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Dec 03, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Exercise Science (B.S.)
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Program Coordinator/Contact
Lee Weidauer, Associate Professor
School of Health and Human Sciences
Wagner Hall 405, Box 2275A
605-688-4630
Program Information
Exercise Science is the study of human movement performed to maintain or improve physical fitness. Exercise Science graduates are well trained to assess, design and implement individual and group exercise and fitness programs for individuals who are healthy and those with controlled disease. They are skilled in evaluating health behaviors and risk factors, conducting fitness assessments, writing appropriate exercise prescriptions, and motivating individuals to modify negative health habits. Exercise Science professionals work in university, corporate, commercial or community settings in which their clients/patients participate in health promotion and fitness-related activities. Exercise Science students will have the opportunity to become a certified American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) during their senior year in the program. Students will also be prepared to become a certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor and Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Exercise Science students have the opportunity to gain hands on experience by completing an on-campus internship and an off-campus field experience. Students have selected sites both domestically and internationally in the fields of strength and conditioning, cardiac rehabilitation, worksite wellness, fitness management, community physical activity promotion and biomechanics.
Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.
All Exercise Science students have the opportunity to sit for the Certified Exercise Physiologist Exam offered through the American College of Sports Medicine during their final year in the program.
Course Delivery Format
Course instruction occurs through face to face and online course instruction that includes lectures, discussions, laboratories, internship and field experiences, and service learning.
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Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Exercise Science curriculum students will be able to meet the following Accreditation Outcomes:
- Administer and interpret pre participation health screening procedures to maximize client safety and minimize risk.
- Determine client’s readiness to participate in a health-related physical fitness assessment and exercise program.
- Determine and administer physical fitness assessments for apparently healthy clients and those with controlled disease.
- Conduct and interpret cardiorespiratory fitness assessments.
- Conduct and interpret assessments of muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.
- Conduct and interpret anthropometric and body composition assessments.
- Determine safe and effective exercise programs to achieve desired outcomes and goals, and translate assessment results into appropriate exercise prescriptions.
- Implement cardiorespiratory exercise prescriptions for apparently healthy clients and those with controlled disease based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
- Implement exercise prescriptions for flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, agility, and reaction time for apparently healthy clients and those with controlled disease based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
- Establish exercise progression guidelines for flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, agility, and reaction time for apparently healthy clients and those with controlled disease based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
- Implement a general weight management program as indicated by personal goals, as needed.
- Prescribe and implement exercise programs for clients with controlled cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases and other clinical populations and work closely with clients’ healthcare providers, as needed.
- Prescribe and implement exercise programs for healthy special populations (i.e., older adults, youth, and pregnant women).
- Modify exercise prescriptions based on various environmental conditions.
- Optimize adoption and adherence of exercise and other healthy behaviors by applying effective communication techniques.
- Optimize adoption and adherence of exercise and other healthy behaviors by applying effective behavioral strategies and motivational techniques.
- Provide educational resources to support clients in the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
- Provide support within the scope of practice of a fitness professional and refer to other health professionals as indicated.
- Develop and disseminate risk management guidelines for a health/fitness facility to reduce member, employee, and business risk.
- Ensure that emergency policies and procedures are in place.
Academic Requirements
A minimum final grade of “C” is required in all Major Requirements courses. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher to progress/graduate from the program.
Requirements for Exercise Science Major: 120 Credits
Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements
- Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Elective Credits: 6
- Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
- Goal #3 Social Sciences: HDFS 210 - Lifespan Development (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 and PSYC 101 - General Psychology (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
- Goal #4 Arts and Humanities:
- Goal #5 Mathematics: MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3 or higher level SGR #5 course
- Goal #6 Natural Sciences: Select from the following
- CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 , CHEM 108 - Organic and Biochemistry (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4 , and CHEM 108L - Organic and Biochemistry Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
- CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 , CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , and CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements
Electives
Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.
Total Required Credits: 120
Summary of Program Requirements
Bachelor of Science
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| System General Education Requirements* |
32-33 Credit Hours |
| College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements |
4 Credit Hours |
| Major Requirements |
58-60 Credit Hours |
| Electives** |
23-26 Credit Hours |
*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.
Academic Advising Guide Sheet
The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.
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