Exercise Science Education

The faculty members of the undergraduate Exercise Science Education major are pleased that you are interested in the possibility of pursuing this degree. This document is designed to acquaint you with the field of exercise science. It will also familiarize you with the prerequisites for the major, the criteria for evaluation of applicants to the major, and the internship, practicum, and other experiences that will enhance your professional development if you are accepted into the major.

What is Exercise Science Education?

Exercise Science Education includes two strands. The Exercise Science Strand involves the study of structural, functional and behavioral phenomena related to participation in acute and chronic exercise in sport, clinical, and community settings. The Health Promotion Strand addresses the promotion of exercise and other health behaviors in community, worksite, and health care settings, or in other programs that include health program implementation and evaluation initiatives.

Career Opportunities in Exercise Science Education

This major is designed to prepare students for employment in commercial, corporate, clinical, community, and government agencies with interest in the areas of physical activity and/or health promotion.

• The Exercise Science Strand prepares individuals for work in clinical fitness centers, rehabilitation programs, or any other program that requires exercise prescription, general fitness evaluation, body composition, and general fitness testing, and offers physical activity, exercise, or health program delivery.
• The Health Promotion Strand prepares individuals for work in primary prevention programs in community, worksite, and health care settings, or in any other program that requires health program implementation and evaluation initiatives.

With some additional coursework, this undergraduate major is suitable for students wishing to pursue careers in fields such as physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and medicine. Click here for more information on how the exercise science major fulfills physical therapy prerequisites. Individuals completing the exercise science or the health promotion strand may sit for the certification tests of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and may take the community health education specialist certification (CHES) test, respectively. Students may wish to consult Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, a monthly journal published by the American College of Sports Medicine, for job opportunities available in exercise science. Graduate program opportunities may be obtained by consulting the ACSM Graduate Program Directory, which is available for review in The Office of Student & Alumni Services in A100 PAES Building.