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Key takeaway: Online kinesiology and exercise science degrees are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level by accredited schools nationwide, and the field studies human movement, exercise physiology, and biomechanics as a foundation for fitness, coaching, and allied-health career paths. Many clinical or licensed roles connected to the field, such as physical therapy or athletic training, require additional graduate-level education beyond a kinesiology degree. Compare accredited programs below.
Online Kinesiology and Exercise Science degrees examine how the human body moves, adapts, and performs, combining anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics with applied coursework in fitness, coaching, or rehabilitation support. Accredited online programs generally deliver the same core curriculum and degree titles as their campus counterparts; browse the best accredited online colleges to compare schools that offer them.
These accredited schools offer online kinesiology and exercise science programs. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
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Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
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Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Browse related program pages by level or format below.
Kinesiology and exercise science is the study of human movement, combining anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and motor control. Coursework typically explores how the body responds and adapts to physical activity, exercise, and training.
Common online levels include an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS), and a master’s degree. Bachelor’s programs are the most common entry point into fitness, coaching, and pre-professional tracks.
Graduates commonly pursue roles in fitness training, strength and conditioning, health coaching, corporate wellness, or as a foundation for further graduate study toward athletic training, physical therapy, or occupational therapy. Clinical and licensed roles typically require additional graduate education and, where applicable, state licensure or national certification.
Many programs include a lab or applied-practicum component, such as exercise testing or applied biomechanics, that may require some in-person or proctored participation even in an otherwise online program. Requirements vary by school – confirm before enrolling.
Students should verify institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database. Some kinesiology and exercise science programs also carry programmatic accreditation from bodies such as the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) for athletic training tracks, where applicable.
Online kinesiology and exercise science programs typically blend foundational science with applied coursework. Common topics include anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor learning and control, nutrition fundamentals, and program design for fitness or performance settings. Many programs let students choose an emphasis, such as fitness and wellness, strength and conditioning, or pre-professional tracks aimed at graduate study in athletic training, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.
Because kinesiology is an applied science, expect coursework that involves data collection and interpretation – for example, interpreting heart rate or movement data from an exercise test – alongside more traditional reading and writing assignments.
A kinesiology or exercise science degree builds broad knowledge of human movement and exercise science. At the bachelor’s level, this can support entry-level roles in fitness training, wellness coaching, or corporate wellness programs, often alongside a nationally recognized certification (such as those offered by NASM, ACE, or ACSM) that many employers expect in addition to the degree. It is important to understand that kinesiology alone does not confer clinical licensure – careers such as physical therapist, occupational therapist, or licensed athletic trainer require completing an accredited graduate program in that specific field and passing the relevant licensing exam. Students interested in those paths should treat a kinesiology bachelor’s as pre-professional preparation and plan for graduate school accordingly.
Kinesiology or a related field? Choose kinesiology for a broad human-movement and exercise-science foundation; students focused specifically on nutrition may prefer a nutrition or dietetics program, and students set on a clinical license path should map their target graduate program’s prerequisites early.
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