Health and Fitness Career? Go for the Exercise Science Degree

When you’re passionate about fitness, nutrition, and healthy living, exercise science is a field of study you’ll want to discover. Thanks to a class schedule covering general and applied science, plus aspects of health promotion, the exercise science degree is the right fit to find answers for today’s exercise-focused population.

4 Exercise Science Questions, 4 Exercise Science Answers

A B.S. in exercise science sets you up for various fitness-related careers, sure, while also preparing you for graduate study or professional healthcare programs such as medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

Here are answers to 4 big questions prospective students like you often have when pursuing a B.S. in exercise science.

Q. What is Exercise Science All About?

A. Exercise science is a full-spectrum study of human movement, one that looks at biological, physical, and health sciences to discover and explain the structural and functional changes in people at the physiological, biochemical, and biomechanical levels.

If exercise science is an unfamiliar term, think of a degree in exercise science as encompassing elements of kinesiology, exercise physiology, movement science, fitness, and wellness.

Within an exercise science degree program, expect to learn all about

• How the body responds to physical activity
• Conditions and dysfunctions that affect overall health and the ability to participate in physical activities
• Evaluating various health- and skill-related aspects of physical fitness
• How to perform and teach exercise techniques
• How to develop effective exercise programs for specific populations.

A 2019 study in the Journal of Sport and Health Sciences shows specific exercise therapies can help alleviate patients’ symptoms with 26 different diseases.

Examples include musculoskeletal system diseases (tendon injury, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and hip fracture), metabolic system diseases (obesity, type-1, and type-2 diabetes), and cardio-cerebral vascular system diseases (coronary artery disease, stroke, and chronic heart failure).

Q. What career directions can a B.S. in Exercise Science take me?

A. Each university you consider for an exercise science degree will be different, so you’ll have to talk with a program advisor or director to ensure a program provides the opportunities you want. Some common study tracks include:

• Pre-health professional (pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-chiropractic, etc.)
• Corporate wellness
• Developing and managing fitness training
• Clinical exercise physiology, such as cardiac rehabilitation
• Human performance
• Researching exercise best practices.

Q. How long does earning a B.S. in exercise science take?

A. Typically, a B.S. in exercise science degree is a four-year college program, although some programs are structured for degree completion in three years. That’s a definite advantage when you’re interested in continuing into a graduate program, such as a master’s degree in exercise physiology.

A B.S. in exercise science includes:

• General education and required core courses
• An emphasis on the physical sciences and mathematics
• Elective classes in a student’s area of interest
• An internship in line with a student’s exercise science focus.

Q. Will the interest in seeking regular, effective exercise continue?

A. Statistics reveal people are increasingly recognizing the benefits of staying (or getting) in shape. Consider these facts:

• The percentage of Americans recognizing the need for regular exercise continues to increase. In 2017, 53.8% of Americans met recommended physical activity guidelines, up from 41% in 2005.
• In 2019, 84% of companies with 200 or more workers were administering a workplace wellness program.
• Technology is encouraging more people to pay attention to their physical condition. By 2022, it’s estimated more than 900 million people worldwide will have wearable fitness devices, and more than half of all smartphone users have at least one fitness application.

The B.S. in Exercise Science at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university. The CUKC College of Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science degree in as little as three years.

The depth of our exercise science degree program provides excellent preparation for students interested in dual credentials in many areas, including

• Medicine
• Chiropractic
• Physician assistant
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

In our degree program, students receive hands-on instruction and gain practical experience through campus lab experiences, in class, and the field through a nine-hour internship. Our “electives of distinction” allow for great flexibility in the area you want to focus on.

Connect with a CUKC admissions adviser by clicking here. If you need answers about financial aid opportunities, get this free eBook today: Your Comprehensive Guide to College Financial Aid.