Kinesiology, Health & Athletics

Interest Area

Students who complete an area of study in KHA will be able to apply their knowledge, skill, and strategies in the areas of exercise science, human movement, physiology, biology, health, nutrition, recreation, and sport. They will be able to recognize and use the principles of physical fitness development and maintenance in the body's responses to the applicable science of healthy living.

They will understand the value and significance of the physical and emotional aspects of human development, human interactions, and quality of life. And students can analyze the history, research, and the current information and the applications of these areas of study.

Programs of Study

Fast Track Career Path

Fitness Professional

Kinesiology

CSU Transfer

Public Health Science

CSU Transfer

Explore Careers

Occupational Therapists

Median Salary

$104,404

Job Growth

+17%

Education

Bachelor's Degree
14%

Master's Degree
86%

View Career

Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.

New workers start around $69,799. Normal pay is $104,404 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $150,437.

Education

Bachelor's Degree
14%

Master's Degree
86%

Core Tasks

Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
Complete and maintain necessary records.
Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.
Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities.
Develop and participate in health promotion programs, group activities, or discussions to promote client health, facilitate social adjustment, alleviate stress, and prevent physical or mental disability.
Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students or nurses and other medical staff.
Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills, using computer programs.
Conduct research in occupational therapy.
Advise on health risks in the workplace or on health-related transition to retirement.

Median Salary

$104,404

Job Growth

+17%

Vision Therapists and Orientation and Mobility Specialists

Median Salary

$104,404

Job Growth

+17%

Education

Bachelor's Degree
39%

Master's Degree
61%

View Career

Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities. May train patients in activities such as computer use, communication skills, or home management skills.

New workers start around $69,799. Normal pay is $104,404 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $150,437.

Education

Bachelor's Degree
39%

Master's Degree
61%

Core Tasks

Teach cane skills, including cane use with a guide, diagonal techniques, and two-point touches.
Recommend appropriate mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, long canes, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
Train clients with visual impairments to use mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
Train clients to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and proprioceptive information.
Write reports or complete forms to document assessments, training, progress, or follow-up outcomes.
Develop rehabilitation or instructional plans collaboratively with clients, based on results of assessments, needs, and goals.
Assess clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.
Teach clients to travel independently, using a variety of actual or simulated travel situations or exercises.
Teach self-advocacy skills to clients.
Provide consultation, support, or education to groups such as parents and teachers.
Teach independent living skills or techniques, such as adaptive eating, medication management, diabetes management, and personal management.
Monitor clients' progress to determine whether changes in rehabilitation plans are needed.
Identify visual impairments related to basic life skills in areas such as self care, literacy, communication, health management, home management, and meal preparation.
Design instructional programs to improve communication, using devices such as slates and styluses, braillers, keyboards, adaptive handwriting devices, talking book machines, digital books, and optical character readers (OCRs).
Train clients to use adaptive equipment, such as large print, reading stands, lamps, writing implements, software, and electronic devices.
Participate in professional development activities, such as reading literature, continuing education, attending conferences, and collaborating with colleagues.
Obtain, distribute, or maintain low vision devices.
Collaborate with specialists, such as rehabilitation counselors, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, to provide client solutions.
Refer clients to services, such as eye care, health care, rehabilitation, and counseling, to enhance visual and life functioning or when condition exceeds scope of practice.

Median Salary

$104,404

Job Growth

+17%

Physical Therapists

Median Salary

$105,811

Job Growth

+19%

Education

Associate's Degree
6%

Bachelor's Degree
8%

Master's Degree
38%

Doctoral or More
47%

View Career

Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

New workers start around $60,779. Normal pay is $105,811 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $157,139.

Education

Associate's Degree
6%

Bachelor's Degree
8%

Master's Degree
38%

Doctoral or More
47%

Core Tasks

Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.
Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.
Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.
Refer clients to community resources or services.
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.
Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.
Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.
Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.
Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.

Median Salary

$105,811

Job Growth

+19%

Radiation Therapists

Median Salary

$122,990

Job Growth

+12%

Education

Certificate
9%

Some College
3%

Associate's Degree
50%

Bachelor's Degree
38%

View Career

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

New workers start around $74,901. Normal pay is $122,990 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $158,434.

Education

Certificate
9%

Some College
3%

Associate's Degree
50%

Bachelor's Degree
38%

Core Tasks

Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
Prepare or construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, or protection devices.
Check for side effects, such as skin irritation, nausea, or hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.
Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
Photograph treated area of patient and process film.
Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care personnel.
Provide assistance to other healthcare personnel during dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Schedule patients for treatment times.
Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.

Median Salary

$122,990

Job Growth

+12%

Recreational Therapists

Median Salary

$74,880

Job Growth

+24%

Education

Some College
4%

Bachelor's Degree
88%

Master's Degree
8%

View Career

Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.

New workers start around $36,712. Normal pay is $74,880 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $106,350.

Education

Some College
4%

Bachelor's Degree
88%

Master's Degree
8%

Core Tasks

Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
Develop discharge plans for patients.

Median Salary

$74,880

Job Growth

+24%

Respiratory Therapists

Median Salary

$82,077

Job Growth

+10%

Education

Certificate
5%

Associate's Degree
83%

Bachelor's Degree
12%

View Career

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

New workers start around $61,526. Normal pay is $82,077 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $109,595.

Education

Certificate
5%

Associate's Degree
83%

Bachelor's Degree
12%

Core Tasks

Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.

Median Salary

$82,077

Job Growth

+10%

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Kinesiology, Health & Athletics

School of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics Contact

Programs of Study

Fitness Professional

Kinesiology

Public Health Science

Explore Careers

Occupational Therapists

Vision Therapists and Orientation and Mobility Specialists

Physical Therapists

Radiation Therapists

Recreational Therapists

Respiratory Therapists

Is this Interest Area right for you?

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About IVC

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Get Ready for College

Guide to Paying for College

Financial Support

Costs & Payments

Supporting You

Counseling & Support Programs

Academic Help

Safety & Wellness

Welcome Lasers

Get Involved

Your Community

Campus

Finish Your Path at IVC

Transfer

Earn Your Degree or Certificate

Transcripts & Records

Kinesiology, Health & Athletics

School of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics Contact

Programs of Study

Fitness Professional

Kinesiology

Public Health Science

Explore Careers

Occupational Therapists

Vision Therapists and Orientation and Mobility Specialists

Physical Therapists

Radiation Therapists

Recreational Therapists

Respiratory Therapists

Is this Interest Area right for you?

Business Sciences

Humanities

Integrated Design, Engineering & Automation

Languages & Learning Resources

Life Sciences & Technologies

Mathematics & Computer Science

Physical Sciences

Social & Behavioral Sciences

The Arts

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