Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Recreation and Fitness Professor
What recreation and fitness professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a recreation and fitness professor?
Teach exercise physiology. From there, the day usually includes teach kinesiology and recreation courses, run human performance labs, and prepare PE teachers and trainers. Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a recreation and fitness professor working full time.
- Teach exercise physiology.
- Run VO2 max testing in the lab.
- Hold office hours.
- Teach biomechanics.
- Supervise PE student teachers.
- Analyze research data.
- Meet internship sites.
Where recreation and fitness professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, gyms, labs and field sites.
Hours and schedule
Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach kinesiology and recreation courses
- Run human performance labs
- Prepare PE teachers and trainers
- Conduct exercise research
- Mentor students
- Supervise internships
- Develop courses
Tools you’ll use every day
- Metabolic carts
- Force plates
- Heart rate monitors
- Motion capture
- Statistical software
- Learning management systems
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Active work
- Growing interest in health
- Lab research
- Flexible schedule
What’s hard
- Competitive tenure track
- Lab equipment costs
- Grading load
- Many adjunct roles
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love exercise science
- I like teaching
- I enjoy lab work
- I’m active
- I want to train future coaches and trainers
- I’m willing to earn a doctorate
Not sure? Take the free Recreation and Fitness Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Screen lab participants
- Have emergency plans and AEDs in labs
- Follow research ethics
- Protect student privacy