Exercise Science Major (B.S.)

https://chhs.unh.edu/kinesiology/program/bs/exercise-science-major

This curriculum prepares students for careers in health and fitness promotion and allied programs in hospitals, sports medicine centers, wellness clinics, universities, and rehabilitation facilities. Students are also prepared for advanced degree programs in the health professions, basic biology fields, medicine, or other health-related fields.

Interested students should consult with the undergraduate major coordinator, Summer.Cook@unh.edu.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in every required course. Successful completion of early and prerequisite courses is required before advancing to sequenced and higher-level coursework. All required courses must be completed before enrolling in EXSC 650A Internship in Exercise Science.

BMS 507
BMS 508
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
8
CHEM 403
CHEM 404
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
8
EXSC 520Contemporary Perspectives in Exercise Science4
EXSC 620Physiology of Exercise4
KIN 652Clinical Kinesiology4
EXSC 621Exercise Laboratory Techniques4
EXSC 650AInternship in Exercise Science4-8
EXSC 704Electrocardiography4
EXSC 705Topics in Applied Physiology4
EXSC 720Science and Practice of Strength Training4
EXSC 722Applied Biomechanics4
EXSC 724Exercise Metabolism: Acute and Chronic Adaptations4
EXSC 736Fitness and Graded Exercise Testing4
EXSC 737Exercise Prescription and Leadership in Healthy and Special Populations4
EXSC 794Cardiopulmonary Pathologies4
EXSC 795Practicum in Cardiac Rehabilitation2
NUTR 400Nutrition in Health and Well Being4
PSYC 401Introduction to Psychology4
Select one of the following:4
Statistics in Psychology
Statistics
Total Credits82-86
Students in exercise science complete the series of Capstone courses 1
EXSC 736Fitness and Graded Exercise Testing4
EXSC 737Exercise Prescription and Leadership in Healthy and Special Populations4
EXSC 650AInternship in Exercise Science4-8
Total Credits12-16
1

These courses give students practical experience in evaluating health and fitness and prescribing exercise to a wide range of clients. Specifically, students assess a number of disease risk factors, including blood pressure, blood chemistry, and body composition measures, and perform maximal graded exercise tests complete with electrocardiogram monitoring, as well as measure strength and flexibility. Students ultimately develop individualized exercise prescriptions for their clients and work with them one-on-one to improve their health and fitness. The internship experience is an off-campus, 10-week, 40-hours per week, full-time experience and can only be taken after all University and departmental courses are completed. Typically, this is taken during the summer after the student's senior spring academic term. 

Suggested Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BMS 507 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
EXSC 520 Contemporary Perspectives in Exercise Science 4
PSYC 401 Introduction to Psychology 4
 Credits16
Spring
BMS 508 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
Discovery Course (INQ/HP) 4
Discovery Course: Statistics (QR) 4
NUTR 400 Nutrition in Health and Well Being 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 403 General Chemistry I 4
EXSC 620 Physiology of Exercise 4
Discovery Course ETS 4
Discovery Course (FPA) 4
 Credits16
Spring
CHEM 404 General Chemistry II 4
EXSC 621 Exercise Laboratory Techniques 4
KIN 652 Clinical Kinesiology 4
Discovery Course (HUMA) 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
EXSC 704 Electrocardiography 4
EXSC 720 Science and Practice of Strength Training 4
EXSC 724 Exercise Metabolism: Acute and Chronic Adaptations 4
Elective Course (e.g. BIOL 411) 4
 Credits16
Spring
EXSC 722 Applied Biomechanics 4
Discovery Course - WI (WC) 4
Elective Course (e.g. BIOL 412) 4
Elective Course 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
EXSC 736 Fitness and Graded Exercise Testing 4
EXSC 794 Cardiopulmonary Pathologies 4
EXSC 795 Practicum in Cardiac Rehabilitation 2
Elective Course (e.g. PHYS 401) 4
 Credits14
Spring
EXSC 705 Topics in Applied Physiology 4
EXSC 737 Exercise Prescription and Leadership in Healthy and Special Populations 4
Elective Course 4
Elective Course (e.g. PHYS 402) 4
 Credits16
Summer
EXSC 650A Internship in Exercise Science 4-8
 Credits4-8
 Total Credits130-134
  • Apply fundamental principles of anatomy & physiology, chemistry, nutrition, exercise physiology, psychology, math and physics to anticipate and understand physiologic responses to acute and chronic exercise.  
  • Evaluate empirical literature in terms of accuracy, authority, bias and relevance, and synthesize information from a variety of sources for presentation in written and oral forms.
  • Demonstrate competency in health and fitness assessments and use them to prescribe evidence-based exercise interventions to improve health, athletic performance, physical function and quality of life in diverse populations.   
  • Display professionally appropriate behaviors, ethical standards, sensitivity, compassion, and tolerance of individual differences, and demonstrate the ability to work in an interprofessional healthcare team.