Augustana President Andrea Talentino says it's one of the fastest growing majors at the college, now with 70 students.
"In addition to the strong student interest, this is a really in-demand field. Graduates with a kinesiology major are ready to fill roles within the Quad Cities - our minor league sports teams, other athletic organizations, our health care organizations - there are just a lot of opportunities in this region for students."
The college first offered a kinesiology major and minor in 2019.
She signed the agreement with WIU President Guiyou Huang.
Rene Polubinsky, Graduate Coordinator for Sport Management, says the program at Western Illinois University is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and 60 students are currently enrolled.
"What sport management does, we go into senior leadership positions in athletics. So these are directors of athletics, compliance, sports information directors. So they're in that senior leadership. Sometimes they'll work at the high school level but most of the time they're looking for collegiate jobs."
Graduates of her program now work for many colleges, plus pro teams in Dallas, Houston, and Milwaukee.