Declaring Kinesiology as a Major
Incoming Students: As a new freshmen or transfer student, you will declare your major through the JMU One Book website when you sign up for orientation. This major becomes your official major on your academic record.
Current Students: If you are a current student wishing to declare or change a major, there are a few steps to complete:
- Complete a request through MyMadison.
- Schedule a meeting with the Kinesiology Madison Peer Advisor or Kinesiology Advisor.
- Review the application requirements below prior to your advising meeting.
Students must have completed all three steps for a major change to be approved. If they have not met with a Kinesiology advisor within two months of submitting the request in MyMadison, the request will be automatically denied.
Please note that approval to change your major to Kinesiology: Exercise Science is not admission to the program. All students must complete the application process outlined below for full admission to the program.
If you have questions, please contact jmukinesiology@jmu.edu to set up a virtual or in-person appointment with an advisor.
For additional assistance making a request to change your major, please view the Change/Declare a Major/Minor tutorial in MyMadison or on the tutorials websites.
Declaring a Concentration
By the end of the sophomore year, all Kinesiology students must declare a concentration in either (a)Exercise Science (ES) or (b) Physical and Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE).
Acceptance into either concentration requires that you have met certain requirements. ES requirements are described below. More information about the PHETE program can be found on PHETE admission website. Your academic advisor will answer any questions that you have about admission and assist you through the process.
Admission to the Exercise Science Program
Over the past 3 years, approximately 220-250 students have declared Exercise Science as a first-year student each year, while the program admits a maximum of 120 students per year. Admission is competitive and based solely upon performance in the pre-requisite coursework.
The Department of Kinesiology expects changes to our admission process to receive final approval this spring. Your admission timeline and requirements will depend on when you intend to start upper-level (300 and 400 level) Exercise Science coursework.
Why are we changing the application timeline?
We regularly evaluate our internal processes to ensure that we’re best serving students. There are two key reasons we are seeking these changes:
- To give students an admission decision earlier in their academic career, at a time when a transition to a different major would be more seamless and less likely to increase time to graduation.
- To add one opportunity to utilize a repeat-forgive option on the pre-requisite coursework. This allows students who may struggle with the transition to college life and/or have a tough semester an option to recover.
Information for students who wish to start upper-level coursework in the Fall 2025 semester
Transfer Student Information
Students may transfer into the Kinesiology program both the Fall and Spring semesters. The “Kinesiology Transfer Snapshot” has more information for transfer students. While students can declare Exercise Science upon admission to JMU, transfer students must go through the same application process as students already at JMU (see above). Admission to JMU and admission to the Exercise Science program are separate processes.
If you are interested in transferring, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with a Kinesiology Academic Advisor, who will provide you with information about the program, schedule a campus visit to meet with current students and faculty and will answer any questions that you might have. To schedule an appointment, contact jmukinesiology@jmu.edu. Appointments can be in person or virtual, just be sure to indicate what format you would prefer.
We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with the transfer admission process. JMU Admissions has more information and instructions about applying for admission to JMU. After you are accepted and have paid a deposit to JMU, you will schedule a date for New Student/Transfer Orientation where you will meet with the Kinesiology Academic Advisor to plan your schedule and finalize your course of study. Transfer Orientation is held in December for spring transfers, and in June for fall transfers.
