Exercise Science [BS]

Location(s): In-person/hybrid

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The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program teaches students how our organ systems respond to an acute exercise bout and how they adapt to a chronic exercise training program. We then emphasize using this information to help patients/clients improve their health status and/or fitness level. Graduates from our program earn a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).

Learn

Exercise science is an interdisciplinary field with roots in biology, chemistry, and physics. As a result, our students begin our program by building a solid foundation in these basic science disciplines. Our students then start studying how the human body functions normally and responds and adapts to exercise. Exercise science students finish the program by learning to design evidence-based training programs that progress patients/clients towards health and fitness goals, such as meeting national physical activity recommendations, obtaining physical fitness standards, reducing chronic disease risk, and improving sport performance.

Opportunities

Our program has many classes that take place in the traditional classroom setting. However, we also provide our students with learning opportunities outside the classroom. Our practicum and internship courses allow students to earn credit toward the major while gaining practical skills and real-world experience. We also encourage motivated students to engage in research with a faculty mentor. This undergraduate research experience culminates with a student presentation at a state, regional, or national conference.

Exercise Science is a great major for students pursuing advanced study in health- and exercise-related fields. Our majors frequently gain acceptance to academic graduate programs (e.g., exercise physiology and biomechanics programs), medical programs (e.g., medical school and physician assistant programs), and rehabilitative science programs (e.g., physical therapy, orthotics & prosthetics, occupational therapy, and athletic training programs). However, many of our majors opt to enter the workforce upon graduating. Common career paths for these students include cardiac rehabilitation, strength & conditioning coaching, high-performance training, and hospital or worksite wellness coordination.

Additional Information

Transfer Agreements

School Information

Health Promotion & Human Performance 319J Porter, 734.487.2815

Christopher Herman, PhD, Director

Advisor Information

College of Health and Human Services Advising Center | Make an Appointment, 214 Marshall, 734.487.0918

General Education Requirements:

For specific requirements, see General Education or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 72-73 hours

A student pursuing this major must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 while in the program. Students will not be allowed to complete the internship experience (EXSC 481L4 or EXSC 482L4 ) if their GPA falls below 2.8. In addition, a grade of C- or better must be attained in all required and elective courses in the exercise science major. CPR certification by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or a similar organization is recommended because many internship sites require it.

Required Courses: 60-61 hours

Note - If preparing for medical school, physical therapy school, or physician assistant school, a student should choose BIO 110 /111 and CHEM 121 /122 to satisfy the requirements below.

Biology: 4-5 hours

Choose one course or course combination from the following:
BIO 105 Introductory Biology for Non-majors [GEKN] 4 hrs
BIO 110 Introductory Biology: Cells & Molecules [GEKN] 3 hrs
and BIO 111 Introductory Biology Laboratory: Cells & Molecules [GEKN] 2 hrs
Chemistry: 4 hours

Choose one course or course combination from the following:
CHEM 120 Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry [GEKN] 4 hrs
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 122 General Chemistry I Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
Nutrition: 3 hours

Choose one course from the following:
DTC 203 Nutrition for Health Professionals 3 hrs
DTC 204 Sports Nutrition 3 hrs
Physics: 4 hours
PHY 221 Mechanics, Sound and Heat [GEKN] 4 hrs
Exercise Science Core: 45 hours
EXSC 144 Introduction to Exercise Science 2 hrs
EXSC 201 Human Anatomy 3 hrs
EXSC 202 Human Physiology 3 hrs
EXSC 203 Human Anatomy Laboratory 1 hr
EXSC 204 Human Physiology Laboratory 1 hr
EXSC 205 Quantitative Methods in Exercise Science 3 hrs
EXSC 301 Exercise Physiology 3 hrs
EXSC 302 Exercise Physiology Laboratory 1 hr
EXSC 305 Biomechanics 3 hrs
EXSC 330L4 Practicum in Exercise Science [GELB] 3 hrs
EXSC 380W Exercise and Sport Psychology [GEWI] 3 hrs
EXSC 405 Pharmacology 3 hrs
EXSC 410 Exercise Testing 4 hrs
EXSC 430 Clinical Exercise Electrocardiography 3 hrs
EXSC 431W Pathophysiology [GEWI] 3 hrs
EXSC 432 Exercise Programming and Prescription 3 hrs
EXSC 433 Principles of Sport Performance Training 3 hrs

Internship and Restricted Elective Courses: 12 hours

Satisfy one of the following two options.

Option I:
EXSC 481L4 Internship in Exercise Science [GELB] 3 hrs
Choose three courses from the list of elective courses below 9 hrs
Option II:
EXSC 482L4 Internship in Exercise Science [GELB] 6 hrs
Choose two courses from the list of elective courses below 6 hrs
Elective Courses
EXSC 408 Exercise Epidemiology 3 hrs
EXSC 412 Endurance Training and Performance 3 hrs
EXSC 418 Human Cadaver Laboratory 3 hrs
EXSC 419 Sports Supplements and Ergogenic Aids 3 hrs
EXSC 435 Echocardiography 3 hrs

Minor Requirement:

This major does not require a minor.

Program Total:

Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information

Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
- Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
- At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
- Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
- Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
- Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.