Exercise Science
An exercise science degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) will prepare students for careers in health and fitness such as, personal training, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and many other career paths. This rigorous on-campus program will prepare students for graduate studies to become physical therapists, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physician assistants and chiropractors, to name a few.
The SMWC approach prepares students with compassion, skills and the knowledge to be a leader in this broad and growing field. The Exercise Science laboratories have state of the art equipment that will set you apart in your career path. The small lab sizes will allow for a deep knowledge base and personal development within health and fitness.
Coursework includes sport and exercise physiology, fitness assessment and programming, principles in human movement, health behaviors and prevention strategies, and nutrition for health, exercise and sport.
The employment demand for exercise science-based careers is projected to increase 15% through 2029.
Exercise Science
Gateway Process
- All new students enter as Kinesiology majors with no concentration declared until they meet with Dr Quinn, Dr Pierce, or the department academic advisor and have been assessed regarding their career plans. After this evaluative discussion, a concentration can be determined and assigned.
- Mentoring assignments are to be determined based upon the concentration assignment as follows:
- Recreation Science (RES) – Quinn
- Health Science (HES)– Persaud
- Exercise Science (EXS) – Pierce
- Students are encouraged to meet with mentors as defined above to discuss their concentration and career plans.
- Students interested in the EXS concentration may not declare EXS until they have met the following gateway requirements:
- Successful completion of the A&P series
- Completion of at least 60 college credit hours
- Possess at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA
- Students may be admitted to the EXS concentration fully or conditionally. Conditional admits will be informed of any weaknesses that must be improved in order to remain in the concentration.
- Students falling below the minimum GPA will be shifted from the EXS concentration to either HES or RES.
- Regardless of concentration declaration, majors with Graduate School intentions will potentially need to begin the appropriate prerequisite series as soon as their first semester.