Kinesiology and Physical Education

Why study Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Maine?

KPE majors have outstanding opportunities for professional development in an ideal location. The Appalachian Trail, idyllic lakes and rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, and mountain biking spots are all within an easy drive of campus, providing many venues to study and practice in the field. Our faculty are known for their expertise in fitness and athletic performance. Students work within the college’s School of Kinesiology, Physical Education and Athletic Training, yet take advantage of the vast resources available at Maine’s flagship research university.

What can I do with a degree in KPE?

Many KPE students go on to careers in allied health or the private healthcare and fitness industries. The major is the gateway to our Master of Science in Athletic Training program or graduate studies in other health-related disciplines, including medical school. Several students have gone on to work in the growing outdoor recreation and education industries. The Outdoor Leadership concentration prepares you to sit for the rigorous Maine Guide certification, while the Health and Physical Education concentration allows you to apply for K-12 teaching credentials in Maine and several other states.

Our undergraduate program

KPE majors enjoy a combination of classroom and hands-on learning through laboratories, internships or student-teaching experience. Within the degree program, students can choose between three concentrations: Exercise Science, Outdoor Leadership, or Teaching and Coaching (This program will prepare students to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program).

Students in Exercise Science can choose from several tracks, including laboratory science, which prepares students for graduate programs in allied health. The Outdoor Leadership concentration, which includes a minor in outdoor leadership requires students to earn no less than four national certifications, including Wilderness First Responder. Students in the Teaching and Coaching concentration can become certified to teach K-12 physical education and health.

Our faculty

UMaine’s KPE faculty are known for their expertise in fitness, adapted physical education, exercise physiology and comparative physiology. This informs their classroom teaching, allowing UMaine students to learn from the most respected and innovative thinkers in the field.

Opportunities to excel

UMaine is the state’s largest research institution, and our undergraduates are able to work alongside faculty on groundbreaking studies. The Outdoor Leadership program offers hands-on experience in paddle sports, climbing wall instruction and challenge course facilitation. It also prepares students to sit for the rigorous Maine Guide exam offered by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. UMaine’s Health Professions Office offers close advising and career counseling for students interested in applying to medical school.

Tuition and fees

For the latest information on undergraduate tuition and fees, please visit the University of Maine Bursar’s Office.

I’m ready to apply. Where do I go?

Visit go.umaine.edu for an application, as well as information about academics and life at UMaine.