Exciting new opportun.ities emerged within the field of kinesiology last fall as students were able to declare majors in exercise science and athletic training. Within the first semester, 50 students were pursuing degrees in exercise science and 15 others were involved with the athletic training major. Dr. Ken Turley, supervisor for the exercise science major, said that exercise science is becoming a major that is more in demand because physical education is being phased out of many elementary and junior high schools. ''With less education on physical fitness , obesity is increasing, and vascular diseases are topping the charts as the number one killer in America," he said. The courses involved with exercise science are science-based and aim at research into treatment and prevention of such diseases. Students taking these courses are taught the research involved and how to work with people to increase their exercise and to treat any physical fitness problems they may have. Ashley Hodge, an exercise science major, hopes to become an occupational therapist. She started in biology and then switched to exercise science when it became available. According to Hodge, exercise science offered courses that were more applicable to her field. In addition to the biology courses she needed, exercise science also offered courses such as psychology and physiology. "I am encouraged by the hard work Dr. Turley has put into it. I appreciate his dedication in bringing in guest speakers and starting an exercise science club," Hodge said. Coach Ronnie Huckeba is responsible for the ath letic training major. "I am glad for this major to open for Harding students because there is a tremendous boom in the job market for athletic trainers," he said. Huckeba described the major as "pretty intense," as students take the Kinesiology core and the remainder in athletic training hours. The head athletic trainer, Ronnie Harlow, supervises the clinical program. Athtetic training major Heather Driver said she switched majors because she was interested in the medical field but did not want to be in a hospital or doctor's office. "I like sports and would like to work with a professional team or perhaps a rehabilitation clinic," Driver said. Junior Diane Vacogiannis also declared a major in athletic training. "I am excited about this major," she said. "If the world were a perfect place, Iwould be the athletic trainer for an NFL team. If that opportunity does not occur, I hope to work with college teams or be the head trainer in a clinical setting. Although she found the major extremely fulfilling, she also found it extremely challenging as it incorporated aspects of psychology, medicine and physical therapy. "This is a very good program and I learned a lot from Ronnie Harlow. He is an excellent trainer,"Vacogiannis said. According to Turley and Huckeba, the programs had a good start and were expected to grow rather fast. The earliest graduation date for both majors will be the spring of2000. - Ann ie Graham J.D. Yingling (M.Ed., Ass't. Prof.) conducts 0 flexibility test in his Beginning Kinesiology class. Yingling began this year as professor ofaquatics. KINESIOLOGY 177 •
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