Exercise Science, Composite Major

WebAdvisor Code - B.BS.

This major has two fairly distinct career paths: 1) science for pre-professional for allied medical and health fields, and 2) fitness for public or private industry or educational settings. Coursework for each of these paths is grounded in knowledge of the human body structure and function but then deviates quite significantly. Serving students’ needs for admission to graduate school or commencing a career in the public or private fitness setting required numerous course substitutions for the existing program and created concerns during graduation audits. This major replaces the Wellness Management major.

The science option provides the depth of study of the human body’s structure and function that provides the prerequisite knowledge for admission to graduate programs such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Science, and Physician’s Assistant.  

Fitness-based professions that place students into a fitness setting as owner or employee, such as personal trainers, fitness personnel managers, or floor managers, require the business background of finance, marketing and promotion, and personal interaction. Those students would take the management option.