Exercise Science

Bachelor of Science Degree

By Nicole Makey, Ph.D.

On the surface, exercise science is the study of human movement; however, it is so much more. Exercise science views fitness, rehabilitation, nutrition, and sport through the multidisciplinary lens of biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy.

Job opportunities for exercise science majors are vast. With a bachelor’s degree alone, graduates could sit for their strength and conditioning coach certification exam, become a sport coach, or work as a wellness coordinator. If students would like to further their education more, job opportunities would arise such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiologist, sports nutritionist, or a university professor/researcher.

Lourdes University requires specific courses to ensure students have a well-rounded understanding of the field. Courses like exercise physiology look at exercise from a physiological perspective, analyzing how the body changes when exercise is applied and asking how the body adapts when we exercise for years. Other courses such as strength and conditioning and fitness assessment look at the science behind how we design workouts for various populations, such as athletes, the elderly, children, or clinical populations. We also strive to provide a more personalized course load for students, so students take a variety of electives to tailor their degree to their future careers. Internships provide students with valuable experience in settings such as high schools, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, or fitness centers.

Another exciting opportunity for students is learning with the state of the art equipment in the new exercise science lab. There students will be able to use a variety of equipment that will help the textbook and lectures come to life. Some of the equipment that will be in the lab are a Bod Pod® to measure body composition and a metabolic cart to measure aerobic capacity. Students will practice with this equipment to learn about the physiology behind exercise and to help further educate their future clients and patients.