hours of practicum in diverse settings, including clinics, fitness centers, gyms, and K-12 public school classrooms. The program culminates in a semester-long internship for exercise science students, who log over 480 hours in exercise program design, assessment, and behavior change strategies. Teaching/Coaching Licensure (TC) students engage in a year-long (two-semester) internship, logging over 600 hours in Arkansas public schools, where they gain expertise in curriculum design, classroom management, instructional delivery, and extracurricular activities under the mentorship of experienced educators.

Skills you will learn:

• Community Capacity & Networking – Engaging with key stakeholders in the organization and community.
• Exercise Program Design & Implementation – Best practices in assessment, training, coaching strategies, and continued fitness development.
• Instructional Planning & Delivery – Designing and implementing effective health and physical education curricula for K-12 learners.
• Leadership & Teamwork – Professional development, volunteerism, and collaboration.

Points of Pride:

• HES students consistently receive outstanding final internship evaluations.
• Our students have a 95% pass rate on the PRAXIS exams required for Arkansas teacher licensure.
• 78.7% of graduates are currently teaching in Arkansas public schools.

The Rehabilitation Science (RS) major is an interdisciplinary program designed to fully prepare ethical, culturally sensitive, inclusive, and socially just professionals to enter the workforce and graduate-level education programs. 

Specializing in working alongside persons living with a myriad of possible disabilities and chronic illnesses, this major will equip students to take learned theories and effectively apply them within real-time experiential learning opportunities. Students enrolled in the program can choose minors in addictions, child welfare and social services, disability studies, and recreation services.

Graduates of this program will effectively serve the needs of the community, individuals with disabilities, and populations within allied health/human service fields. The Program also prepares students for graduate school in clinical mental health, rehabilitation counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, allied health professions, and other fields.

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

• Internships with field experience: A unique feature of the
  Rehabilitation Science program is the requisite filedwork
  experience during which students complete either a full-time,
  single-semester Internship, or three separate semesters of
  part-time, experiential activities in the Field Placement Series.
  
• Prior to graduation, students will have acquired 420+ hours of
  on-site, professional mentoring specific to individual post-
  graduation goals. 

Skills you will learn

• Effective application of evidence-based practices. 
• Evaluation of workload, effective service and client needs.
• Client advocacy.

Career Options

You could work as a(n):

• Case Manager
• Child Welfare Advocate
• Mental Health Pararprofessional/Quality Behavioral Health Paraprofessional
• Department of Human Services Staff
• OT/PT/Rehab. Tech
• Activities Coordinator
•  

Alumni of our program work at:

• Department of Children and Family Services
• Department of Human Services
• Friendship Community Cares Services
• Restored Life Services (Addictions Treatment)

 

point of pride

This is the first brick and mortar undergraduate Rehabilitation Science program to be accredited by the COmmision on Allied Health and Education Programs. (2021-2028)

Coming Fall 2025!!

What is Therapeutic Recreation?

Therapeutic Recreation focuses on the essential role recreational activities play in enhancing individuals' physical, emotional, and social well being. It is vital in society as it helps people with disabilities, illnesses, or other challenges lead more fulfilling and active lives. 

Potential Employment after Graduation

Graduates of the RS- Therapeutic Recreation program can find rewarding career opportunities in settings like behavioral health facilities, clinical settings, community recreation programs, and senior living facilities. 

Program Benefits

By completing our program you will have met the requirements to sit for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) exam and you will become a part of a community dedicated to driving innovation and making a difference in the vibrant field of Therapeutic Recreation. 

The Master’s in Counseling Program is housed in the Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science department in the College of Education and Health. This 60-hour master’s program will have two specialization tracks: Rehabilitation Counseling and Clinical Mental Health. Each track will prepare students to enter the world of counseling to help people to overcome any symptoms/barriers and create a better quality of life for themselves. Our classes will be a mixture of in person and online learning and most of our courses will be taught in the evenings for those that need to work to support themselves through their graduate education in the counseling fields.

Rehabilitation Counseling Track:

Rehabilitation Counselor provide counseling to individuals with physical, developmental, intellectual, and psychiatric diagnoses. Rehabilitation Counseling work for several of the following agencies: Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Veteran’s Association (VA), Social Security, Worker’s Compensation, Rehabilitation Hospitals, and Colleges and Universities. Students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam (CRC) after completing our coursework and practicum/internship.

Clinical mental health track:

Clinical Mental Health Counselors provide counseling to individual with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses. Clinical Mental Health Counselors work in many of the following settings: Counseling Agencies, Hospitals, Public Schools, Hospitals, Colleges and Universities, and Private Practice. This program has been approved by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling as being a “CACREP-like” program that would allow for students to sit for their National Counseling Exam (NCE) which would lead to application for Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and then Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arkansas.

Hands-on learning

Practicum and Internships: completing either track in this degree includes completion of a one-semester Practicum experience and a one-semester Internship totally 700 hours of professionally mentored on-site experience in the counseling field.   

Skills you will learn

The Coaching Strength and Conditioning Certificate of Proficiency addresses the growing demand for strength and conditioning professionals by aligning with labor market trends. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Network (O*NET), careers related to coaching, fitness training, and athletic performance are experiencing strong growth, with job projections ranging from 4% to over 11% in various roles. The program's goals include applying scientific and theoretical principles in fitness, conducting fitness assessments, developing training programs, and enhancing health and performance-related physical attributes. With these objectives, the certificate prepares students for careers in coaching, athletic training, and fitness instruction while meeting the increasing industry demand for qualified professionals.

The certificate program includes five key courses designed to equip students with essential skills in fitness training, assessment, and coaching. The curriculum features HES 2013 Weight Training for Personal Trainers, High School Athletics, and Strength Coaching, focusing on strength training techniques for various populations. HES 2023 Endurance Programming and Conditioning emphasizes aerobic and anaerobic conditioning principles. HES 2043 Applied Fitness Assessment and Development trains students in evaluating and enhancing physical performance. HES 3013 Coaching Power, Speed, and Agility covers strategies for improving athletic explosiveness, while HES 4023 Principles of Strength and Conditioning provides a comprehensive foundation in strength training methodologies and program design. These courses ensure students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical application in fitness coaching and athletic performance.

 

The Coaching Travel Team and Recreational Sport Basic Certificate is designed to address the growing demand for qualified youth sports coaches by providing foundational training in coaching principles and athletic administration. The curriculum includes PE 3413 Coaching Theory, which covers essential coaching philosophies, strategies, and leadership techniques, and PE 4513 Organization and Administration of Athletics and Physical Activity, which focuses on managing sports programs effectively. With the youth sports industry experiencing rapid growth—expanding at a rate of 4.2% in 2022 and projected to grow annually by 9.2% through 2030—this certificate fills a critical knowledge gap by equipping coaches and supervisors with the skills necessary to ensure participant safety, health, and development.