Program Goals & Outcomes

Mission Statement

The mission of the Exercise Science Department is to foster professional preparation of students by incorporating theory, applied experiences, and research-based opportunities for scientific inquiry. We strive to academically prepare students to support the fitness, allied health, and performance industries. Our goals are to:

1. Maintain strong enrollment and retention rates to grow our programs.
2. Prepare students for future success through an academically engaging program.
3. Encourage participation in extracurricular learning experiences for personal growth and professional development.

Exercise Science Major

The Exercise Science Major focuses on how people respond and adapt to exercise, factors affecting physical activity participation, and evidence-based practices for improving physical fitness and performance. Core coursework provides students with experience in each of the major disciplines in Exercise Science, while concentration-specific coursework is tailored to meet students’ future educational and professional needs. The goals of the Exercise Science Major are to:

1. Prepare competent entry-level Exercise Science professionals in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

2. Prepare students to work with a variety of people for internships, careers, and/or advanced study by creating collaborative, hands-on learning experiences.

3. Incorporate applied research and review scientific literature throughout the curriculum to develop students’ ability to think critically about health, fitness, and performance.

Exercise Science Minor

The Exercise Science Minor provides students with a foundational understanding of exercise science by incorporating theory and applied experiences into coursework. Coursework can be oriented towards fitness training and development, allied health professions, and/or sports performance. The goals of the Exercise Science minor are to:

1. Familiarize students with exercise science through instruction in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

2. Provide students with basic tools for helping others or themselves improve their fitness and health by creating hands-on learning experiences.

3. Incorporate applied research and review scientific literature throughout the curriculum to develop students’ ability to think critically about health, fitness, and/or performance.

Coaching Minor

The Coaching Minor prepares students to become competent coaches in youth, interscholastic, and intercollegiate settings. Students will learn best practices for working with athletes, coaches, teams, and other sports-related personnel, and will have opportunities to apply knowledge learned in the classroom. The goals of the Coaching Minor are to:

1. Prepare competent entry-level coaching professionals in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

2. Prepare students for careers where they will work with diverse populations by creating collaborative, hands-on learning experiences.

3. Incorporate applied research and review of scientific literature throughout the curriculum to develop students’ ability to think critically about current topics and trends in sport and coaching.

Outcomes Reporting

Culminating Experience Pass Rate
Based on success in Research Design & Statistics and internship experiences

Graduate Satisfaction Rate
Based on Exit Survey results for questions pertaining to academic advising and coursework

Graduate Positive Placement Rate

Based on Alumni Survey results of alumni in graduate school or discipline-relevant careers