Health & Exercise Science, B.S.

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The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences’ bachelor’s degree program in Health and Exercise Science focuses on the study of human movement and on using scientific principles to understand how best to optimize human health and performance. The program prepares students for the workforce or for graduate/professional school as health and rehabilitation science professionals. The program addresses regional and national needs for competent, skillful employees and entrepreneurs in the fields of strength and conditioning, clinical exercise sciences, personal training, and health and wellness.

The Health & Exercise Science degree focuses on understanding the role and impact of exercise and health studies on individuals in society. This program of studies is designed to prepare professionals for careers as athletic training, physical therapists, and exercise science specialists such as cardiac rehabilitation and wellness directors. The Health & Exercise Science degree will provide experiences which prepare majors for employment in both clinical and rehabilitation programs. This program is a tripartite arrangement with the College of Nursing and Health Science (CoNHS), College of Education (COE) and College of Science, Engineering and Math (CSEM) working in conjunction.

Major Requirements

Health & Exercise Science: Total Semester Hours = 123

Freshman Year

First Semester

BI 141 - Principles of Biology I (For Science Majors) 3 Credit Hours ^GE
BIL 141 - Principles of Biology I Lab 1 Credit Hour ^GE
EN 131 - College English I 3 Credit Hours ^GE
Faith and Wellness Awareness ♦ ^GE3 Credit Hours
MAT 135 - Pre-Calculus 3 Credit Hours ^GE ^*
SM 131 - Intro to Sports Medicine 3 Credit Hours

Total: 16

Second Semester

BI 142 - Principles of Biology II (For Science Majors) 4 Credit Hours
CHS 220 - Medical Terminology 3 Credit Hours
EN 132 - College English II 3 Credit Hours ^GE
MAT 136 - Analytical Trigonometry 3 Credit Hours ^GE
Social Foundations and Civic Engagement ^GE 3 Credit Hours

Total: 16

Sophomore Year

First Semester

BI 310 - Human Anatomy 4 Credit Hours
CH 141 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
CHL 141 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hour
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE3 Credit Hours
PS 231 - General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
OR
PS 236 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credit Hours
Social Foundations and Civic Engagement ^GE 3 Credit Hours

Total: 17

Second Semester

BI 311 - Human Physiology 4 Credit Hours
FI 310 - Personal Finance 3 Credit Hours
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE 3 Credit Hours
MAT 260 - Practical Statistics 3 Credit Hours
OR
SS 239 - Statistics for Social Science Research 3 Credit Hours
SC 230 - Introduction to Effective Oral Communication 3 Credit Hours ^GE

Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

PE 335 - Biomechanics of Human Movement 3 Credit Hours
PE 341 - Motor Learning and Development 3 Credit Hours
PH 241 - General Physics I 4 Credit Hours
PHL 241 - General Physics I Laboratory 0 Credit Hours
Restricted Elective ^# 3 Credit Hours
Restricted Elective ^# 3 Credit Hours

Total: 16

Second Semester

HES 330 - Facility Management 3 Credit Hours
HES 350 - Musculoskeletal Analysis Techniques 3 Credit Hours
CHS 230 - Sports Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
OR
GR 230 - Nutrition in Health and Disease 3 Credit Hours
OR
NUTR 220 - Principles and Fundamentals of Human Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
PE 435 - Physiology of Exercise 3 Credit Hours
Restricted Elective ^# 3 Credit Hours

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

HES 411 - Health Assessment and Appraisal in Exercise Science 3 Credit Hours
HES 429 - Exercise Prescription 3 Credit Hours
HES 458 - Pathophysiology of Exercise Science 3 Credit Hours
HES 499 - Senior Seminar 3 Credit Hours
HES 375 - Theory of Strength & Conditioning 3 Credit Hours

Total: 15

Second Semester

HES 490 - HES Internship 12 Credit Hours

Total: 12

Notes:

GE = General Education Courses

* Based on your placement testing scores, these courses may require prerequisites which may extend the number of semesters needed to complete degree requirements. These prerequisites do not count towards the degree for graduation.

♦ Health & Exercise Science Majors will choose from the following options for Faith and Wellness Awareness General Education Requirement.

RELI 110 Understanding Faith
RELI 150 Religion and Global Business
PE 136 Personal and Community Health

Restricted Electives

BI 244 - Microbiology and Lab 4 Credit Hours
CH 142 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHL 142 - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hour
CH 241 - Organic Chemistry I and Lab 4 Credit Hours
CH 242 - Organic Chemistry II and Lab 4 Credit Hours
CH 445 - Biochemistry I 4 Credit Hours
CHS 230 - Sports Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
^{If not used as the Nutrition option}
GR 230 - Nutrition in Health and Disease 3 Credit Hours
^{If not used as the Nutrition option}
GR 231 - Introduction to Gerontology 3 Credit Hours
GR 240 - Social and Cultural Aspects to Aging 3 Credit Hours
GR 310 - Cellular and Physiologic Aspects of Aging 3 Credit Hours
GR 380 - End of Life Issues 3 Credit Hours
GR 390 - Psychology of Aging 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 220 - Principles and Fundamentals of Human Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
^{If not used as the Nutrition option}
NUTR 322 - Nutrition through the Life Cycle 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 320 - Introduction to Food Science 3 Credit Hours
PE 215 - Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries 3 Credit Hours
PE 338 - Organization and Administration of Health, Physical Education & Recreation 3 Credit Hours
PE 435 - Physiology of Exercise 3 Credit Hours
PH 242 - General Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHL 242 - General Physics II Laboratory 0 Credit Hours