About the School

Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State University is to promote physically active lifestyles and a healthy use of leisure through exemplary teaching, focused scholarship, and professional service. By providing the highest quality educational experiences to undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in athletic training, exercise science, physical education, and recreation, we prepare our graduates to positively impact professional practices and policies, thereby contributing to the overall wellness of society.

Overview

The School of Kinesiology and Recreation is uniquely positioned in the higher education marketplace to provide students—undergraduate and graduate—with a small-college experience coupled to large-university opportunities. While the School is large enough to provide various specialized academic programs, a premium is placed on students receiving personalized attention.

Distinctiveness and Excellence

The School of Kinesiology and Recreation offers various specialized undergraduate and graduate programs. These options enable students to choose from a diverse range of prospective careers. Academic options include:

Although the school offers many choices to students, it prides itself on strong and widespread faculty-student cooperation and collaboration. For example:

All required classes for majors are taught by full-time faculty, not graduate students or part-time faculty
Two full-time academic advisors monitor students' progress to completion of their degrees
Full-time faculty members sponsor five clubs for students majoring in kinesiology and recreation, offering students a gateway to their professional development and providing important networking possibilities
Students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects
Students have the opportunity to attend state, regional, and professional conferences with faculty -- activities that introduce them to key professional issues and networking

The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs with state-of-the-art technology programs that prepare graduates for current and future job markets. Among program highlights are:

Nationally accredited programs in athletic training, physical education teacher education, and recreation and park administration
State-of-the-art instructional technology in classrooms and laboratories
Professional advisory teams for each major visit campus twice yearly to advise students and faculty about changes in the workplace
Semester-long professional internships or student teaching placements serve as required capstone experiences

Educating Illinois - the University's Strategic Plan

Educating Illinois is the university’s strategic plan for academic distinctiveness and excellence. “Illinois State,” Educating Illinois pledges, “is a campus dedicated to placing the learner at the center of teaching and research.” For students, the unique blend of a small-college experience with large-university opportunities is achieved by adhering to five key University and School of Kinesiology and Recreation values:

Individual attention
Public opportunity
Active pursuit of learning
Diversity
Creative response to change

This approach to higher education ensures that graduates are thoroughly prepared for today and tomorrow’s workplace challenges. Since beginning in 1863, the School of Kinesiology and Recreation has earned a reputation for excellence recognized at state, regional, and national levels. The School is committed to providing the highest quality educational experiences and opportunities to more than 700 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate students. The School offers undergraduate majors in Kinesiology and Recreation and opportunities to select one or more specialized sequences or minors. The graduate program provides students with a master’s degree in a specialized disciplinary focus. The program has more than 7,000 alumni.