When you’re fascinated by the ever-expanding careers related to fitness and physical activities, and you’re looking for how to apply this interest in a career, you’ll hear about kinesiology and exercise science degrees. Actually, the two fields are similar, although there are differences. Think of it the same way that a doctor of family medicine is different from a Doctor of Optometry – similar professions, but different in their focus.
Close-up view of using a caliper to test body fat, one of many tools exercise science students use in a lab environment.
If You Know About Kinesiology, You’ll Love Exercise Science
Kinesiologists and exercise scientists use rehabilitative exercises, conditioning programs, and exercise education to help people – both the healthy and those with impairments – improve their body mechanics and activity levels.
The U.S. Dept. of Education groups kinesiology and exercise science together. They focus on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation.
Students in a Bachelor of Exercise Science (B.S.) program learn about the many areas that affect human movement:
In an exercise science degree program, students investigate how humans respond to various exercise techniques, the biomechanics of human movement, and the effects of exercise on human health outcomes.
Exercise scientists and exercise physiologists work in health promotion and fitness development areas. They are often in healthcare roles where they develop specific exercise programs for their clients. The programs they design or study create positive physiological responses that maintain or elevate health and wellbeing.
“Those who enroll in an exercise science program care about helping clients and patients become who they want to become, whether a marathon athlete or someone who wants to maintain strength later in life,” says one program director.
As an exercise enthusiast, you know the benefits of exercise. Did you realize that a 2019 study in the Journal of Sport and Health Sciences indicates suitable exercise therapies can help alleviate the symptoms associated with 26 different diseases and conditions?
Example areas:
Learning outcomes for an exercise science program include:
Typically, a B.S. in exercise science degree is a four-year college program. Some programs allow degree completion in three years, an advantage for those who decide to enter a graduate program, such as a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Exercise Physiology.
A B.S. in exercise science includes:
At the same time, the exercise science degree provides comprehensive knowledge of biology, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition. This combination aligns well with entry into professional healthcare programs such as medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Comprehensive Degree, Many Career Options
An exercise science degree provides the knowledge and flexibility to meet various healthcare-related jobs. Many of these roles fall into the category of health education specialists, and that job segment continues to grow.
Nearly 2.4 million new jobs in healthcare-related occupations are projected from 2019-29, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Specific roles promising a future are as a wellness program director in a corporate setting or a health and wellness initiative manager for a community or state agency. In 2019, 84% of companies with 200 or more employees were administering workplace wellness programs. Check out this career website for more information and options.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university. Our College of Health Sciences includes a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science that students can earn in as few as three years. Our program features 8-week courses offered throughout the year.
Unique to our program design is a 25-credit-hour electives component. This element allows students to arrange clinical education experiences, independent study options, individual research, or other course selections based on a specific area of interest and professional goals.
In our degree program, students receive instruction and gain practical experience through campus lab experiences, in class, and in the field through a nine-credit-hour internship.
Our exercise science graduates are eligible for nationally recognized certifications, including a Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) from the American College of Sports Medicine.
The depth of our exercise science degree provides excellent preparation for students interested in dual credentials in many areas, including:
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