Exercise Science Degree: Why It’s Needed, Fascinating, and Rewarding

Getting many perspectives helps you make better decisions. Well, deciding on a career direction deserves a lot of study. What you want to find is a career that’s in demand, has many different job possibilities, and has excellent educational value. It turns out that a bachelor’s degree in exercise science is one of these.

3 Perspectives on Why the Exercise Science Degree Makes Sense

1. Knowledge Perspective: Comprehensive, Useful

Think of an exercise science degree as a way to have a comprehensive knowledge of human potential and performance.

• Learning how – and why – cells and systems of the human body respond to physiological stress
• Seeing how exercise can prevent and treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis
• Exploring optimal physical function for the increasing number of senior adults who want to stay active and live as independently as possible
• Developing nutritional plans for populations facing ongoing deficiencies
• Improving physical preparation and performance standards for physically intense occupations.
• Exploring exercise biomechanics to help athletes minimize the risks of injury and improve their performance.

 2. Jobs Perspective: Many Possibilities

Exercise science program directors say the field of exercise science is constantly expanding, supporting practicing professional exercise scientists and other allied healthcare careers. Allied healthcare refers to those who evaluate a patient’s needs, keep the physician and others informed of the patient’s progress, and serve as specialists in exercise, nutrition, and health education.

From an overview perspective, exercise science provides a solid academic foundation for individuals interested in dual credentials for other areas of study, including

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Dietetics
• Chiropractic college
• Exercise physiology.

3. Value Perspective: Bachelor’s Degree in as Little as 3 Years

Not every exercise science program is the same. Some are four-year programs. Others are set to allow degree completion in three years. This is advantageous when using the exercise science degree as a stepping-stone to a graduate/professional school.

A typical exercise science degree includes:

• A diverse general education background
• Additional background in science and mathematics
• A majority of courses and labs focused specifically on exercise science:
  • Kinesiology
  • Exercise physiology
  • Nutrition
  • Movement analysis
  • Fitness and health assessments
  • How to design exercise programs for diverse populations
  • Electives to match a student’s area of interest.

Value can also be seen in the projected 9% growth for exercise physiologists through 2031. That’s because exercise physiologists develop programs to help patients recover from chronic diseases through enhanced cardiovascular function, flexibility, and body changes.

In the post-undergraduate job market, specialists like those in cardiac rehabilitation have an average salary of $60,673, according to the data site Salary.com.

Your Degree in Exercise Science at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic and health sciences university. Most students seeking an Exercise Science degree can complete their bachelor’s in about three years

Our program is aligned with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The depth of our exercise science program provides excellent preparation for students interested in dual credentials in many areas, including

• Chiropractic
• Physical Therapy
• Physician Assistant
• Occupational Therapy
• Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Our students receive hands-on instruction and gain practical experience through classes, campus lab experiences, and internships.

Learn more about our E.S program by connecting with an Admissions adviser. You’ll also want this free eBook: Your Guide to an Exercise Science Degree.