Help people lead their healthiest lives by learning science-backed approaches to fitness, nutrition, sport performance, sports rehab and more. The Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health at the University of Central Missouri gives you opportunities to prepare for careers in various health and wellness arenas. It also provides the skill set for entry into competitive graduate programs including athletic training, clinical or sports nutrition, occupational and physical therapy, kinesiology and excercise physiology.
UCM’s Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health offers small class sizes taught by a faculty with a student-first philosophy, as well as a number of opportunities for hands-on training. This high-quality instruction helps you master the expertise needed for a successful career helping your future patients, clientele or athletes improve their lives.
Mission of the Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health
In UCM’s Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health, we’re dedicated to using the latest scientific research to help you become lifelong learners and passionate, expert professionals.
In accordance with the mission of our university and our college, the Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health educates and prepares students using a science-based approach to promote health and wellness for individuals and communities and to develop leaders across diverse disciplines.
Career-focused curriculum
We’re dedicated to hands-on, experiential learning. You’ll learn within fully equipped facilities and state-of-the-art labs including the human performance, biomechanics and athletic traiing labs. Master's students in Athletic Training, Clinical Nutrition and Kinesiology will access these spces for learning and publication-worthy research opportunities. There is even a full kitchen for Nutrition students.
In addition, you’ll have opportunities for internships in the many urban areas accessible from the University of Central Missouri campus. The internship experiences at UCM are a key contributor to our high rate of career placement for our graduates — employers across the state and beyond are eager to hire candidates from the Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health.
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ChairDr. Matthew J. Garver |
95% graduate employment rate
Learn in state-of-the-art facilities
Get internships in nearby metro areas
Hone skills with hands-on learning
Choose from exciting disciplines
Jumpstart your career in one of four areas of specialty with training from UCM’s Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology and Health.
Gain a broad foundation of health-related knowledge with this interdisciplinary major. As a Health Studies student, you’ll study health as it’s approached in clinical, community and corporate settings, with the flexibility to tailor the program to your interests. You’ll also have the opportunity to intern in local settings or communities and gain real-world experience.
Understand how the body moves and use that knowledge to help others train for fitness, improve their athletic performance or reach their peak wellness. The University of Central Missouri offers a BS in Kinesiology with five different options, as well as a Kinesiology MS. With decades of experience and a world-class lab, UCM has the resources and faculty to help you succeed.
Help people avoid and recover from injuries with an MS in Athletic Training. This program prepares you to take the Board of Certification exam and gain a state licensure. In addition to subject-matter expertise, you’ll also graduate with hands-on industry experience, so you can succeed in your career from day one.
Master science-backed approaches to nutrition and help your future clientele or patients live their healthiest lives. UCM offers a Nutrition minor to undergraduates, as well as an MS in Nutrition with two options, one of which prepares you to pass the national exam to be a Registered Dietician Nutritionist. Graduate Nutrition students complete rotations in clinical, community and foodservice settings for real-world experience