INFORMATION FOR
In the Department of Kinesiology, students are prepared for a variety of careers in exercise science, physical education, sport management, sports medicine, as well as exercise physiology and athletic training.
Hands-On Learning in a High-Tech Lab
Meet the Major: Exercise Physiology - Andrew Dell'Avvocato '23, Exercise Physiology Major, shares his story.
Alumni in science and health are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in Kinesiology (NACE)
Noteworthy Kinesiology Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries with 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
The Physical Education Teacher Licensure Program prepares candidates for physical education teacher licensure in both elementary and secondary schools. Additional certification in Health Education and Driver's Education are available.
View academic program requirements and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog:
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The exercise physiology program prepares students to design exercise prescriptions and communicate information related to health, wellness, and nutrition to a variety of populations including athletes, healthy adults, older adults, obese adults and children, cardiac patients, those who are diabetic, arthritic, hypertensive, or pregnant, and those suffering from cancer. Exercise physiology students are prepared to take numerous national certifications including American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and American Council on Exercise (ACE). More info »
Courses in the sport management program present relevant theory and practice that prepares students to be successful leaders in today's ever-expanding sport industry. Students will develop business and administrative skills needed by organizations involved with sport activities, products, and services.
The program is intended to be a component of the Accelerated 3+2 BS in Sports Medicine/ MS in Athletic Training. Students who do not wish to pursue or who do not meet the requirements for acceptance into the MS in AT can still matriculate into and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in sports medicine.
Accelerated program:
The Athletic Training Program is a rigorous, challenging educational experience, which presents knowledge and skills necessary for the students' professional preparation. Upon completion of the program, the students will be well prepared to take the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Ultimately, the goal of the Athletic Training Program at William Paterson University is to prepare students for a successful future in the athletic training profession. More info »
Students completing this certificate will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the esports industry, including its history, key stakeholders, and the various games and platforms that make up the ecosystem. They will learn about planning and managing esports events and facilities efficiently, a tournament organization, scheduling, venue selection, resource allocation as well as effective marketing and promotional strategies specifically tailored to the esports industry. This includes understanding target audiences, utilizing digital marketing channels, leveraging partnerships with esports organizations. Certificate earners will also understand current issues and challenges within the esports industry, including topics such as player contracts, diversity and inclusion, governance, and ethics. They will be able to lead and manage esports teams and organizations, including player recruitment, coaching, and organizational dynamics.
This certificate can help prepare students for careers such as E-sport Coach, Event Coordinator, Marketing Professional, Content Creator
This certificate is appropriate for anyone wishing to pursue roles in the field of E-Sports. Courses in this certificate may also apply to the Sport Management BA degree.
Contact:
Dr. D. Hack, Chairhackd2@wpunj.edu 973-720-2151
In the Department of Kinesiology, students benefit from small classes, opportunities to conduct research with our outstanding faculty, and internship opportunities in both local and out-of-state locations. Students also have access to state-of-the-art resources, including a new human performance lab, biomechanics lab, motor behavior lab, exercise room, and phlebotomy lab, as well as two athletic training rooms and an athletic training classroom utilized for the athletic training program.
In our kinesiology programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates. They are also prepared for professional certifications that are required for many careers, including the Board of Certification (BOC) to become a certified athletic trainer (ATC), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). candidates, including:
Our graduates are employed in a wide range of positions, including:
Our professors are proud practitioners in their fields and love to share their expertise beyond the classroom. Mentorship is at the core of our department, and it’s our goal that every student work directly with a faculty member to expand their knowledge and worldview.
Athletic training graduate, currently pursuing the MS in exercise and sport studies
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
William Paterson University’s exercise physiology graduates can be found throughout the region’s hospitals and rehabilitation centers. That impact became deeply personal for Professor Michael Figueroa, who teaches in the undergraduate and graduate exercise physiology programs, and serves as graduate program director. His own recovery was guided by former students whose education at William Paterson prepared them to care for him at one of the most vulnerable moments of his life.
In spring 2024, a routine echocardiogram—meant to monitor a mitral valve heart murmur Figueroa had lived with since childhood—revealed a life-threatening cardiac condition. Open-heart surgery was imperative.
What made the diagnosis especially unsettling was how normal the professor felt at the time.
“That's what was scary,” he says. “I didn’t have any outward signs or symptoms.”
As a professor who teaches the warning signs of cardiac abnormalities, the irony was not lost on him.
In courses such as Graded Exercise Testing and Prescription (GXT), Figueroa trains students in cardiovascular testing and exercise-based interventions—skills that translate directly into clinical care.
That classroom-to-clinic pipeline came into sharp focus when Figueroa arrived at The Valley Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey for his pre-surgical evaluation.
Taught at WP, Trusted in the Hospital
When Figueroa arrived at The Valley Hospital, he was introduced to a familiar face as part of the acute care cardiac rehabilitation team: Bethann Kiely, MS ’19, one of his former students.
“I think she was a little nervous at first,” Figueroa says with a laugh. “I told her, ‘I’m your patient now. You tell me what to do,’ and I wiped my hands clean.”
The day after the three-hour surgery—during which the left side of his heart was reconstructed—his former student was at his bedside, helping him get up and walk.
“It was a full-circle experience,” Figueroa says. “This is who I teach, who I’ve taught through this program, and my student was there to help me. I felt comfortable, at peace –like I’d rather be here with people I know than with people I don’t know.”
Kiely had the same “full circle” feeling, she says.
“William Paterson is the reason I’m in this field. I hadn’t even heard of cardiac rehab before I started my master’s there,” she adds. Kiely has worked in cardiac rehabilitation at Valley for the past eight years; she was hired there through connections she made at two internships secured through the University. Figueroa was her internship seminar instructor.
“Dr. Figueroa really enjoyed hearing us speak in class and asked us questions to push us a little further, to think a little further,” Kiely says, reflecting on her time as his student.
Following his discharge, Figueroa completed a 12-week outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program at Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center, where he was supervised by senior exercise physiologist Christine Dorenbush ’97.
“She was a huge part of my recovery,” Professor Figueroa says. “And once again, her education started at William Paterson. If you go within a 20- or 30-mile radius of our campus for some kind of allied healthcare, one of our alumni is working at or running those facilities.”
Professor Michael Figueroa (center) is joined in the University's Human Performance Lab by his alumni clinicians, Bethann Kiely '19 (left) and Christine Dorenbush '97 (right).
“William Paterson University paved my way to success here at Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center, not only through the exceptional and challenging curriculum, but most importantly the hands-on experience,” Dorenbush says. She has been at Atlantic Health Chilton for 28 years – since she graduated – and remains connected to WP. She helps with exercise lab activities on campus and hosts students for cardiac rehab internships. “Having the opportunity to work with WP during my career here at Atlantic Health Chilton has allowed me to continue to grow professionally and personally,” she adds.
This month, American Heart Month, Figueroa reflects on his time as both a patient and an educator – shaped not only by life-saving care, but by the success of the students he has trained.
“This whole experience made me have a greater appreciation for everything we do in this field, as professors and clinicians,” he says.
Beyond Pioneer pride, Figueroa hopes his story encourages others to take their health seriously—even when they feel fine.
“Had I not gotten my heart checked, I wouldn’t be here today,” he says. “I freely share this information with my students and use myself as a case study to assist them in learning the material.”
