Frequently Asked Questions – PKNS

Kinesiology Majors

  1. What is Pre-Kinesiology? Pre-Kinesiology is a student classification that indicates that you are in a preparatory program for the Exercise Science or the Athletic Training Major.

  2. Is Pre-Kinesiology a degree program? You cannot get a degree in Pre-Kinesiology. However, being classified as a Pre-Kinesiology major does indicate to the University that you have chosen a degree track.

  3. Why should I be a Pre-Kinesiology major? You cannot get into the Exercise Science degree program unless you are first a Pre-Kinesiology major. Therefore, if you are not a Pre-Kinesiology major, you can not progress and take the Exercise Science major courses, nor can you take certain prerequisite courses, like the Introduction to Kinesiology class (EXER2150), Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries EXER 2294 and Applied Kinesiology EXER 2298.

  4. Do I have to be a Pre-Kinesiology major first to get in the Exercise Science major and take upper-level Exercise Science courses? Yes.

  5. How do I become a Pre-Kinesiology major? In most cases, this is done automatically for you when you indicate to the University that you want to study in the Exercise Science program. So, this happens when you apply to the University (as either an incoming freshman or transfer student) or if you decide to change your major.

  6. How do I become an Exercise Science major? Becoming an Exercise Science major is fairly simple. All you have to do is the following:

  • Pick up a change of designation application from the Department of Kinesiology offices (Belk 221 or 226) or download the form from the Dept. of Kinesiology web site.
  • Fill out this form; attach an unofficial transcript to the application.
  • Turn in this form to the Kinesiology offices by the third Wednesday in October, March, or July.
  • If you meet the criteria, you will automatically be transferred to the Exercise Science major (you will also receive notification by email, phone, and/or letter).
  • You then should meet with your assigned advisor BEFORE registering for your first semester of Exercise Science courses.
  1. Do I have to do all of this if I am a transfer student? Yes. In most cases, as a transfer student, you will still have a few prerequisites that you need to take for the Exercise Science major. Therefore, you will be admitted to the University as a Pre-Kinesiology major and you will need to apply to change your designation as was outlined in question 6 above. The transcript that you provide, needs to be an unofficial transcript from UNC Charlotte, not transcripts from your past education. You can get this type of transcript from the registrar’s system on the university website.
  2. What are the criteria for becoming an Exercise Science major? There are only three criteria, all of which need to be fulfilled by the end of the semester in which you are applying. For example, if you applied in March, you would need to fulfill all of these criterions by the end of the spring semester (first of May). If required courses are needed to be completed during summer before becoming an Exercise Science major a separate form must be filed with the department. In other words, you need to successfully complete the entire list of required courses before you can matriculate from Pre-Kinesiology to an Exercise Science Major. If you apply to become an Exercise Science major, and you do not finish all of the criteria, you will need to reactivate your application for the next screening period. The criteria are:
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Completion of all required courses and prerequisites with a letter grade of C or better.
  • Completion of 60 credit hours
  1. When are the screenings held to consider changing my designation to Exercise Science? Your application is required to be in our hands on the third Wednesday in either October, March, or July. The applications are then screened the next day. Applications that are not turned in by the third Wednesday in October, March, or July, are held until the next screening date. There are no exceptions to this policy.
  2. Where can I get help with any of this? You are welcome to talk to any of the faculty in the Kinesiology department. Another resource for information should be the CHHS Advising Center within the College of Health and Human Services. They have an extremely helpful staff that can answer many questions. Additionally, we maintain a very extensive web site.
  3. Do I need to take activity courses as part of my major requirements? Yes, majors are required to take three activity courses as part of your graduation requirements. These three courses must be completed before you do EXER4490 Exercise Science Internship. These courses do not have to be completed before matriculating from a Pre-Kinesiology Major to an Exercise Science Major. EXER1201 Foundations of Physical Conditioning does NOT count as one of the three activity courses.
  4. What do I need to do to take a course(s) at another institution? Courses undertaken by UNC Charlotte undergraduate degree students at other accredited institutions may be transferred to the University subject to the following regulations:
    1. The University is not obligated to accept any credit from another institution unless the student has obtained the prior approval of the dean of the college in which he/she is enrolled. A Permit for Transient Study form should be completed and filed in the UNC Charlotte Registrar’s Office prior to enrollment at another institution.
    2. No credit will be accepted for courses below C level for undergraduate students or below B level for graduate students.
    3. The student must request that an official transcript be mailed to the Registrar’s Office upon completion of the course. A form for this purpose is available in the Registrar’s Office. Departmental approval is also needed for courses that are required for the major.
  5. What is the Drug and Criminal Background Check policy in our college? As a student in a professional program in the College of Health and Human Services, you most likely will be asked by a clinical facility to undergo drug testing and/or have a criminal background check before being allowed to participate in a clinical experience at that facility. All costs associated with drug testing and background checks are the responsibility of the student.
  • There are certain courses that MUST be taken before you can become an Exercise Science or Athletic Training Major. ALL of these courses must be completed before you matriculate to the upper-level courses.
  • You must receive a grade of C or higher in ALL required courses for the major.
  • All EXER and ATRN courses in which the student receives a grade less than a C must be retaken at UNC Charlotte.
  • There are forms (transient study) that need to be filled out and have appropriate signatures BEFORE taking courses at another institution.
  • If you have not completed all the prerequisite courses for the Exercise Science Major by the end of the spring semester prior to entry into the upper level there is a form that needs to be filled out. This form is only used if you plan to complete ALL required classes before the start of the fall semester.
  • You are responsible for the proper completion of your entire academic program. Your advisor can counsel but you must meet all university and degree requirements for graduation.
  • Each student is responsible for the proper completion of his or her academic program, for familiarity with the University Undergraduate Catalog, for maintaining the grade average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements. The advisor will counsel, but the final responsibility remains that of the student.
  • A student is required to have knowledge of and observe all regulations pertaining to campus life and student department. The University has enacted two codes of student responsibility: The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity and The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Responsibility which is summarized in this Catalog and available in full online. As students willingly accept the benefits of membership in the UNC Charlotte academic community, they acquire obligations to observe and uphold the principles and standards that define the terms of UNC Charlotte community cooperation and make those benefits possible.
  • Each student is responsible for maintaining communication with the University and keeping on file with the Registrar’s Office at all times a current address, including ZIP code, and telephone number.
  • Each student, while associated with the University, is expected to participate in campus and community life in a manner that will reflect credit upon the student and the University.
  • Advisors in the CHHS Advising Center have been assigned to help you in your progression in the major. These advisors cannot help you unless you make an appointment to see them.
  • A form must be completed and submitted to the Department of Kinesiology before you move from a Pre-Kinesiology Major to an Exercise Science Major.
  • Transfer students need to review with the University Admissions Office and the CHHS Advising Center that all transfer credit has been accepted and what is needed to complete the general education requirements of the university.
  • As a student in a professional program in the College of Health and Human Services, you most likely will be asked by a clinical facility to undergo drug testing and/or have a criminal background check before being allowed to participate in a clinical experience at that facility. All costs associated with drug testing and background checks are the responsibility of the student.
  • COMM1101 Public Speaking is required to be completed before the Exercise Science students enroll in EXER 4490 Exercise Science Senior Internship.

Cheating and Plagiarism will not be tolerated.