WHAT IS EXERCISE SCIENCE?

Exercise science is the study of how exercise training and physical activity affect health and human performance. A degree in exercise science will prepare you for a career in strength and conditioning, health and fitness promotion, education programs in hospitals, medical device and pharmaceutical sales, sports medicine and wellness centers, rehabilitation facilities and clinical research programs. The major will also prepare you for advanced degree programs in exercise science, biomechanics, nutrition, biological sciences, public health and medicine. Exercise science is a growing field, and emphasis on exercise as preventative care and part of long-term rehabilitation from chronic illnesses is likely to lead to new job opportunities for the exercise specialist of the future.

WHY STUDY EXERCISE SCIENCE AT UNH?

As a graduate of the exercise science program at UNH you will be well-prepared for a future in health-and fitness-related fields. You’ll participate in hands-on learning in the Robert Kertzer Exercise Physiology Laboratory, which boasts metabolic, cardiopulmonary, biochemistry, vascular and environmental facilities, and the Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory that includes a dynamometer, electromyography, and 3D motion capture systems. Students engage in service learning while working with clients in the university Employee Fitness Program, Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, and through a full-time, 400-hour internship in an off-campus setting such as a hospital, health and fitness club or research laboratory. In addition, the university’s pre-professional health advising program provides guidance to those intending to apply to professional health programs, including medical school and physician assistant, physical therapy, chiropractic or homeopathic medicine programs.

Potential Careers

Clinical exercise physiologist
Fitness instructor/personal trainer
Health coach
Medical equipment and pharmaceutical sales
Occupational therapist
Physician
Physician assistant
Physical therapist
Strength and conditioning coach

Curriculum & Requirements

01

Program Description

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, Aurora.Vellante@unh.edu

02

Degree Plan

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
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
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	16
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 403	General Chemistry I	4
EXSC 620	Physiology of Exercise	4
Discovery Course ETS		4
Discovery Course (FPA)		4
	Credits	16
Spring
CHEM 404	General Chemistry II	4
EXSC 621	Exercise Laboratory Techniques	4
KIN 652	Clinical Kinesiology	4
Discovery Course (HUMA)		4
	Credits	16
Third Year
Fall
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
Elective Course
	Credits	12
Spring
EXSC 722	Applied Biomechanics	4
Elective Course
EXSC 704	Electrocardiography	4
Discovery Course - WI (WC)		4
Elective Course (e.g. BIOL 412)		4
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	14
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
	Credits	16
Summer
EXSC 650A	Internship in Exercise Science	4-8
	Credits	4-8
	Total Credits	126-130

03

Requirements for the Program

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 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.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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 520	Contemporary Perspectives in Exercise Science	4
EXSC 620	Physiology of Exercise	4
KIN 652	Clinical Kinesiology	4
EXSC 621	Exercise Laboratory Techniques	4
EXSC 650A	Internship in Exercise Science	4-8
EXSC 704	Electrocardiography	4
EXSC 705	Topics in Applied Physiology	4
EXSC 720	Science and Practice of Strength Training	4
EXSC 722	Applied Biomechanics	4
EXSC 724	Exercise Metabolism: Acute and Chronic Adaptations	4
EXSC 736	Fitness and Graded Exercise Testing	4
EXSC 737	Exercise Prescription and Leadership in Healthy and Special Populations	4
EXSC 794	Cardiopulmonary Pathologies	4
EXSC 795	Practicum in Cardiac Rehabilitation	2
NUTR 400	Nutrition in Health and Well Being	4
PSYC 401	Introduction to Psychology	4
Select one of the following:		4
PSYC 402	Statistics in Psychology
SOC 402	Statistics
Total Credits		82-86

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Students in exercise science complete the series of Capstone courses ¹
EXSC 736	Fitness and Graded Exercise Testing	4
EXSC 737	Exercise Prescription and Leadership in Healthy and Special Populations	4
EXSC 650A	Internship in Exercise Science	8
Total Credits		16

¹: These courses give students practical experience in evaluating health and fitness and prescribing exercise to a wide range of individuals. Students become proficient in assessing disease risk factors using tests of blood pressure, blood chemistry, body composition, maximal graded exercise tests with electrocardiogram and assessed measures of strength and flexibility. Students develop individualized exercise prescriptions for assigned 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. This is typically taken during the summer after the spring academic term of the senior year.

04

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

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.