Undergraduate Program
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
The three areas of emphasis for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Exercise Science include Health Fitness, Motor Development, and Scientific Foundations. The BS degree is designed to prepare students for entry into a wide range of health-related post-baccalaureate graduate and professional programs.
Health Fitness Emphasis
The purpose of the Health Fitness emphasis is to prepare students for entry into professional health science post-baccalaureate programs. Competencies in coronary artery disease risk factor screening, exercise testing, counseling individuals to increase daily physical activity levels and reduce factors associated with cardiovascular disease risk, and develop proficiency in the delivery of adult fitness and rehabilitation programming to improve cardiovascular function and foster healthy life styles are areas which students gain experience.
The Health Fitness emphasis is specifically designed to provide students with the necessary fundamental knowledge and professional experiences required to:
- Design and conduct coronary artery disease risk factor screening programs, conduct physical fitness assessments, and conduct clinical exercise testing;
- Risk factor identification; and
- Design and implement appropriate exercise interventions.
Flow Chart for Health Fitness Emphasis
(PDF)
Degree Checklist for B.S. Degree in Exercise Science Health Fitness (PDF)
Motor Development Emphasis
The purpose of the Motor Development emphasis is to prepare students for entry into professional post-baccalaureate programs including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physician assistant, health promotion, education and behavior, and other career directions. The Motor Development emphasis prepares individuals with 1) specific competencies in the development, analysis, and diagnosis of motor functions and motor disabilities in children, youth and elderly along with 2) expertise in prescribing programs of physical/motor activity to enhance, improve, or recover motor function and motor coordination in normal and atypical individuals of all ages.
The program of study in Motor Development is specifically designed to provide the knowledge foundation and professional and real-life experiences required to:
- observe, analyze and diagnose minor motor, physical and/or neuromuscular deficiencies in individuals of all ages (e.g. the young child, the adolescent, the young adult, and the mature and aging individual);
- design and conduct individual and group programs which provide specific enrichment for and/or rehabilitation of identifiable neuromuscular, motor, perceptual, and functional abilities deficits; and
- consult with and provide services to persons in both public and private sectors concerning the use of evaluation procedures and implementation of programs of prevention to promote development and maintenance of neuromuscular, motor, physical, perceptual, and functional abilities of individuals of all ages.
Flow Chart for Health Motor Development Emphasis (PDF)
Degree Checklist for B.S. Degree in Exercise Science Health Motor Development (PDF)
Scientific Foundations Emphasis
The purpose of the Scientific Foundations emphasis is to prepare students for entry into science-based post-baccalaureate programs in the health sciences. The course of study in Scientific Foundations provides a rigorous curriculum related to the study of biological systems in the maintenance of internal homeostasis during movement. The program integrates knowledge from disciplines such as anatomy, biochemistry, biology, computer science, physics, physiology, and psychology.
The Scientific Foundations emphasis is designed specifically to:
- Allow the successful student to meet the requirements for advanced training in areas such as medicine, biomedical sciences, physical therapy, and physician's assistants.
- Provide the student with an understanding of the mechanisms by which physical activity affects human health and function across the life span.
Flow Chart for Scientific Foundations Emphasis (PDF)
Degree Checklist for B.S. Degree in Exercise Science Health Scientific Foundations (PDF)