Kinesiology - Kinesiology A.A.-T Degree
Cabrillo College · Aptos, CA
- Cost
- $6,193
- Length
- 68 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
Program names and program descriptions appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Occupation titles are translated where O*NET publishes a Spanish name. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 186
Small group — treat with caution
- Finished the program
- 100%Based on 18 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
Where California publishes a separate figure for Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.
Athletic Trainers
Job ads may call this: Athletic Trainer · Personal Trainer · Athletic Lecturer · Athletic Instructor
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
- Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
- Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
- Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
- Clean and sanitize athletic training rooms.
- Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
- Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
What this pays in Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) | $49,385 | $88,716 | $112,534 |
| Across California | $56,303 | $80,687 | $111,075 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $80,687per year
- Projected openings
- 1,290
- Projected change
- +5%
- Usually needs
- Master's degree
California publishes no separate figure for this job in Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA. The statewide figures above are the only ones there are.
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- None
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Fitness Trainer · Private Trainer · Yoga Instructor · Personal Trainer
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
- Teach and demonstrate use of gymnastic and training equipment, such as trampolines and weights.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
What this pays in Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) | $38,060 | $62,114 | $120,876 |
| Across California | $37,681 | $59,459 | $103,476 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $59,459per yearSanta Cruz-Watsonville MSA: $54,003
- Projected openings
- 105,200Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA: 850
- Projected change
- +16.7%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
Program details
This is a hybrid or blended program providing both in-person and online instruction.
The Associate in Arts in Kinesiology for Transfer (A.A.-T in Kinesiology) is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree with a similar major at a CSU campus. Completion of the Associate in Arts in Kinesiology for Transfer (A.A.-T in Kinesiology) guarantees admission to the CSU system but not to a particular campus. Kinesiology is the study of human movement, performance, and function. The degree integrates knowledge from various disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, health science, fitness, and movement, to comprehensively understand how the human body moves and operates. For the A.A.-T, students will explore the principles of physical activity and its impact on physical and mental health, wellness, and disease prevention. A Kinesiology degree offers a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to studying the body and its movements to improve human health, performance, and quality of life through physical activity. The coursework includes theoretical and practical experiences. The integrated and hands-on approach enhances learning and prepares students to work in diverse settings, including hospitals, wellness centers, schools, sports organizations, and research institutions. The degree is for students who are passionate about movement, sports, and exercise and who want to help people to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Career options include sports coach, strength and conditioning specialist, athletic director, physical therapist, personal trainer, group trainer, fitness instructor, fitness specialist, exercise physiologist, sports psychologist, sports manager, and athletic trainer. Students should meet with an academic counselor to review course requirements for specific CSUs or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. The following is required for all A.A.-T or A.S.-T degrees: - Completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units. - Minimum grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors may require a higher GPA. - Completion of a minimum of 18* semester units in the major with a letter grade of C or better, or a P if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. *Note: this degree requires greater than 18 units in the major for completion. - Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-09-18). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
Ask before you enroll, not after
The order the rules set out starts at the center rather than at the school. Before a center can find somebody eligible for training services it has to gather enough to decide, at a minimum through an interview, evaluation or assessment and career planning. Referring a person to the provider they have chosen and setting up the account both come after that, and both are the center's to do — the account is a payment agreement with the training provider, and it is the provider that is paid through it. So the call belongs before enrolling and before paying. Anyone who has already done either should still ask, and ask what it means for them.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
Capitola Career Center - America`s Job Center of California (AJCC)Affiliate site
Phone: 831-464-6286
2045 40th AvenueSuite BCapitola, CA 95010about 5.5 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Has a veterans' representative
SCCOE - Suenos Youth Program ServicesAffiliate site
Phone: 831-466-5672
229 Green Valley RoadSequoia SchoolsFreedom, CA 95019about 6.9 miles away
Hours: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-5p.m.
Santa Cruz County, Workforce, Watsonville Career CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 831-763-8933
500 Westridge DriveCounty of Santa Cruz, South County Government CenterWatsonville, CA 95076about 7.9 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Closed 12:00 noon - 1pm
At a comprehensive center all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →