Major in Kinesiology
Learn how to help others • Gain practical experience • Prepare for your career or graduate school
John Brown University
2000 W. University St.,
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
What are you looking for?
Learn how to help others • Gain practical experience • Prepare for your career or graduate school
In the kinesiology major, you'll learn how to help others by understanding the movement of the human body. With a kinesiology degree, you can become an athletic trainer, an educator or enter graduate school for physical therapy.
Start your applicationKinesiology students have many spaces and outlets to train and practice, from athletics labs to the Walton Lifetime Health Complex. They'll also gain incredible field experience through local partnerships and JBU's athletics program.
JBU's curriculum doesn't just seek to inform and educate students on the technical skills and practices they'll need to help people and athletes in the field, but it also encourages students to minister and serve others in Christ-like ways no matter where they end up.
Given the number of opportunities and training kinesiology students have access to, they will graduate equipped to start in any field they desire.
Kinesiology students have multiple opportunities and spaces to learn the hands-on training and the technical knowledge they'll need to be excellent trainers, physical therapists and coaches in the field.
You can focus your study on health and wellness or sports medicine. The course requirements are tailored to each emphasis, so students are prepared for their field of choice.
JBU lab classes are capped to 20 students so professors can give student-specific guidance and recommendations.
Students interested in the pre-professional program can explore the inner workings of the human body in the classroom and in the human anatomy cadaver lab. JBU is one of only two Arkansas universities that make cadaver dissection available to undergraduate students.
On my first day of college, I nervously entered the classroom unsure of what I was about to walk into. The not-so-scary professor, Todd, began class by telling us that the most important thing we could learn studying kinesiology is that ‘we treat people, not injuries.’ From that day on, my mindset changed. At JBU, yes, I have learned how to treat injuries, but most importantly, I have learned how to help people holistically.
Anna Stoesz '25
Kinesiology
Kinesiology students have the resources to engage in several areas of the field through local partnerships and the versatility of the kinesiology department.
Whether you become a personal trainer or a team trainer, use the skills you learned as a kinesiology major to help get and keep others in top physical condition. Many JBU students have worked with athletes at top-rated schools and facilities both during school and upon graduation.
Help people recover from injuries and maintain their health throughout their life. Physical therapists are vital in the field for being able to initiate preventive care, rehabilitation and treatment for patients, whether they have sports-related injuries or chronic illnesses. JBU prepares students to excel in the graduate studies required to become a PT.
Help people develop and maintain good eating habits so they can experience the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Students take classes like wellness for life and nutrition for health and human performance to prepare for careers in this field.
Help your patients relax and feel good again via healing massages. Massage therapists aid patients primarily by relaxing muscle tissue to reduce nerve compression, painful contractions and spasms.
Mrs. Robyn Daugherty served JBU as the Women's Volleyball Coach beginning in 1989, joining the JBU faculty in 1999. She currently serves as the JBU Director of Athletics and Instructor of Kinesiology. Mrs. Daugherty instructs activity sections or independent study when needed. She enjoys working with the students at JBU – getting to know them and encouraging them to “stay active” and to get involved. She also enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and being with family.
Athletic Director; Instructor of Kinesiology
Associate Professor of Kinesiology, Todd Bowden, joined the John Brown University faculty in 1995. Mr. Bowden's courses include Athletic Training Techniques, Injury Evaluation and Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Exercise & Modalities, Biomechanics, and Exercise Physiology.
Mr. Bowden creates a comfortable classroom experience with his relaxed teaching style. He tries to give students as much practical application of the material as possible by utilizing much of his class time for labs.
The Christian atmosphere that he has found while teaching at JBU is what makes the experience the most enjoyable.
Mr. Bowden is the head athletic trainer for the Golden Eagle athletic program and also enjoys following the business world such as the stock market and banking.
Department Chair, Kinesiology; Associate Professor of Kinesiology
Beschta finished second in program history in both career points (2,138) and career triples made (432) during his undergraduate at Bryan College. Beschta also served as team captain for two seasons and earned All-Conference accolades on a trio of occasions while landing a pair of NAIA All-America Honorable Mention honors. In 2000 he led the Lions to the program's first-ever Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament title and appearance in the NAIA National Championships. Beschta finished his degree in Exercise & Health Science, graduating cum laude, before earning his graduate degree from Baylor University in Sports Pedagogy in 2004.
Beschta and the Golden Eagles posted an incredible 2019-20 season that including a No. 9 national ranking entering the NAIA National Championships, which JBU qualified for the second-straight season, tying the program single-season record of 28 wins. On Jan. 30, the Golden Eagles knocked off No. 2 Mid-America Christian (Okla.), ending the Evangels' program record 20-game winning streak. John Brown completed a perfect 17-0 regular season record inside Bill George Arena, a program first, and finished as the Sooner Athletic's regular season and tournament runner up. For the first time in program history, Beschta produced two All-Conference first team selections in Luke Harper and Densier Carnes. Harper was later selected to the NAIA All-America third team, Beschta's first All-America production.
Besides Harper, Beschta has produced five NAIA All-America honorable mentions as JBU bench boss in Max Hopfgartner, Jake Caudle, Josh Bowling and Densier Carnes (twice).
Beschta and his wife, Becca, reside in Siloam Springs with their four children: Gage, Henley, Hudson and Weston.
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Instructor of Kinesiology
Equip yourself for a successful career and a life of purpose.
John Brown University
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu
JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.