Photo by:Audrey Werth/The Collegian
By Audrey Werth/tr news editor
Kinesiology is now being offered as a degree program at TCC.
Representatives from each campus hosted a dinner Feb. 11 on TR for students in the major.
“We wanted to get to know our majors,” said Joshua Tarbay, NW kinesiology associate professor.
Already, about 100 students have declared kinesiology majors.
All of the necessary courses for the degree have been offered by TCC. To get the degree approved, it was just about bundling together the pre-existing courses, Tarbay said.
NE heath and physical education instructor Kevin Harper suggested it was Tarbay’s efforts that allowed kinesiology to finally become a degree.
“We had all talked about it here and there, but he was really the one who stepped up,” he said.
Tarbay said he had always received casual questions from students in physical education classes about what they might do to get where he is. Now, TCC can help those interested students.
“It’s exciting that our school is offering this program now so we can get one step closer to our goals,” said NE student Natalie Moore.
Moore said the courses she had already taken in kinesiology changed her life by teaching her how to eat well and work out effectively.
“Everything is uncharted waters, uncharted territories, so that’s what is exciting about it,” Tarbay said.
Students at the dinner felt similarly.
“I think it’s really cool to be a part of this kicking off,” NE student Tyler Huckabee said. “You can feel the excitement.”
Not all students at the dinner had declared kinesiology as their major.
“I’m considering it,” said Jazlyn Whitlowe, a student on NE. “I’m a dance major, and I also teach dance, so it would be nice to have that extra qualification to know what to do when my students get injured.”
Students interested in the major hope it will lead to careers as personal trainers, educators, occupational therapists or coaches or trainers for major sports teams.
Several students said seeing family members with health problems inspired them to pursue kinesiology.
“I think it is important to do kinesiology because this is your body — it is your only one,” Moore said. “A lot of my family members have suffered from health issues that could easily have been prevented by knowing the things you learn through getting a degree in kinesiology.”
Patrick Denis, a student on NE, teaches yoga and is interested in physical therapy.
“I want to expand my career,” he said.
SE student Andreina Duran jumped around before settling on a major. She wants to inspire people to be healthy because of personal experience.
“Basically, I was tired of having no energy and low self-confidence,” she said. “So I grew a love for it from stepping foot into a gym and losing weight, but it became more than just losing weight.”
Faculty members were happy with the turnout.
“I think it’s been a huge success,” Tarbay said. “Now it’s just about doing everything we can to help these students be successful.”
