Strength and Conditioning
Albee Hall, Rm 105
(920) 424-0834
kin@uwosh.edu
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Help Individuals Reach Their Potential
The Strength and Conditioning major at UW Oshkosh utilizes an educational curriculum grounded in evidence-based research and a variety of clinical experiences to provide students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to develop training programs for those with the primary goal of improving athletic or sport performance.
The Strength and Conditioning major is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE), a recognized authority in quality strength and conditioning education. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and excellence in our strength and conditioning program. Our curriculum, faculty, and facilities have undergone rigorous evaluation to ensure that we provide students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to excel in the field of strength and conditioning and keep athletes safe.
Learn more
Is this major for me?
If you want to pursue a career in the strength and conditioning field and enjoy working with individuals or teams in the athletic environment, the Strength and Conditioning major is for you.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to sit for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam, the gold standard certification in strength and conditioning.
How can I use this major?
From an employment perspective, many facilities require their staff to carry the CSCS certification. Colleges and universities, private training facilities, and sports medicine clinics employ professionals with the CSCS credential. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also requires strength and conditioning coaches to be certified when working with their student-athletes. In the near future, individuals who want to be employed as a CSCS need to be educated through an accredited program.
- Private training facilities
- Colleges and universities
- Sports medicine/physical therapy clinics
- High schools
- Professional sports settings
- Health Clubs
Curriculum
Pre-Admission Courses (9 cr.)
Students must earn a “C” or better in the following:
Kinesiology 121 – Orientation to Kinesiology (1 cr) [“B” grade or better]
Kinesiology 122 – Kinesiology Admissions Seminar (1 cr)
Kinesiology 170 – Medical Terminology (1 cr)
Kinesiology 171 – Prevention, Recognition, & Treatment of Athletic Injuries (2 cr)
Biology 211 – Human Anatomy (4 cr) [BIO 105]
Required CourseS (42 cr.)
Biology 212 – Human Physiology (4 cr) [BIO 211]
Kinesiology 104 – AED, CPR, and First Aid (1 cr)
Kinesiology 173 – Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology (3 cr)
Kinesiology 201 – Strength Training Techniques (1 cr)
Kinesiology 202 – Advanced Strength Training Techniques (1 cr) [KIN 201]
Kinesiology 331 – Motor Learning (3 cr) [PSY 101]
Kinesiology 340 – Biomechanics (3 cr)
Kinesiology 349 – Behavioral Aspects of Kinesiology (3 cr) [PSY 101]
Kinesiology 350 – Physiology of Exercise (3 cr)
Kinesiology 351 – Nutrition for Health & Performance (3 cr) [KIN 350]
Kinesiology 352 – Performance Assessment Techniques (3 cr) [KIN 350]
Kinesiology 370 – Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning (3 cr) [KIN 350]
Kinesiology 371 – Strength and Conditioning Program Design (3 cr) [KIN 370]
Kinesiology 427 – Professional Preparation in Strength and Conditioning (3 cr) [KIN 370]
Kinesiology 443 – Progressive Training Techniques (2 cr) [KIN 370]
Kinesiology 461 – Clinical Experience in Strength and Conditioning (3 cr) [KIN 370]
Capstone Course (12 cr.)
Kinesiology 480 – Internship in Kinesiology (12 cr)
Admission To The Major
When students begin at UW Oshkosh with an interest in a Kinesiology major, they are entered into the Pre-Kinesiology major.
In order to obtain admission into one of the majors in the Department of Kinesiology, students must submit an application portfolio. Students are required to complete the Pre-Admission courses listed above. (Biology 211 along with Kinesiology 121, 122, 170, 171)
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to be considered for admission and students in the Department of Kinesiology must finish their undergraduate degree with a 2.75 GPA in all Kinesiology courses. Therefore, pre-admission grades and GPA are reviewed during the admissions decision in order to assess the likelihood of success in completing the major.
To apply, a student submits an admission portfolio that includes a cover letter, a resume, and an admissions video. The deadline for submission of the admission portfolio is the last Friday of each semester.
Students may apply for admission while the courses are in progress; however, admission is dependent upon successful completion of each course. All applications will be reviewed and evaluated within three weeks following the end of the semester. Students will receive formal notification of the admission committee’s decision no later than five weeks after the semester ends. The decision will be sent to each student’s University email address.
If you have any questions about whether or not you should apply please contact the Admissions Committee chair, Dr. Dan Schmidt (schmidtw@uwosh.edu).
Advising
Kinesiology students will begin advisement at the University Advising Resource Center (UARC). Once students are admitted to a major, they will be assigned a faculty advisor in the Department of Kinesiology. Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor each semester, at least one week prior to their registration date.
When students arrive at the meeting with the advisor they should bring:
- An updated Academic Report (don’t print)
- A list of courses they plan to take the following semester
- A copy of the the major 4-Year Plan found on the Student Resources page
A major function of the advisor is to work with the student in designing their curriculum, so they not only complete the requirements of the program but also maximize the worth of their undergraduate education. Another purpose of an academic advisor is to give students counsel with respect to their intended career directions. Although faculty and staff will do their best to follow the student’s progress, it is the student’s responsibility to make absolutely sure they complete all degree requirements and are thus eligible to graduate.
If you have questions prior to program admission, Craig Biwer and Kris Williams are the primary faculty advisors for this major. Please reach out with any questions about this major.
NOTE: It is crucial that students meet with an advisor every semester as courses in the department may not be offered each semester. Your advisor will help you choose the best elective courses for your intended career goals.
Wait List Policy
If a class you’d like to take is full, you may elect to get on the wait list. You can view full courses in TitanWeb by unchecking the “Show Open Only” box when searching for Kinesiology. If the full class has an online wait list, it will display a yellow triangle in the status box. To join the wait list simply “enroll” in the course, checking the box for “wait list if class is full.” You should see a message confirming that you’re on the wait list upon completion.
If you need assistance, contact Deb Suess in the Kinesiology office at (920) 424-0834. Don’t procrastinate, or our ability to help may become limited.
Careers and Internships
The Kinesiology internship provides the opportunity for development and practice at a clinical placement of the student’s choosing (with approval from the Department of Kinesiology). Theory, principles and techniques, as well as the skills learned in the classroom are developed throughout the internship placement. The internship experience is required and is viewed as an integral part of the student’s professional preparation. The internship is designed to provide a quality, hands on leadership experience that is specifically related to the student’s career goals. The internship experience should be compatible with the goals of the Department of Kinesiology, the student’s professional goals, as well as with the specific needs of the internship site. Students attain internships in selected business, industry and commercial settings throughout the state, country and possibly internationally.
Strength and Conditioning majors should pursue internships that allow them to develop and enhance their ability in the performance enhancement or strength and conditioning environment. The Department of Kinesiology has developed strong relationships with many different types of internship sites, including, but not limited to:
- Bellin Health at Titletown (Green Bay, WI)
- Aurora Baycare (Green Bay, WI)
- Athlete Performance (Mequon, WI)
- NX Level Performance (Waukesha, WI)
- Sports Advantage (Verona, WI)
- XLR8 Sports Training (Menasha, WI)
- University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
- University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
- US Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Current students can find more information about the internship on the Canvas Page
For other questions about the internship, please contact:
Craig Biwer MS, CSCS, ACSM-EP
Internship Coordinator
biwerc@uwosh.edu
920-424-3070