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First-year students interested in pursuing the Kinesiology major should take CHEM 120 or CHEM 130 during the fall semester and CHEM 240 in the spring semester, and it is strongly recommended that PSYC 101 be completed during their first year. Additionally, Calculus I (MATH 110 or MATH 114); Calculus II (MATH 120 or MATH 128); and BIO 110, BIO 115, or BIO 130 should be taken by the end of the sophomore year. KINE 104: Introduction to Kinesiology is not required for the major, but can be used as one of the Additional Electives.

Placement Information

All incoming students who are interested in Kinesiology should take the Chemistry Placement Exam during the summer before matriculating. Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP exam have the option of enrolling in CHEM 130 directly without taking the placement test, but are encouraged to contact the Chemistry department chair if they have questions about this placement.

Most students who are interested in majoring in Kinesiology should also take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if any of the following are true:

• You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam;
• You received an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;
• You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university. 

An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5, or an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above, fulfills the major’s Calculus 1 requirement. An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement. Students should make sure that their official score reports are sent to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Curricular Notes

• PSYC 101 is only open to first years and sophomores. It is highly recommended to complete PSYC 101 in your first year. 

• At least one course take for core should satisfy two core requirements in order to complete all core requirements by the end of the sophomore year

Kinesiology Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Kinesiology:

• Junior transfer students

  • If starting in the fall, should have completed equivalents of Occidental’s PSYC 101, BIO 115, BIO 130; CHEM 120 or CHEM 130, Calculus 1, Calculus 2, and CHEM 240 prior to transferring. If starting in the spring, in addition should have completed one semester of anatomy and/or physiology prior to transferring.  

  • Should have completed most of their Core requirements prior to transferring. It will be possible to get at most one or two more core requirements while at Occidental.

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year:

  • Should have completed the equivalent of PSYC 101, BIO 115 or BIO 130, CHEM 120 or CHEM 130, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2 prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least five Core requirements (with at most three Core requirements to complete while at Occidental) prior to transferring.

• Sophomore transfer students

  • Should have completed PSYC 101, Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least two Core requirements prior to transferring.

General advice for transfer students wanting to major Kinesiology:

• The Senior Seminar, KINE 490, must be taken at Occidental

• Every transfer student should meet with the chair of the department to determine which courses they should enroll in during their first semester.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Junior transfer students must take KINE 300 and either KINE 310 or KINE 302 or both.

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year must take KINE 300 and CHEM 240

• Sophomore students should take KINE 300, and, depending on which chemistry and biology courses they have transferred in, the next course in the required sequence of Biology and/or Chemistry courses.