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A student shows off technology in the SHAHS Exercise Science Lab

Exercise Science, B.S.

Explore the Science of Human Movement
Exercise Science, B.S., Program Overview

What is Exercise Science?

Exercise science is the study of how the human body responds to physical exercise. It draws on disciplines ranging from biomechanics and sports nutrition to strength training and psychology.

An Exercise Science degree prepares prospective health, fitness and exercise professionals with competencies to help people get in shape and live healthier lifestyles. It’s also a stepping-stone degree to graduate school

Student Experience

Our program provides an outstanding applied learning environment, using state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation to foster student’s functional knowledge.

  • Metabolic Carts
  • BOD POD® GS
  • DEXA
  • Treadmills
  • Arm Ergometer
  • Cycling Ergometers
  • EKG Units
  • Skinfold Calipers
  • Hydrostatic Weighing
  • Brower Timing
  • NeuroCom® Balance
  • Anatomage
  • Optotrak® Motion System
  • Force Plates
  • Eye Tracker
  • EMG Units

Exercise Science

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Career Opportunities

Students complete the exercise science core courses as well as courses from one of two concentrations: Allied Health or Exercise Physiology Certification.

The Exercise Science Physiology Certification concentration, when combined with nationally recognized certification, leads to careers such as personal training, strength and conditioning specialist, commercial and corporate employee fitness director and exercise physiologist.

The Allied Health concentration provides a platform leading to graduate programs and eventually careers such as physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy and clinical exercise physiology.

Graduates May Work As:

Helps injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries. (Source)

Practices medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other health care workers. (Source)

Treats injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. (Source)

Works with a variety of patients to maintain or improve their health through physical activity. (Source)

Assesses customers' bodily strengths and weaknesses and creates customized workout plans. (Source)

Establishes and maintains a strength and conditioning program for all sports, with the three major goals of improving athletic performance, reducing athletic injuries, and teaching lifelong fitness and movement skills. (Source)

Responsible for a variety of projects designed to improve health and wellness in corporate or community environments. (Source)

students examine a life-size screen depicting the human nervous system.

Sample Courses

A table showing a few sample courses required for the exercise science b.s. program.
EXS 310 Research Methods in Exercise Science
EXS 320 Exercise Physiology
EXS 321 Biomechanics
EXS 322 Sports Nutrition
EXS 411 Exercise Prescription I
EXS 412 Facilitating Behavior Change
EXS 497 Advanced Field Experience in Exercise Science
See The Full Curriculum

Requirements to Declare: Exercise Science, BS?

  • Students can declare Pre-Exercise Science after completing 24 credit hours with a 2.0 or higher UNCW GPA.
  • Admission into the Exercise Science major requires a 2.7 UNCW GPA or higher, and a C or higher in MAT 111 (or above), BIO/L 201, CHM/L 101, and EXS 210. Once students have met these requirements, they can declare Exercise Science in My Seaport.
  • An application is not required.
  • Students must also choose from one of two concentration options when declaring their pre-major and major: Exercise Physiology Certification (EPC, geared toward personal training, strength and conditioning, or master’s programs in Exercise Science) or Allied Health (geared toward prospective PT, OT, and PA applicants who require additional science prerequisites).
  • A 2.7 overall GPA is required to take 300-400 level courses in the major. All students must complete all core and concentration courses with a grade of C or above.

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School of Health & Applied Human Sciences

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