Exercise Science Minor

The Exercise Science Minor is for students interested in learning about human movement, how the body responds to exercise, and the benefits of an active lifestyle. The minor offers students many choices for which classes to take, allowing you to tailor the minor to your specific interests and career plans. Regardless of which courses you select, the Minor gives students content and hands-on experiences from a variety of disciplines within Exercise Science. You'll spend a lot of time in the Movement Science Lab, Metabolic Analysis Lab, or gym, using equipment to test the different dimensions of physical fitness and skill, such as strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, balance, power, and more.

Career Opportunities

Health- and fitness-related careers are in high demand, and will be for the foreseeable future, making the Exercise Science Minor a great choice for anyone considering a career in the medical, allied health, fitness, or athletic fields. More specifically, the minor supports students considering careers in:

Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Chiropractic Medicine
Sports Medicine and Athletic Training
Nursing
Physician Assistant
Nutrition
Sport & Exercise Psychology
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Strength & Conditioning
Personal Training
Group Exercise Instruction
Other Allied Health and Medical Professions

Coursework

The Exercise Science Minor is 19 credits across 6 courses and students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses to complete the minor successfully.

The two required courses are:

EXER 150: Introduction to Exercise Science
EXER 343: Foundations of Exercise Physiology (Prerequisites: EXER 150 and BIOL 150/238/350)

Students must also take four elective courses from the following options:

EXER 244: Movement Science & Skill Analysis
EXER 260: Principles of Nutrition
EXER 278: Medical Terminology
EXER 336: Motor Behavior (Prerequisites: EXER 150 and 244)
EXER 340: Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries (Prerequisites: EXER 150 and BIOL 150/238/350)
EXER 348: Group Exercise Techniques & Leadership (Pre/Corequisite: EXER 343)
EXER 350: Nutrition for Sport & Fitness (Prerequisite: EXER 260)
EXER 352: Psychology of Physical Activity (Prerequisites: EXER 150 and PSYC 101 or HONR 151)
EXER 375: Exercise Testing & Programming (Prerequisite: EXER 343)
EXER 425: Exercise Metabolism & Weight Control (Prerequisite: EXER 260 and 343)

Admission Requirements

The Exercise Science Minor is open to any Undergraduate student. Interested students must meet the following criteria to be admitted into the minor:

GPA of 2.00 or above

It is strongly recommended that students complete BIOL 150: Human Biology as one of their Natural World & Technology General Education courses because it is a prerequisite for EXER 343, which is required for the minor. While this is not a requirement for declaring the minor, it is necessary to progress through it.

Related Majors

Any student interested in learning more about exercise and health can complete the Exercise Science Minor. However, students from the following majors tend to benefit more based on their future career plans, including:

Double Minor in Exercise Science and Coaching

Students who also have an interest in Coaching may complete an additional 12 credits across 4 courses to earn a second minor. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses to complete the minor successfully. For more information about the Coaching Minor, please click here.

The three required courses are:

EXER 220: Fundamentals of Coaching
EXER 325: Sport Psychology
EXER 340: Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries

Students must also take one elective course from the following options:

COST 225: Communication and Sport
DISA 100: Introduction to Disability Studies
EXER 213: Organization & Administration in Health, Fitness, and Sports Facilities
EXER 260: Principles of Nutrition
EXER 387: Theory & Practice of Power & Agility Training
EXER 445: Coaching Internship
PSYC 361: Psychology of Group Interaction
SOCI 275: Sociology of Sport & Leisure

The following courses count towards both the Coaching and Exercise Science Minors:

EXER 244: Movement Science & Skill Analysis
EXER 343: Foundations of Exercise Physiology