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2008 - 2009

      
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BS in Exercise and Wellness (60.5 hours*)


The Discipline

Exercise and Wellness is a departure from the typical U.S. medical model in that the focus is on helping individuals achieve optimal health and fitness, rather than on discovering and treating disease. Recent research findings, along with rising health-care costs, have spurred an interest in keeping people healthy to improve their quality of life and also to avoid unnecessary medical expenses.

Depending on electives completed, there are several excellent career and graduate school options to pursue. Earning a master's degree in exercise science, for example, can give the added knowledge and experience needed to direct a private, commercial, corporate, or clinical health/fitness program. Other graduate school opportunities include a master's in public health (MPH), business administration (MBA), recreational therapy (MS), or food science and nutrition (MS), to name a few.

Career Opportunities

Personal fitness professionals find employment primarily in commercial or community fitness centers but may also work in hospital wellness programs or corporate health-promotion programs. Job responsibilities typically involve teaching clients how to achieve optimal wellness through effective exercise, wholesome nutrition, and successful stress-management strategies.

Exercise and wellness professionals may function at a staff or management level. Staff personnel often conduct one-on-one counseling sessions on a variety of health-related subjects as well as perform fitness testing and exercise prescription. They also may conduct workshops, conferences, or seminars on exercise, nutrition, stress management, weight control, and many other topics.

Program directors typically possess a master's degree with several years of experience working in a health promotion/wellness environment. As a program director, additional responsibilities typically include: financial budgeting, marketing, program administration and evaluation, and personnel hiring and training.

Students pursuing a degree in exercise and wellness are usually more successful in their profession if they gain expertise in the following areas: counseling, public speaking, behavior change, business, first aid, gerontology, and/or aerobic dance teaching. It is also strongly recommended that students obtain a health/fitness certification through a reputable certifying organization.

In 2005, survey data indicate that personal trainers earn $43,000 annually in the U.S. Throughout the U.S. the top five states have a salary range from $38,000 to $55,000. Health promotion program directors' salaries range from $43,000 to $63,000 annually, with more earning potential for individuals with graduate degrees and/or experience.

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. Complete the senior exit interview.

  2. Complete the following prerequisites to the exercise and wellness core:
      HLTH 320
      HLTH 320

                 : Advanced First Aid and Safety.


      NDFS 100
      NDFS 100

                 : Essentials of Human Nutrition.


      PDBIO 220
      PDBIO 220

                  : Human Anatomy (with lab).

      PDBIO 305
      PDBIO 305

                  : Human Physiology (with lab).


      STAT 221 : Principles of Statistics. (3:3:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      STAT 221 : Principles of Statistics. (3:3:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp, Su
      PREREQUISITE: Math 110 or equivalent.
      DESCRIPTION: Stemplots, boxplots, histograms, scatterplots; central tendency, variability; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing involving one and two means and proportions; contingency tables, regression; computer package.
      NOTE: Honors and Independent Study also.



      TMA 150
      TMA 150

                : Public Speaking.

  3. Complete the following required core:
      EXSC 302
      EXSC 302

                 : Philosophical and Ethical Issues in Exercise Sciences.

      EXSC 387
      EXSC 387

                 : Lifestyle and Chronic Disease Prevention.

      EXSC 410
      EXSC 410

                 : Stress Management.

      EXSC 463
      EXSC 463

                 : Exercise Physiology.

      EXSC 464
      EXSC 464

                 : Exercise Physiology Lab.

      EXSC 480
      EXSC 480

                 : Obesity and Weight Management.

  4. Complete four hours from the following:
      EXSC 399R : Academic Internship. (1-9:0:ARR)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      EXSC 399R : Academic Internship. (1-9:0:ARR)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp, Su
      PREREQUISITE: Advisor's consent; ExSc 301 for health promotion majors.
      DESCRIPTION: On-the-job experience for physical education majors and coaching and physical education minors.

                  : Athletic Training Practicum.
                  : Coaching Practicum.
                  : Exercise Physiology Practicum.
                  : Exercise Science Internship.
                  : Fitness and Wellness Internship
                  : Practicum Handicap.

  5. Complete 25 hours from the following:

    • Complete a minimum of 18 hours from the following:
        EXSC 285
        EXSC 285

                   : Personal Training Strategies.

        EXSC 365
        EXSC 365

                   : Scientific Bases of Sport 2: Kinesiology.

        EXSC 400
        EXSC 400

                   : Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology.

        EXSC 455
        EXSC 455

                   : Worksite Health Promotion.

        EXSC 468
        EXSC 468

                   : Problems in Exercise Prescription.

        EXSC 485
        EXSC 485

                   : Exercise and Wellness Certification Preparation.


        HLTH 345
        HLTH 345

                   : Principles of Epidemiology.

        HLTH 438
        HLTH 438

                   : Social Marketing.

        HLTH 460
        HLTH 460

                   : Substance Abuse and Addictive Behavior.


        NDFS 310
        NDFS 310

                   : Sports Nutrition.

    • Complete up to seven hours from the following:
        ACC 200
        ACC 200

                  : Principles of Accounting.


        BUS M 300
        BUS M 300

                    : Financial Management.

        BUS M 340
        BUS M 340

                    : Marketing Management.

        BUS M 371R : Entrepreneurship Lecture Series. (1:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
        BUS M 371R : Entrepreneurship Lecture Series. (1:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
        OFFERED: F, W, Sp
        DESCRIPTION: Lectures by successful entrepreneurs on subjects significant to entrepreneur-type opportunities.

                     : Marriott School Lecture Series.
                     : Women Entrepreneurs.

        BUS M 372
        BUS M 372

                    : Basic Entrepreneurship Skills.


        DANCE 336
        DANCE 336

                    : Methods of Teaching Aerobic Dance.


        EXSC 320
        EXSC 320

                   : Basic Athletic Training.

        EXSC 321
        EXSC 321

                   : Basic Athletic Training Lab.


        HLTH 335
        HLTH 335

                   : Health Behavior Change.

        HLTH 370
        HLTH 370

                   : Consumer Health.

        HLTH 383
        HLTH 383

                   : Mind/Body Health.

        HLTH 450
        HLTH 450

                   : Women's Health Issues.


        NDFS 200
        NDFS 200

                   : Nutrient Metabolism.


        ORG B 320
        ORG B 320

                    : Organizational Effectiveness.


        STDEV 139
        STDEV 139

                    : Introduction to Health Professions.

      • Note: Other elective courses may be taken with approval from the exercise and wellness major program director.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



Show all Exercise Sciences Courses



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