Physical Culture and Sports

If you are still in high school, take some business-related courses as general background and begin reading books on sport history and make it a habit to read the sports pages online or in the newspaper.  If you are currently attending another college or university, contact an academic advisor to make sure the classes you are taking will transfer to UT Austin.

When you start the program, talk to your academic advisor. They will review your degree requirements and help you choose a certificate, track, minor, or specialization. Your advisor will help you identify and choose the option that best aligns with your career goals. 

All of our Kinesiology and Health Education specializations would work for this major:

• Coaching
• Community Health and Wellness
• Disability Studies
• Health Fitness Instructor
• Medical Fitness & Rehabilitation
• Strength & Conditioning Coaching

Learn more about certificates, minors, specializations and tracks

As a Physical Culture and Sports major, you will take 30 hours of Kinesiology and Health Education classes including core courses that give you the foundation you will need to do well in the cognate classes specific to this major. Some of the course options include: 

• KIN 312M Management of Physical Activity & Sport Programs 
• KIN 347 Historical & Ethical Issues in Physical Culture & Sports
• KIN 349 History of Sport & Physical Activity
• KIN 350 Sociological Aspects of Sport & Physical Activity OR KIN 352K Race and Sport in African American Life  
• KIN 351 Philosophy of Sport & Physical Activity
• KIN 352K Historical Trends/Current Issues in American Physical Culture
• KIN 352K Women and Sport
• HED 311 Intro to Health Promotion & Behavioral Science
• KIN 310 Physiological Basis of Conditioning

You also will be able to take elective courses that supplement your major. Be sure to talk to your academic advisor about the best options.

Experience the world and change it. Studying abroad goes beyond the classroom. You also can intern, conduct research, and gain hands-on experience internationally – all of which look great on your resume.

Maymester in Denmark: Sport, Society, and the International Olympic Movement

Led by Professor Thomas Hunt and Associate Professor of Instruction Matt Bowers, this course is held in the beautiful city Copenhagen, Denmark. Students in the program visit organizations such as the Danish Olympic and the Danish Anti-Doping Agency in order to gain insight into the international political dimensions of sport and the Olympic Movement. Students will also explore the distinct culture of Copenhagen via bike tours of the city. Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and home to many Danish national sport organizations, providing ample opportunity for professional networking.

A number of other study abroad opportunities exist at UT. Reach out to Texas Global and your academic advisor to learn more.

You may have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork with the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture in Sports. The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education is home to more than 20 well-funded research labs working to promote and understand physical activity, health, movement, behavior, and physical culture and sport. Many of these labs welcome undergraduate students, so take a few minutes to learn more about the ground-breaking research happening in our department and find out if you would be interested in working with our top-notch faculty and graduate students. 

Learn more

Graduates choose to pursue careers such as sport analytics, youth sport development, writing and journalism, sport law, public relations, governmental and sport agencies, community-based sports programs, and coaching outside the public schools. Many also go on to graduate programs in sport history, sport management, and other allied fields.

• Placement Exams and Claiming Credit Earned in High School