The Department of Human Performance and Exercise Science offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science degree with a major in exercise science. This program prepares students for certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) as health/fitness specialists.
As such, graduates will be able to design safe and effective exercise prescriptions and conduct individual exercise programs, fitness testing, and health education for low- to moderate-risk individuals, individuals with controlled diseases, and individuals in special populations (e.g. pregnancy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus).
Graduates are employed in a wide variety of settings that include:
- medically based wellness programs
- corporate wellness programs
- strength and conditioning
- clinical rehabilitation programs such as cardiac rehabilitation
- public and private fitness clubs
In addition, the program serves as a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue advanced degrees in the field of exercise science or enter professional schools such as:
- Athletic Training
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Medical school
- Graduate degree in Exercise Science/Physiology
Learning Outcomes
The student learning outcomes for the BSAS in exercise science are as follows:
- Students will accurately perform fitness evaluations for both healthy and clinical populations.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to teach fitness skills and lead group exercise.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to develop an exercise prescription tailored to healthy and clinical populations.
- Students will display professional knowledge, skills, and abilities during their internship.
Admission
Application forms and other information for formal admittance to the Department of Human Performance and Exercise Science may be obtained in the department office, Room 307, Beeghly Center. This program can be completed in eight semesters if students average 16 hours per semester.
For individual semester advisement, including general education, minor, and additional requirements, see assigned departmental advisor.
For more information, visit Exercise Science - B.S. in Applied Science.
The following are HPES courses required in the major for this degree:
COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements | ||
Core Competencies | 9 | |
Writing 1 | ||
Writing 2 | ||
Communication Foundations | ||
Mathematics Requirement | 5-7 | |
Algebra and Transcendental Function | ||
OR | ||
College Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
Arts and Humanities | 6 | |
Natural Scienes | 8 | |
Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Anatomy 1 Laboratory for Health Professions | ||
Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory | ||
Social Science | 6 | |
General Psychology | ||
Social and Personal Awareness | 6 | |
Normal Nutrition | ||
General Education Elective | ||
CHEM 1515 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
CHEM 1515L | General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 0 |
Major Requirements | ||
HPES 1559 | Aerobic Conditioning Activities | 2 |
HPES 1560 | Resistance Training | 1 |
HPES 1500 Activity Elective | 1 | |
HPES 1595 | Introduction to Human Performance and Exercise Science (FYE course) | 2 |
HPES 2605 | Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention | 3 |
HPES 2625 | Pedagogical Aspects of Exercise Science | 3 |
HPES 3700 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 1 | 4 |
HPES 3705 | Statistics and Research Design in Exercise Science | 3 |
HPES 3710 & 3710L | Physiology of Exercise and Physiology of Exercise Laboratory | 5 |
HPES 3720 & 3720L | Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy Laboratory | 4 |
HPES 3730 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 2 | 4 |
HPES 3760 | Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
HPES 4880 | Internship | 8 |
HPES 4805 | Administration of Exercise Programs | 4 |
HPES 4810 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 3 | 5 |
HPES 4875 | Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies | 4 |
Required support course; credit hours do not count as part of the major: | ||
PHYS 1501 | Fundamentals of Physics 1 | 4 |
PHYS 1501L | Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
Total Semester Hours | 105-107 |
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | S.H. | |
HPES 1559 | Aerobic Conditioning Activities | 2 |
MATH 1513 | Algebra and Transcendental Function | 5 |
ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3 |
BIOL 1551 & 1551L |
Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Anatomy 1 Laboratory for Health Professions |
4 |
Semester Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
HPES 1560 | Resistance Training | 1 |
HPES 1595 | Introduction to Human Performance and Exercise Science | 2 |
ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
Arts & Humanities Elective | 3 | |
BIOL 1552 & 1552L |
Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory |
4 |
CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
HPES 2625 | Pedagogical Aspects of Exercise Science | 3 |
HPES 2605 | Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention | 3 |
CHEM 1515 & 1515L |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
Semester Hours | 13 | |
Spring | ||
HPES Activity Elective | 1 | |
HPES 3700 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 1 | 4 |
HPES 3705 | Statistics and Research Design in Exercise Science | 3 |
FNUT 1551 | Normal Nutrition | 3 |
PHYS 1501 & 1501L |
Fundamentals of Physics 1 and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 1 |
5 |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
HPES 3710 & 3710L |
Physiology of Exercise and Physiology of Exercise Laboratory |
5 |
HPES 3720 & 3720L |
Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy Laboratory |
4 |
HPES 4805 | Administration of Exercise Programs | 4 |
Elective | 3 | |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
HPES 3730 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 2 | 4 |
HPES 3760 | Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
Arts & Humanities Elective | 3 | |
Social Science Elective | 3 | |
Social & Personal Awareness Elective | 3 | |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
HPES 4810 | Exercise Testing and Prescription 3 | 5 |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Semester Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
HPES 4880 | Internship | 8 |
HPES 4875 | Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies | 4 |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 1 | |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Total Semester Hours | 121 |