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 or Personal and Commercial Fitness. Health and 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.

General Studies42
Students must complete General Studies courses
Core Requirements26
BIO 250Anatomy and Physiology5
EXS 101Fitness and Wellness3
EXS 191Foundations of Physical Education3
EXS 303Kinesiology3
EXS 304Physiology of Exercise3
EXS 305First Aid: Responding to Emergencies3
or EXS 306 Sport Safety Training
or EXS 385 Athletic Training
EXS 352Fitness and Sports Nutrition3
EXS 393Measurement in Physical Education3
Select one of the following concentrations:
Health and Exercise Science35-36
Personal and Commercial Fitness40-41

Concentrations:
Health and Exercise Science
Personal and Commercial Fitness

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
Concentration Requirements
EXS 217Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning3
EXS 327Exercise Prescription for Special Populations3
EXS 373Psychology of Exercise3
or EXS 374 Psychology of Sport
EXS 400Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology3
EXS 401Graded Exercise Testing3
EXS 430Field Experience in Health and Exercise Science6
EXS 480Practicum in Physical Education2-3
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
Psychology of Sport
Applied Techniques in Personal Training
Research Methods in Allied Health Professions
College Physics I
College Physics II
Total Credit Hours35-36
1

Must use option not used above.

Note: Students may not complete both Health and Exercise Science Concentration and the Personal and Commercial Fitness 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
Concentration Requirements
EXS 217Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning3
EXS 218Principles of Aerobic Training3
EXS 327Exercise Prescription for Special Populations3
EXS 373Psychology of Exercise3
or EXS 374 Psychology of Sport
EXS 401Graded Exercise Testing3
EXS 417Applied Techniques in Personal Training3
EXS 430Field Experience in Health and Exercise Science6
EXS 451Research Methods in Allied Health Professions3
EXS 480Practicum in Physical Education2-3
or EXS 481 Children's Lifetime Sports Academy Practicum
RSM 325Law for the Recreation and Sport Practitioner2
Select a minimum of nine credit hours from the following:9
Introductory Financial Accounting
Psychology of Exercise 1
Psychology of Sport
Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology
Personal Finance
Organizational Behavior
Principles of Marketing
Professional Selling and Sales Management
Marketing in Recreation and Sport
Entrepreneurship in Recreation and Sport
Total Credit Hours40-41
1

Must use option not used above.

Note: Students may not complete both the Health and Exercise Science Concentration and the Personal and Commercial Fitness Concentration.

Program Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. 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.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.