Exercise Science (Bachelor of Science, B.S.)
Missouri Western's Health, Sport, and Exercise Science (HSES) program educates and prepares students to engage in careers across the health, sport, recreation, and fitness spectrum. What sets us apart is our commitment to high-impact applied learning experiences. Students will engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences both in the classroom and professional settings.
Undergraduates interested in health and fitness can complete a degree in Exercise Science with concentrations in Health and Exercise Science, Personal and Commercial Fitness, or Strength and Conditioning. Exercise Science students are prepared to pursue careers in sports medicine (pre-physical therapy, pre-athletic training, pre-chiropractic) and a variety of clinical settings as well as personal and commercial fitness settings.
Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 42 | |
| Students must complete General Studies courses 1 | ||
| Core Requirements | 26 | |
| BIO 250 | Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| EXS 101 | Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| EXS 191 | Foundations of Physical Education | 3 |
| EXS 303 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| EXS 304 | Physiology of Exercise | 3 |
| EXS 305 | First Aid: Responding to Emergencies | 3 |
| or EXS 385 | Athletic Training | |
| EXS 352 | Fitness and Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| EXS 393 | Measurement in Physical Education | 3 |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | ||
| Health and Exercise Science | 38-39 | |
| Personal and Commercial Fitness | 40-41 | |
| Strength and Conditioning | 39 | |
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Courses in general studies may also be required within the major. While the course(s) may satisfy both requirements, the credit hours will count only one time in the overall hours earned.
Concentrations:
Health and Exercise Science
Personal and Commercial Fitness
Strength and Conditioning
Health and Exercise Science Concentration
Students with a concentration in Health and Exercise Science are prepared for careers as exercise specialists in clinical, industrial, and commercial settings. A degree in Health and Exercise Science also prepares students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in sports medicine and for careers within clinical settings (e.g. physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, chiropractic, cardiac rehabilitation, and others). Students should be aware that they may need to complete additional coursework to meet admission requirements for advanced degree programs. Graduating students are strongly encouraged to obtain the following certification(s):
- ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist or higher
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| EXS 217 | Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 327 | Exercise Prescription for Special Populations | 3 |
| EXS 373 | Psychology of Exercise | 3 |
| or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| EXS 400 | Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| EXS 401 | Graded Exercise Testing | 3 |
| EXS 430 | Field Experience in Health and Exercise Science | 6 |
| EXS 451 | Research Methods in Allied Health Professions | 3 |
| EXS 480 | Practicum in Health and Exercise Science | 2-3 |
| or EXS 481 | Children's Lifetime Sports Academy Practicum | |
| Select a minimum of twelve credit hours from the following: | 12 | |
| Medical Terminology | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry II with Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Principles of Aerobic Training | ||
| Psychology of Exercise 1 | ||
or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| Practical Skills in Personal Training | ||
| Applied Techniques in Personal Training | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 38-39 | |
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Must use option not used above.
Note: Students may not complete more than one concentration. They must choose between the Health and Exercise Science Concentration, the Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration, or the Strength and Conditioning Concentration.
Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration
Students pursuing a Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration are prepared for a wide variety of careers including personal training, strength and conditioning coaching, corporate wellness, fitness sales, and others. Additionally, the Personal and Commercial Fitness concentration has been designed to be paired with a minor in Recreation Sport Management, General Business, or Entrepreneurship. Graduating students are strongly encouraged to obtain the following certification(s):
- NSCA Personal Trainer or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), ACSM Personal Trainer, ACE Personal Trainer, NASM Personal Trainer
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| EXS 164 | Techniques for Strength Training Athletes | 1 |
| or EXS 165 | Methods and Techniques of Resistance Training | |
| EXS 217 | Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 218 | Principles of Aerobic Training | 3 |
| EXS 327 | Exercise Prescription for Special Populations | 3 |
| EXS 373 | Psychology of Exercise | 3 |
| or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| EXS 401 | Graded Exercise Testing | 3 |
| EXS 416 | Practical Skills in Personal Training | 1 |
| EXS 417 | Applied Techniques in Personal Training | 3 |
| EXS 430 | Field Experience in Health and Exercise Science | 6 |
| EXS 480 | Practicum in Health and Exercise Science | 2-3 |
| or EXS 481 | Children's Lifetime Sports Academy Practicum | |
| RSM 325 | Law for the Recreation and Sport Practitioner | 3 |
| Select a minimum of nine credit hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Introductory Financial Accounting | ||
| Psychology of Exercise 1 | ||
or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology | ||
| Personal Finance | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Professional Selling and Sales Management | ||
| Facility Management in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Marketing in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Entrepreneurship in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 40-41 | |
- 1
Must use option not used above.
Note: Students may not complete more than one concentration. They must choose between the Health and Exercise Science Concentration, the Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration, or the Strength and Conditioning Concentration.
Strength and Conditioning Concentration
Students pursuing a Strength and Conditioning Concentration are prepared for a wide variety of careers focused on sport performance. The core course work is centered around preparation for the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification. Graduating students are strongly encouraged to obtain the following certification(s):
- NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) Strength and Conditioning Coach (SCCC)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| EXS 164 | Techniques for Strength Training Athletes | 1 |
| or EXS 165 | Methods and Techniques of Resistance Training | |
| EXS 217 | Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 218 | Principles of Aerobic Training | 3 |
| EXS 231 | Field Experience in Strength and Conditioning | 1 |
| EXS 324 | Principles and Administration of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 327 | Exercise Prescription for Special Populations | 3 |
| EXS 331 | Practicum in Strength and Conditioning | 2 |
| EXS 373 | Psychology of Exercise | 3 |
| or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| EXS 394 | Testing and Program Design in Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 401 | Graded Exercise Testing | 3 |
| EXS 416 | Practical Skills in Personal Training | 1 |
| EXS 417 | Applied Techniques in Personal Training | 3 |
| EXS 431 | Internship in Strength and Conditioning | 4 |
| Select a minmum of six credit hours from the following: | 6 | |
| First Aid: Responding to Emergencies 1 | ||
or EXS 385 | Athletic Training | |
| Psychology of Exercise 1 | ||
or EXS 374 | Psychology of Sport | |
| Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology | ||
| Internship in Strength and Conditioning II | ||
| Research Methods in Allied Health Professions | ||
| Law for the Recreation and Sport Practitioner | ||
| Facility Management in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Marketing in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Entrepreneurship in Recreation and Sport | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
- 1
Must use option not used above.
Note: Students may not complete more than one concentration. They must choose between the Health and Exercise Science Concentration, the Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration, or the Strength and Conditioning Concentration.
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.