Kinesiology and Recreation Administration

Chair's Welcome

Our faculty and staff work diligently to offer the best experience during your academic career. Our distinguished faculty members provide creative teaching experiences, valuable research that impacts the students and community around them, and hands-on experiential educational opportunities that lead to engaging and high-impact careers.  

The mission of the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration is to prepare students to become practitioners and global leaders who transform communities. The Department offers an enhanced curriculum, innovative instruction, distinct research activities, and diverse applied/experiential opportunities such as internships, practicums, service-learning, and community engagement. The Department values the comprehensive preparation of leaders and practitioners who positively impact the global community's well-being.

477

Undergraduates

4

Undergraduate Programs

8

Concentrations

56

Graduates

2

Graduate Programs

6

Concentrations

Research

Monitor showing EKG scan of athlete running on cross trainer and medical specialists supervise exercise in background, controlling physical activity, measuring heart rate in sports science laboratory

Research

The research areas in the Department include physical activity behaviors, parks and leisure experiences, COVID-19’s impact on physical activity, science teaching within physical education teacher education, multivariate associations between physical activity and psychological distress, outdoor recreation participation, natural and built environment’s effect on visitor and health behavior, implementation of adapted sports into K-12 curriculum, and the impact of collegiate adapted sports.

Program Accreditation

Michaux School of Education from outside.

Physical Education Teacher Education

The Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program in the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration (KRA), in collaboration with the School of Education, is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) to offer the K-12 teaching licensure program, which is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).

Graduation Day

Recreation Administration

The Recreation Administration Program in the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration at North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

As an accredited program, all program goals, course goals and student learning outcomes meet the rigorous standards established by COAPRT.

Degree Programs

Sports Medicine Students

This program prepares students for professional schools in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training. The undergraduate major includes courses that provide a strong foundation in the sciences for those students wishing to pursue graduate study in related fields such as athletic training, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Fitness Woman Doing Biceps Workouts With Dumbbells In Gym

This program is designed for students interested in working in areas of fitness/wellness centers, corporate fitness programs, collegiate strength and conditioning athletic programs and more. The program offers four concentration options: fitness and wellness, strength and conditioning, physical education teacher education, and kinesiology general. Students can also earn a minor in Kinesiology, Recreation Administration, or Sports Coaching. 

Student using a laptop.

The Kinesiology online program with a concentration in fitness and wellness prepares students for careers in personal training; fitness/wellness centers athletic clubs, corporate fitness programs and YMCA/YWCA programs. Graduates are employed as fitness leaders, exercise testing technicians, managers of fitness facilities, and administrators.

A group of students posing for the camera

This program offers a scientifically based, service-learning enhanced curriculum for students who want to work with people, enjoy activity and gain satisfaction in enhancing the quality of life of others. It offers three concentration options: parks and recreation management; recreational sport management (includes either a minor in business or sport coaching); and recreational therapy.

Student Sitting with a book

This program is designed to stimulate professional competence, scholarship and independent research and offers three concentration options: athletic administration, recreation management, and physical education teacher education. The curriculum consists of 33 credit hours of study.

Woman Sitting Outside with Laptop

This program is designed to stimulate professional competence, independent research and virtual creativity. It includes three concentration options: adapted sports science and recreation, kinesiology, and recreational therapy. The curriculum consists of 33 credit hours of study.

Additional Information

Student Organizations

Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in various student organizations within the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration. Each organization is run by the student population and advised by faculty. These are great opportunities for students to engage with one another as well as professionals within the field. 

Internships

The Kinesiology and Recreation Administration Department prepares students for careers by offering students opportunities to be involved in internships through applicable academic preparation for postgraduate careers. All students must complete a semester-long internship. These internships provide students with valuable hands-on experiential educational opportunities that lead to engaging and high-impact careers. 

Meet the Team

Eagle flying on a red background

Richardson, Rosalind

Administrative Support Associa

Kinesiology and Recreation Administration

location icon LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education Complex, Room C211

email icon[email protected]

phone icon 919-530-6186


Eagle flying on a red background

Woodson-Smith, Andrea

Interim Chair, Professor

Kinesiology and Recreation Administration

location icon LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education Complex, Room 220

email icon[email protected]

phone icon 919-530-7433


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