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Bachelor of Science
On Campus College of Health Professions
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At Sacred Heart, you’ll benefit from an exercise science bachelor's degree program with a direct focus on exercise science and related clinical skills, alongside other students with the same major. You’ll gain hands-on, practical experience and learn from faculty who are experts in the field.

Why Earn Your BS in Exercise Science at Sacred Heart?

You will receive a comprehensive education that will enable you educate clients so they may enhance their health related physical fitness, functional performance and health related quality of life.

As an Exercise Science major, you will study the movement of the human body as it relates to physical fitness and functional performance while preparing for a career as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician assistant, strength and conditioning specialist, clinical exercise or health and fitness professional, or for further studies in the allied health or medical fields.

At many schools, exercise science courses are intertwined with topics in general physical education, making it challenging to gain a specialized education. At Sacred Heart, you will benefit from studying in a program with a direct emphasis on exercise science and related clinical skills, alongside other students with the same major.

In the Exercise Science program, you will also:

  • Gain practical, hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art facilities that include motion analysis, human performance, and human cadaver laboratories, as well as the Pioneer Performance Center
  • Learn from faculty who are experts in the fields of strength and conditioning, nutritional influences on health and performance, rehabilitation, biomechanics, health promotion, and community-outreach programs into the classroom 
  • Get clinical experience right here on campus, through work in the Pioneer Performance Center (PPC) and SHU FIT Health & Wellness Center
  • Benefit from a capstone experience that prepares you for the ACSM EP-C exam 
  • Study exercise physiology, human anatomy, and exercise prescription as it applies to healthy, compromised, and special populations
  • Understand strength and conditioning concepts and behavioral influences on exercise adherence
  • Gain internship experience, thanks to our affiliation with more than 30 professionals that are recognized in a broad range of exercise science disciplines and professions
  • Have the opportunity to join the Exercise Science Student Club and to study abroad
  • Graduate eligible to take the ACSM EP-C (exercise physiologist) certification exam and National Strength & Conditioning Association licensure exam

Benefit from accelerated degree options

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate Exercise Science students have five options for completing their undergraduate and graduate degrees at Sacred Heart University with three years of undergraduate coursework and two-three years of graduate coursework. In all accelerated programs, students must work closely with their Exercise Science Academic Advisor to follow a specific sequence of study. Please note that some summer work is required which may be completed at other universities offering equivalent courses and pre-approval.

Admission Requirements

The Exercise Science program typically accepts students following their second semester of Undergraduate course work. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and a minimum grade of C in Introduction to Exercise Science (EX 100) and General Biology I/II are required for admission.

Freshmen interested in applying to the Exercise Science program can contact Matthew Moran, Ph.D., Professor, for program information. Declaration of Major forms should be submitted to Chrystyne Maloney.

Graduate prepared for a career or further study

Exercise Science majors are ready for a career in all areas of allied health including:

  • physical therapy
  • physician assistant
  • occupational therapy
  • cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
  • chronic disease management programs

Graduates are employed in a variety of settings, including:

  • Elite performance centers
  • Corporate fitness facilities (Corporate worksite health promotion centers)
  • Medical Fitness Centers
  • Outpatient rehabilitation exercise facilities
  • Chronic disease rehabilitation and management programs
  • Pharmaceutical or medical sales

Graduates are also prepared for medical school or graduate studies in exercise science.

Sacred Heart partners with more than 30 professional affiliates to provide internship opportunities in a broad range of exercise science professions.

SHU exercise science prepared me well for graduate school by challenging me to think critically, practice and apply clinical skills and research the best available evidence. This program gave me the opportunity and space to be curious and conduct my own independent research with faculty mentorship, which gave me an enormous advantage as both a graduate student and budding clinician.

SHU exercise science (EX) helped me feel comfortable interacting with my participants while collecting data for research, gave me a solid foundation in how to write scientifically and taught me how to problem-solve and troubleshoot under pressure. Lab practicals, patient assessments and class presentations pushed me out of my comfort zone and the SHU EX program and professors provided us with necessary support to become proficient in these essential clinical and communication skills.

Thanks to the SHU exercise science (EX) program, I am now in an incredible DPT program and NSCA CSCS certified! SHU EX challenged me to think critically about course material, motivated me to become a great clinician in the future and taught me more about my interests in the field.

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