You appreciate the magic and mystery of human performance. In fact, you know there are mental, emotional, and physical benefits to regular exercise…and you’d like to dive deep into all aspects of exercise so you can inform and teach others. Is there a college major for that? Why yes, there is: the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree.
1. It’s a comprehensive field that gives you many options for a career.
Exercise science is the study of all the components through a core understanding of the human body’s structure (anatomy) and function (physiology). The comprehensive knowledge acquired in an exercise science degree program provides the essential foundation for exercise-related and healthcare jobs and to continue studying it at graduate-school levels.
After receiving their B.S. in Exercise Science, many students choose to earn a master’s degree in exercise physiology. Exercise physiologists are involved in careers ranging from cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation, diabetes and cancer prevention and many other healthcare areas.
2. You’ll become an expert in the secrets and barriers to human performance.
In short, the B.S. in Exercise Science degree is a systems approach to the field, allowing students to explore and understand how the human body’s different systems respond to acute and chronic stimuli and conditions. You see, each system – nervous, circulatory, muscular, respiratory, etc. – has specific functions that cannot perform at its best without integration with the others.
In an exercise science degree program, students learn how responses to challenges like physical activity, regular exercise, stress, changes in nutritional intake, and environmental conditions allow humans to be healthy and perform at desired levels, not only in athletics as well as in daily life activities.
3. Exercise science provides deep insights into all areas of how the human body moves and performs.
The comprehensive scope of the exercise science degree includes knowledge and instruction in many areas:
What’s that all mean? It means that exercise science degree-focused students know how and why the body responds to physical activity. Many B.S. in exercise science programs allows students to focus on a particular area and offer directed internships as part of the degree plan.
In real life, exercise scientist graduates are the ones helping determine
4. You can expect the skills and knowledge gained to be in demand.
It’s easy to understand why. The number of Americans with chronic conditions continues to increase despite recognizing that being as physically fit as possible is essential to overall health and well-being.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 60% of adults have one or more chronic conditions that keep them from enjoying the life they want, shorten their life expectancy, or both. The BLS projects employment in healthcare occupations will grow 15% between 2019 and 2029.
Finally, this degree provides academic preparation for students choosing professional degrees, including chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant.
5. The occupations available pay a competitive salary.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health education professionals, such as a wellness program director in a corporate setting, a specialist in clinical exercise physiology, or a manager of a health and wellness initiative, can earn a salary ranging from $49,000 and $60,000.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas, within the Kansas City metro. Our College of Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science degree that students can earn in as little as three years.
Students receive hands-on instruction and gain practical experience through campus lab experiences, traditional classes, and the field through a personalized internship experience
Having flexible career options is one of the desirable benefits of the CUKC degree. Our program provides excellent preparation for students interested in dual credentials in many areas:
What’s your first step? Connect with a CUKC adviser for more information and getting this free eBook on the ES degree and career options: Your Guide to an Exercise Science Degree.