“Having faculty with diverse backgrounds is critically important because we really focus on real-life examples and how their knowledge can be used in the field.”  

– Dr. Jinhyun Lee, Department of Human Performance chair and associate professor 

Jinhyun Lee, DPT, PhD, brings impressive academic credentials to UT Permian Basin. But you’d expect nothing less from someone who holds two department chair titles and a university director title. He’s also an associate professor for the Master of Science in Kinesiology program, available exclusively online at UTPB. 

While kinesiology may be a new term for some, it’s been an established field in the US for years. Dr. Lee helped us break down what a graduate kinesiology program looks like for students and how the analysis of human movement can translate into diverse, rewarding careers.  

Why Choose UTPB for Your Online MS in Kinesiology? 

Dr. Lee takes pride in UTPB’s kinesiology faculty, who bring both academic credentials and real-world experience to their teaching. “I went through doctoral physical therapy (DPT) training,” he recalls. “Since many of my students are hoping to get into a DPT program, I can give them a hands-on experience because I know exactly what they have to do. Some students are hoping to be a physical therapist, clinician, or professional coach. We have faculty that can guide students depending on their interests.” 

Unlike some programs where instructors have degrees but no coaching experience, UTPB’s kinesiology faculty includes doctorate-level educators with real coaching backgrounds. “We understand academic work as well as actual field work,” Dr. Lee stressed. “This background is critically important because we focus on real-life examples. What’s the point of talking about theories if students can’t use any of that? We always try to connect our knowledge to the professional world.” 

Career Paths for Kinesiology Degree Holders 

Graduates of our MS in kinesiology program are equipped for a variety of rewarding careers, including: 

  • Physical therapist 
  • Coach 
  • Clinician  
  • Exercise physiologist  
  • Forensic biomechanist 
  • Sport performance specialist 
  • Ergonomist 

Dr. Lee explained that some of his students are already in their chosen profession but want to advance. 

“Many are coaching in high school or middle school. Once students finish our statistics courses and coaching-specific courses, they have knowledge they didn’t get during their undergrad education. If they’re looking for different certification options, they should be able to get them pretty quickly because we teach them based on their future coaching certification requirements.” 

Building Strong Connections With Students  

Dr. Lee is committed to creating a supportive and interactive online learning environment. “We have students from California and all over,” he explains. “At the beginning of my classes, I always have a virtual session with all my students so that they get to know each other, talk to each other, and talk to me.”  

But what does “interactive” look like in an online graduate program? Dr. Lee explains: “We have asynchronous class sessions, not actual class meeting times. It’s online, but we have a really interactive component because we do those virtual meetings. We heavily utilize our discussion board, so whenever people have any kind of question, either I answer or somebody else can answer. We always listen to them and try to give them some extra feedback.” 

For Dr. Lee, feedback is a two-way street: “If you’re not happy with something, please let me know and give me suggestions as to how we can make our class better. I get tons of constructive criticism and always try to modify my class environment based on that feedback.” 

He also conducts multiple course evaluations throughout the semester—not just at the end. For Dr. Lee, this approach has been “really, really successful, because students know I listen to them. They know their voice is always heard.” 

Flexibility When “Life Happens” 

Understanding that life can be unpredictable, Dr. Lee and his department prioritize supporting students when personal challenges arise. “Sometimes students have to take care of their family,” he explains. “Sometimes they get sick. We as a department always try to be flexible. Yes, we have certain deadlines that students should follow. At the same time, we understand that life happens. So we try our level best to be flexible within the syllabus policy so that we support our students as best as we can.” 

Scholarship Opportunities 

Dr. Lee wants all prospective kinesiology students to know there are scholarship opportunities available for UTPB’s program. If you’re interested, please email Dr. Lee directly. 

Faculty with real-world experience. Rewarding career opportunities. A supportive, flexible learning environment. See more of what Dr. Lee and our online MS in kinesiology program have to offer. Apply today.