Alumni

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The Alumni Association of The University of Western Ontario is proud to serve and represent more than a quarter million alumni around the world.

We are committed to delivering the finest alumni experience, in keeping with our continued number one ranking as "Canada's best student experience”.

Student Success Centre

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The Student Success Centre is here to help with each step of your journey to a successful future. Our mission is to facilitate the development of career, educational, and life competencies for students and alumni through programs and services that guide successful transitions, foster local and global citizenship, promote leadership opportunities, encourage personal growth, deliver career resources, and ignite active engagement.

Description

Kinesiology

Kinesiology is the bioscientific and sociocultural study of human movement. This involves studying the activity of muscles and the functioning, mechanics, and structures of the body parts involved in movement, as well as psychological, sociological, and cultural factors affecting physical activity and sport.

By selecting Western, you are choosing one of Canada's largest and most recognized centres of academic excellence. Kinesiology offers you the program opportunities and physical resources available only at a major university.

At Western, Kinesiology offers you the best of everything. Undergraduate and Graduate programs are available in a variety of areas with the strength of a large faculty of world-renowned researchers.

Additional education is often required for pursuing a career in kinesiology, such as Certified Kinesiologist - as of April 2013, Kin grads can pass a licensing exam through the College of Kinesiologists and work as a certified Kin (no additional education required) .

Skills

Discipline specific knowledge is only one of the many benefits of pursuing an undergraduate degree. However, this knowledge alone is not enough to prepare you for entering the world of work. You will discover that the content of your degree does not restrict your job opportunities.

Being aware of the transferable skills you've developed throughout your studies will better prepare you for entering the job market and allow you to articulate the skills that are so valued by employers.

Knowledge Skills

  • A comprehensive understanding of the biological, psychological, sociological, historical, aesthetic, recreational and competitive aspects of human movement

Communication Skills

  • The ability to compile and organize facts and information and to comprehend and apply new and/or unfamiliar information to different situations and settings

Organization Skills

  • The ability to explain complex ideas clearly to others and to apply complex theoretical concepts to everyday practice and professional dilemmas

Management Skills

  • Skills enabling you to work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, through leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others, to the success of the team


For a more complete list of transferable skills click here.


Introduction

Did you know that there are over 2 million job titles and over 900 industries in Canada? That is a lot of possible career options! Understanding the Canadian economy and the types of jobs that are available is one of the best ways to begin your career search.

Students often report feeling limited by their degree choice and worry that they may not have many viable career options. Although your degree can point you in a career direction, it will not necessarily determine the type of job you can pursue. Unlike many college programs, your undergraduate degree is not intended to train you for one specific job. Some students may feel frustrated by this, but the great news is that your degree opens up many more opportunities than you may think!

Employers today are looking for graduates with transferable skills and people who have a sense of where they fit into the world of work. Because of this, it is really important to think beyond your degree when making a career decision. You want to consider all of your interests, the skills you would like to use, what fits with your personality, and the values that you have.

Determining your career path requires a lot of research, both personal and occupational. It's almost impossible to make a career decision if you haven't invested time in both of these things. This section will get you started and will showcase some popular industries and occupational areas related to your degree.

Advanced Degrees

Many Kinesiology graduates at Western choose to further their education by pursuing research-based graduate degrees or by entering a professional program that develops skills related to a specific career path (ie. chiropractor, teacher, lawyer). There are a variety of resources provided the by the Student Success Centre that provide answers to many of the most common questions students have when considering postgraduate education.

Sample Areas of Graduate Studies:

Dentistry

Medical School

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Massage Therapy

Cardiovascular Perfusion

Chiropractic

Naturopath

Osteopathy

Athletic Therapy

Nursing

Podiatry

Certified Kinesiologist

A kinesiologist helps people make physical activity choices that will help them lead a healthy life. A kinesiologist studies the science of human movement and how it can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. Kinesiologists give advice on which activities are best suited to help a person reach their health and fitness goals.

Kinesiologist are involved with designing and implementing fitness routines for the general public and for those afflicted with various medical conditions. Part of their work involves being in an office setting where they can meet with clients and determine what their goals are and what their fitness plan should look like. The other part of work is spend in a gym or outdoor setting, helping the client perform their fitness plan.

Graduates who choose to deliver kinesiology services and care as their profession are required to pass a licensing exam through the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario. Once certified, Kinesiologists are encouraged to join the Ontario Kinesiology Association (OKA).

Educational Services

The Educational Services sector comprises establishments that provide instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects. This instruction and training is provided by specialized establishments, such as schools, colleges, universities, and training centers. These establishments may be privately owned and operated for profit or not for profit, or they may be publicly owned and operated. They may also offer food and/or accommodation services to their students.

Educational services are usually delivered by teachers or instructors that explain, tell, demonstrate, supervise, and direct learning. Instruction is imparted in diverse settings, such as educational institutions, the workplace, or the home, and through diverse means, such as correspondence, television, the Internet, or other electronic and distance-learning methods.

Sample Job Titles:

Archivist

Career and Technical Education Teacher

High School Teacher

Instructional Coordinator

Instructor

Librarian

Postsecondary Teacher

Preschool Teacher

Supply Teacher

Law Practice

Further education is required.

The legal services industry incorporates a range of services for clients requiring legal assistance. Opportunities are available in private practice, the public sector and in-house in industry and commerce.

Global recession and economic factors have resulted in law firms restructuring, downsizing and in some cases merging or closing. Further changes within the industry are emerging following the Legal Services Act 2007, enabling law and non-law firms to merge to form alternative business structures. Cuts within the Legal Services Budget have resulted in a reduction in firms offering publicly funded work being awarded contracts, putting greater pressure on the pro bono and voluntary legal advice sector.

Sample Job Titles:

Lawyer

Legal Advisor

Legal Assistant

Legal Researcher

Litigator

Paralegal

Other Industries

This section has highlighted a number of popular industries and job titles that align with your academic program; however, it was by no means an exhaustive list of all the possible options available to you with the degree you possess. Access the resources below to learn about other industries and job titles that are a fit for you.

Canadian Industries: Browse through over 900 Canadian Industries.

LinkedIn: Search through thousands of Western Alumni by degree.

National Occupational Classification (NOC): The national reference on occupations - organizes over 40,000 job titles.

Informational Interviews: Find out about jobs and career paths you never knew existed.

CareerCruising: Peruse career & further educational options (visit the "Resources" section of CareerCentral for the username & password).

Working in Canada: The leading source for labour market information in Canada.

US Occupational Outlook Handbook: Browse hundreds of occupational profiles.

Featured Employers

Featured Alumni