Exercise Science

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Pursuing Your Passion for Exercise and Physical Activity

Maryville University’s Exercise Science program is designed to prepare students for positions in the fast-growing, ever-changing realm of health, wellness and human performance.  As interest in fitness and health continue to grow, people turn to exercise professionals for expert guidance.  Professionals in exercise science work with clients to optimize goal setting and behavioral change, exercise, physical activity, sports performance and/or lifestyle management. 

An Exercise Science degree will open the doors to a variety of careers in the growing health and fitness industry or lead to graduate studies focused on a rewarding career in research, application of science or healthcare. 

Maryville’s Exercise Science (EXSC) program explores the latest scientific concepts and applications of exercise, fitness, and human performance, preparing students to teach and model a healthy, active lifestyle. 

Maryville’s Exercise Science program offers three concentration tracks: Strength & Conditioning, Wellness Management and Pre-Graduate school.

• The Strength & Conditioning concentration was designed to prepare students for a career as a strength & conditioning coach. Coursework was designed and approved to meet the high standards of professional practice outlined by the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Coursework is focused on teaching students how to apply the fundamentals of each aspect of the exercise sciences; enhancing a student’s growth as a coach from both a practical and evidence-based standpoint.

• The Wellness Management concentration was designed to prepare students for a career in a corporate wellness or health coaching setting.  Coursework is focused on applying the fundamentals of exercise science and exercise physiology in a corporate wellness or health coaching work environment, while focusing on evidence-based practice.

• The Pre-Graduate school concentration was designed to prepare students for the rigors and requirements of graduate school for Physical or Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training Human Performance or Exercise Physiology.  Coursework includes additional levels of science, math and research methodology.

Exercise Science Minor

The minor in Exercise Science is available to all non-Exercise Science majors at Maryville University and consists of 20 credit hours of coursework.  The minor is structured for the student interested in the study of science as it relates to exercise, nutrition and testing, while majoring in another subject within the university.  Prerequisites for the minor in Exercise Science are BIOL 101/L and 102/L, which must be completed prior to taking EXSC 310/L Exercise Physiology with lab.

Mission Statement:

Maryville’s Exercise Science program applies an evidence-based, practical approach to the multidimensional study of human movement, while engaging students in hands-on experiences to promote critical thinking, effective communication, and a comprehensive understanding of the exercise science discipline.  Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in careers or graduate studies in the growing fields of health & wellness, fitness, human performance, rehabilitation, and medicine.

Health and Other Special Requirements

The following requirements must be met prior to participating in required clinicals:

• Physical Examination
• Documentation of Immunization or Titer Immunity
  • Measles/Rubeola, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and acellular Pertusis (Tdap)
  • Polio series completed
  • Varicella titer or Varicella vaccinations
  • Hepatitis B Vaccine Series or Declination
  • Annual Flu Vaccine
  • TB-Tuberculin PPD test (documented 2-step initially, then annual)
• Health insurance (copy of card required annually)
• CPR Certification-American Heart Association Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider required
• Urine Drug Screen (from the Maryville authorized lab)
• Criminal Record Background checks from Maryville University’s authorized agency and signed release to clinical sites (possible checks include: state criminal checks, disqualification lists, sex offender lists, social security number, address and alias)
• Fitting for a respiratory isolation device (i.e. N95 Mask) may be required by some clinical sites
• A few hospitals in Missouri now require nicotine screenings for all new employees.  Therefore it is anticipated that students may be excluded from some clinical sites based upon their use of nicotine

Return to: Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker College of Health Professions