People have always been aware that health is a product of harmony between mind and body. The development of Western civilization, modernization, technological progress and industrialization of food production have made man a sedentary being driven by excessive consumption of TV dinners and drinks with high caloric and low nutritional value. Man has slowly become everything he is naturally not. More than ever, we need faculty-educated kinesiologists who can advise and guide people through the difficult battle of eliminating bad habits and restoring the balance necessary for a person's long and quality life.
The Faculty of Kinesiology (KIF) was founded July 4, 2008 and is the youngest University of Split’s component. Study of kinesiology in Split has a long tradition. Today's faculty activity dates back to the academic year 1954, when this study was part of the Teacher’s College.
Commitment of Department of Kinesiology’s staff in the last ten years, especially during higher education institutions getting adapted to the Bologna process, with growing number of young scientists and full support from the professional and scientific communities, resulted in the establishment of study of kinesiology as University of Split’s independent component. From its humble beginnings, with only three full-time professors, today the Faculty of Kinesiology has teaching staff of 35 and non-teaching of 15.
The Faculty performs study that trains quality experts in the field of kinesiology that can teach physical education and culture of health at all levels of education (preschool to university). Students are educated to carry out sports activities of select groups at all levels of competitive sports for children, youth and adults, as well as for recreational activities of adults. They are also trained to carry out kinesitherapy procedures and programs adapted to people with special needs. For many years, the Faculty has had successful international cooperation with sports faculties from Europe and the region, as well as cooperation with faculties and institutions in Croatia. KIF’s teaching staff participate as leaders and collaborators in a number of scientific projects. The Faculty has also organized several scientific and professional symposia and conferences.
STUDY PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
The undergraduate study of kinesiology is carried out over three study years. Completing the study, students acquire 180 ECTS credits. In the first and second year, students take (only) compulsory courses. Enrolling the third year of study, students also elect a specialization. Individual sports, recreation and fitness, condition training for athletes, personal trainer and kinesitherapy are offered.
Completing the study, students get the academic title University bachelor of kinesiology (univ. bacc. cin.).
Possibility of employment
Employers to university kinesiology graduates are sports clubs, societies and associations, various sports institutes, recreation associations, kinesitherapy and rehabilitation institutions, societies and associations, etc.
Possibility of continuing studies at a higher level
Students who complete this program can continue their study at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split, the graduate university study, or one of four specialized professional graduate studies. They can also go to the Postgraduate Doctoral Study of Kinesiology (Croatian Qualifications Framework’s 8th level). They can enrol this study after graduating from proposer’s or other Croatian institutions’ lower-level studies. The undergraduate university study program in kinesiology is enrolled after completing secondary school.
Academic title and abbreviation: Bachelor of Kinesiology, univ. bacc. cin.
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDY
Conditions and manner of studying
The graduate study of kinesiology is carried out over two years. Each year of study has two semesters, or four quarters. Students complete studies when they acquire all 180 ECTS credits and argue their Master's thesis.
In each semester, students take compulsory courses and one to 3 elective ones, depending on the semester. As a rule, teaching in this study program is performed in lectures (in a group of up to 150 students), seminars (up to 36), kinesiology exercises (up to 18), laboratory exercises (up to 12) for subjects in biomedical sciences, field exercises (up to 12) for subjects in some sports (skiing and water sports), and exercises (up to 10 students) for Kinesiology Methodology 1 and 2.
Possibility of employment
University masters in kinesiology are employed in elementary and secondary schools, preschool institutions, universities and faculties, laboratories and diagnostic centers, sports clubs, societies and associations, various sports institutes, recreation associations, kinesitherapy and rehabilitation institutions, societies and associations, etc.
Possibility of continuing studies at a higher level
Students who complete this study program can continue studies at Faculty of Kinesiology in Split’s Postgraduate Doctoral University Study of Kinesiology.
Academic title and abbreviation: Master of Kinesiology, mag. cin.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
About the study
The study lasts for three years (six semesters), during which students acquire a minimum of 180 ECTS credits. Any teaching in extracurricular courses takes place exclusively during first two semesters of the first research year. In principle, three years of study are intended exclusively for scientific-research work, or preparing a dissertation. 180 ECTS points are acquired through activities in addition to original scientific research that results in preparing and arguing a doctoral thesis.
The entire doctoral study consists of following categories and activities:
• scientific schools
• scientific congresses
• scientific papers
• mentor reports
Completing the study and arguing thesis, one obtains the academic degree Doctor of Social Sciences in the field of Kinesiology.
Academic title and abbreviation: Doctor of Science, Ph.D.
PROFESSIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDY
About the study
Completing the undergraduate professional study of kinesiology, students acquire 180 ECTS credits. There are 4 majors in this study:
• SPORTS COACH
• ATHLETIC OR CONDITIONING TRAINING
• RECREATION AND FITNESS
• KINESITHERAPY
At this level of study, students in all majors take classes together in subjects of basic kinesiology sciences and interdisciplinary areas (compulsory subjects) and, individually, classes in specialized subjects (specific majors), elective sports and subjects.
Academic title and abbreviation: Professional bachelor's degree in kinesiology (sports trainer; athletic trainer; recreation and fitness trainer; kinesitherapist), prof. bacc. cin.
SPECIALIST GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL STUDY
About the study
Completing the specialist graduate professional study in kinesiology, students acquire 120 ECTS credits. There are 4 majors:
• SPORTS COACH
• ATHLETIC OR CONDITIONING TRAINING
• RECREATION AND FITNESS
• KINESITHERAPY
At this level of study, students from all majors take classes in compulsory subjects together, and, individually, classes in specialist subjects (in specific majors), elective sports and subjects (depending on the module).
Academic title and abbreviation: professional specialist in kinesiology (sports trainer; fitness trainer for athletes; recreation and fitness trainer; kinesitherapist), prof. spec. cin.
WHY CHOOSE UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT’S FACULTY OF KINESIOLOGY?
Faculty of Kinesiology is part of University of Split’s family that, according to Times Higher Education 2021, ranked in 801-1000. place on the world universities ranking list and has been, for the first time, the only Croatian university ranked in 10 of the 17 sustainable development goals, which ranks it in the top 4% in the world.
During studies, Split Faculty of Kinesiology students are introduced to scientific-research work by participating in research projects and scientific professional symposia, as well as writing scientific and professional papers.
KIF encourages gifted students to educate themselves in measuring and analysing data, as well as monitoring modern reach in world databases, as well as using modern technology in programming and controlling the exercise process. Such educated staff is able to find scientific grounds for exercise in all areas of applied kinesiology and evaluate the effects to be expected from applying exercise, especially considering health, education, sports and economy. Common program basics and elective contents form programming experts in fields of applied kinesiology, differentiated according to gender and different psychosomatic statuses of children, youth and adults. Students are trained to organize extracurricular activities at every level of education in their institutions, as well as in a series of sports and recreational activities for those who attend educational institutions in the city, county and state.
Split Faculty of Kinesiology’s Lifelong Learning Department implements a series of adult education or training programs. Some of these are training handball coaches, training for Pilates and yoga coaches, training for basketball coaches, for karate trainers, for cycling trainers, for group fitness with music instructors, etc.
KIFST provides extremely dynamic and creative teaching cantered on students. Given that it is a teacher's faculty, a number of different learning and teaching methods is applied. In general, teaching at the faculty is carried out in lectures, kinesiology exercises, laboratory exercises, field exercises and seminars.
In cases that aim for acquiring practical knowledge, KIF applies appropriate practical learning methods, in pedagogical and professional practice.
The faculty developed a working distance learning system and all learning materials are available to students on Moodle.
In addition to KIF’s building, classes take place in cooperation with university-industry cooperation. Some of them are: HNK Hajduk, Split Sports Federation, the City of Split Sports Association for athletes with disabilities, Taekwondo Club Marjan, Joker Fitness Ltd., Women's Academic Handball Club Split, UŠR Ciciban, Beach Volleyball Club ŽNJAN, Table Tennis Club Split, Skating Club Split, Bicycling Club Marjan and many others.
KIFST enables students to gain international experience, and there is a working system of encouraging foreign students to visit this faculty. Primarily, by way of student exchange in Erasmus+. At the moment, Faculty’s students can gain international experience at institutions with which the Faculty signed exchange agreements, 33 universities in Erasmus and 8 universities in Ceepus.
As part of scientific research, professors and students are involved in scientific projects that enable future work, progress or student employment. Projects implemented by KIF: HRZZ’s, HKO’s, SEECEL’s...
KIF has its Quality Improvement Committee, which organizes, coordinates and implements evaluation procedures and develops internal quality assurance and improvement mechanisms, as well as cooperating with University of Split’s Centre for Improving Quality.
Last but not least, Faculty of Kinesiology in Split, as its name suggests, lives and works in the most vibrant Croatian city and can’t be separated from it. In other words, studying kinesiology in Split means breathing in this passionate Mediterranean city to the fullest, being a part of it, leaving your mark on it and taking a part of it with as you go on… And believe me, that's saying something.
For more information, visit https://web.kifst.unist.hr; phone number: 021 302 444
We will see you at the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split!