Concentrations: Undergrad Majors
Clinical Exercise PhysiologyOne area of study is Clinical Exercise Physiology, and it comes with its own set of course requirements designed to teach students about specific pathophysiologies (the disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury) and the accompanying exercise recommendations. Clinical exercise physiologists offer medically-supervised exercise programs for several different chronic diseases.
For this designation, the courses are built upon clinical exercise testing, the interpretation of those tests, and prescriptions of exercise. |
Pre-ProfessionalThis course of study provides the science-related foundation required for successful admission to professional schools for students interested in becoming Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physicians and Physician's Assistants. The ES Pre-professional concentration includes minors in both biology and psychology.
Specific coursework for this designation revolves around psychology courses and a pre-professional capstone internship which focuses on physical therapy and the role of the therapist within that profession, but most of the course-load comes from the sciences depending on where a student wants to continue their education, i.e. doctor vs. physical therapist. |
Strength and ConditioningStudents interested in attending graduate school to study exercise science, pursuing a career as a conditioning coach, or working in fitness/wellness programs (personal training, etc.) may want to consider this academic course of study. Strength and Conditioning courses prepare students to work in applied and academic settings by focusing on the science behind exercise and sport performance. A minor in biology is recommended.
The coursework for this designation more heavily focuses on athletic training principles and sports performance. |
Internships |
Certifications |
Internships play a key role in introducing students to the real world of exercise science, and are often included as the capstone experience. The connections made while interning can often lead to employment after graduation. The practical application of classroom theory gives meaning and fulfillment to formal education experiences through the world of full-time professional involvement. The purpose of internships are to augment formal classroom instruction, to experiment with theory and concepts, to utilize resources and to begin the development of professional competency. The place of employment, and what is expected of you obviously changes depending on your specific major, and what you end up pursuing for a career.
Internships in this field require extensive applied exercise science experience at a cooperating hospital, medical clinic, public or community health agency, or work-site. A minimum of 40 hours of service per credit hour of supervised experience is required in the undergraduate or exercise science program, with an emphasis in Wellness/Cardiac Rehabilitation concentration or elective for those in the Strength & Conditioning concentration. Each internship course is recommended for students only after the majority of course work in the undergraduate major program is completed. Organizations looking for knowledgeable and competent interns and students will find the experience much more valuable if they have educational experience to contribute. |
Certifications are not absolutely necessary, especially for someone with a bachelors in the field, but some places of employment like to see certain certifications anyways.
The “gold standard” for accreditation of fitness and wellness certification programs, including those for personal training, is the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The two most reputable organizations for certifications are The National Academy of Sports Medicine, and American Council on Exercise. It is important to note that there are places online that will simply charge your credit card for a certification, and they require nothing of substance to receive certification. These certifications are wastes of money, and are essentially scams. Avoid these websites, and stick only to the certifications that are provided by the organizations above. |