Frequently Asked Questions

General Q&A

What is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is broadly defined as the study of human movement. This study includes an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of movement and exercise patterns through the lifespan.

Where can I find more information about majoring in Kinesiology?

At Towson University the term “kinesiology” is used to describe a department within the College of Health Professions. The Department of Kinesiology offers four undergraduate academic majors:

Athletic Training
Exercise Science
Physical Education Teacher Education
Sport Management

There is no undergraduate “kinesiology” academic major at Towson University.

Are any of the majors within the Department of Kinesiology screened?

Athletic Training is a screened major. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the athletic training major.

Which programs are accredited by professional organizations?

The Athletic Training Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) as an entry-level program. Satisfactory completion of this program qualifies the student as a candidate for the Board of Certification examination.

The Physical Education Teacher Education Program is recognized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and National Association for Sport and Physical Education as meeting the standards for teacher education preparation.

I plan to pursue a career in Physical Therapy - Does your program prepare me for that? / Do you have a pre-PT program?

A career in Physical Therapy requires graduate level studies, which Towson does not currently offer. Additionally, none of the majors within the Department of Kinesiology are considered pre-PT programs. However, it is still possible to attend Towson for your undergraduate course work before moving into a graduate-level PT program. Most PT programs require specific pre-requisite course work, regardless of the undergraduate program completed. Students who plan to progress into a PT program should research them early to determine which pre-requisite courses they must take as part of their undergraduate course work. Being related fields, many students planning a career in PT opt to pursue our Exercise Science or Athletic Training undergraduate degrees. While they are not PT-oriented programs, the advisors will still discuss PT-related plans and assist students in their goals.

How do I appeal a grade I received that I do not agree with?

The Department of Kinesiology maintains the following Appeals Process (PDF)

Are scholarship funds available specifically for students in the Department of Kinesiology?

Please visit our Scholarships Page for information regarding scholarships offered through the Department of Kinesiology.

Advising Q&A

How are students advised in the Department of Kinesiology?

Traditional Freshmen Students

All Towson University freshmen are assigned to a First Year Experience (FYE) advisor through the Academic Advising, Retention & Completion Office. This advisor will work with the student throughout their first year at the university. The role of the FYE advisor is to provide support and information regarding the transition to college, location of campus resources, understanding of course sequencing, and other related interests available to TU students. At the beginning of the student’s Sophomore year a departmental academic advisor will be assigned. This advisor will be a faculty member within the student’s program of study and, generally, will remain the same for the duration of their academic career. The role of the departmental academic advisor is to provide support and information regarding academic progress, course sequencing, career choice, location of campus resources, and other related interests available to TU students.

Transfer and Non-Traditional Students

Transfer and Non-Traditional students are assigned to a departmental academic advisor following their Orientation Program. This advisor will be a faculty member within the student’s program of study and, generally, will remain the same for the duration of their academic career. The role of the departmental academic advisor is to provide support and information regarding academic progress, course sequencing, career choice, location of campus resources, and other related interests available to TU students.

What is a Mandatory Advising Hold and how do I get it removed?

Each semester, prior to registration, all students at Towson University have a Mandatory Advising Hold placed on their account. This hold may only be removed by the student’s academic department after the student has received registration-related advising.

The Department of Kinesiology hold Mandatory Advising Periods in March and October of every year. Students are given the opportunity to schedule an appointment, during which they will meet with an academic advisor within their academic major. The goal of these sessions is to ensure that students have reviewed their degree progress and to confirm their current standing and future enrollment plans. If a meeting is not made during the designated advising period, removal of the hold may be delayed, preventing registration. Students who do not wish to meet with an advisor prior to registering may have the opportunity to complete an Academic Advising Waiver indicating their ownership of responsibility for registration decisions.

Registration Q&A

Can I gain access to a class that is closed?

The Department of Kinesiology utilizes the in-system waitlist function for closed classes. Students wishing to gain access to a closed class must be enrolled on the waitlist for said class. As seats become available students are admitted in waitlist order. If a waitlist is full, students must monitor the system to see if a waitlist seat becomes available. Exceptions to this policy are very rare and must be approved through consultation with the Department Chairperson.

Can I gain access to a class that has a major-only requirement on it? I am not in that major, but there are seats available.

Certain classes offered by the Department of Kinesiology have a major-only requirement due to the nature of the coursework and to comply with program accreditation. These courses are not appropriate for students outside of the designated major. Exceptions to this policy are very rare and must be approved through consultation with the Program Coordinator and Department Chairperson.

How do I gain access to a class that requires Department Consent?

If a course requires Department Consent for registration, students must contact the department offering the course to gain access. The department representative will be able to explain the requirements and process for access. KNES courses require contact with the Department of Kinesiology, BIOL courses require contact with the Biology Department, etc.

Transfer Student Q&A

Which of my transfer courses satisfy major requirements?

If a transfer course is already equivalent to a course required by your major, that requirement will be automatically satisfied once your official transfer credit evaluation is complete. To determine if your transfer courses have already been equated to a TU course, utilize the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) database. If you have questions about using TES or the transfer credit evaluation process, please contact the Transfer Admissions. Detailed transfer credit information is available on the Transfer Admissions Transfer Admissions website.

What do KNES TLL and KNES TUL mean? / What does it mean if the first number of a transfer course starts with a "T" or "F"?

If a course does not qualify for a direct equivalency but falls within our discipline it is equated to KNES TLL or KNES TUL. TLL stands for Transfer Lower Level and is assigned if the incoming course is a 1- or 200 level course. TUL stands for Transfer Upper Level and is assigned if the incoming course is a 3- or 400 level course.

If an incoming course is a 1- or 200 level course at the sending institution, but equates to a 3- or 400 level course at Towson, it is indicated by replacing the "3" with "T" or the "4" with "F." This designation means that the student has a content equivalency for the course and the associated requirement is satisfied (i.e., a transfer equivalency of KNES T09 fulfills the KNES 309 requirement), but has not earned upper level credit. This distinction is made because course work taken at the 1- or 200 level cannot be counted as upper-level units at Towson. Students who receive this type of equivalency should consult with their Academic Advisor to ensure they will still meet the University's graduation requirement that 32 Upper-Level units be earned.

What should I do if I think a KNES TLL or KNES TUL course should have an equivalency?

The Department of Kinesiology, upon request and submission of the appropriate documentation, can evaluate a course to determine if it is equivalent to a TU course.    To request an equivalency review, students must obtain a Transfer Course Equivalency Form. This form must be submitted to the department along with a catalog description and/or syllabus. An equivalency determination will be made by the department chairperson in consultation with the appropriate faculty. Students with a lot of transfer electives should note that at least half of the units in a major must be completed as Towson University coursework.

How can I decide what to take before transferring to Towson?

Students should first review the degree requirements for their intended major at Towson University. Transfer Admissions offers pre-transfer advising and course equivalency information to assist you with your degree planning prior to transferring to TU. We strongly encourage students to utilize their services early in their undergraduate career to ensure a seamless transfer.

Can a Towson student take classes at another school and transfer them back in?

So long as Towson students meet certain requirements, they may be permitted to take courses at a different school and transfer them back to Towson. Students must request permission from the Registrar’s Office before registering at the other school. The Registrar’s office will have the student complete the appropriate paperwork and will then check their eligibility before approving the transfer. Regulations for transferring in work once you are a Towson student include number of credits completed, GPA, academic standing, and number of credits already transferred. Students can utilize the TES database to determine if an equivalency has been determined for a course prior to submitting a transfer petition.