Exercise Science BS
Program Purpose
The Exercise Science program is designed to train students as exercise scientists. Many take this knowledge and continue on into graduate school in disciplines related to exercise science or medical, dental, nursing, physician assistant, physical or occupational therapy, optometry,podiatry, homeopathic medicine, or chiropractic school. Study of the exercise sciences conveys a healthy-lifestyle and preventive-medicine health care perspective. For those students not intending to pursue a graduate education, the Exercise Science program prepares students for employment as an exercise specialist in community, corporate, or clinical settings.
Students majoring in Exercise Science explore how the body functions during physical activity and exercise. Principles and concepts taught in human anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, chemistry, physics, and nutrition are mastered to help understand how the body responds to acute bouts of exercise and how it adapts to chronic physical activity and exercise. The impact that physical activity and exercise have on one's capacity to do work, physical performance, health, and disease, makes study of this discipline rewarding.
Alignment with the BYU Aims
The BS Exercise Science program supports the Brigham Young University's mission to "assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life" and the AIMS of a BYU education.
- Spiritually Strengthening: Students participate in a program where students, faculty, and staff value and understand the importance of enlarging their minds with skills and knowledge, mentored by scholars who "keep [their] subject matter bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel."
- Intellectually Enlarging: Students are challenged in the classroom and laboratories to acquire and expand academic skills of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, effective oral and written communication, and quantitative reasoning, and problem solving. The Exercise Science program helps students understand the depth and breadth of knowledge necessary to more fully appreciate the exercise sciences, its history, and development.
- Character Building: Students are taught the importance and necessity of "intellectual integrity of fine academic discipline with the spiritual integrity of personal righteousness." The moral virtues of "integrity, reverence, modesty, self-control, courage, compassion, and industry" are intertwined with the professional philosophies and ethics of the various disciplines pursued by Exercise Science students.
- Lifelong Learning and Service: For many students in the Exercise Science program, the BS degree "is a beginning, not an end, pointing the way to constant learning." Many students pursue graduate school in the exercise sciences or one of the many health professions. Other students enter the work place upon graduation. Professionals in the exercise sciences and health care professions engage in lifelong learning to maintain credentials, stay abreast of emerging knowledge and technologies, and provide the expected standard of care. Students in the exercise sciences and health care professions use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve others.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating with a BS in Exercise Science are competitive applicants for entrance into graduate school in the exercise sciences; physical (PT) and occupational (OT) therapy school; chiropractic school; physician assistant (PA) programs; medical (MD, DO), dental, or optometry school; nursing programs; and alternative medicines.
Students with a BS degree in Exercise Science have career options in Community Fitness (personal training, club management, sales, program coordinator, or director with entry level salaries ranging between $20 - $30,000), Corporate Fitness/Wellness (exercise specialist, program coordinator or director, education specialist with entry level salaries ranging between $25 - $35,000), and Clinical Fitness/Exercise Science (exercise specialist or physiologist, exercise testing, program coordinator or director, clinical supervisor, research assistant, technician, radiology technician, or cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation with entry level salaries ranging between $25-45,000). Clinical employment opportunities exist in wellness centers, fitness institutes, research centers, hospital and individual clinics (cardiology, pulmonary, nutrition, gastroenterology, diabetes, endocrinology, cancer) working with inpatients or outpatients or the community.
Curricular Structure
The sequence of courses is designed to provide a foundation of scientific coursework in the first and second year. Added to the foundation of anatomy and physiology taken early in the major are Advanced Musculoskeletal Human Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, and Orthopedic Impairment and Therapeutic Exercise courses taken in the junior and senior years. Laboratory experiences are included in required chemistry and physics classes as well as functional anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise physiology. Some students may have opportunities to be involved in individual and faculty mentored research in the Exercise Physiology, Exercise Biochemistry, Biomechanics, or Body Composition labs.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a BS degree in Exercise Science will have demonstrated a mastery of the exercise sciences that will allow them to succeed in graduate studies in the exercise sciences or health care professions, or as entry level employees. It is expected that Exercise Science students will develop a passion for learning about the human body and have a greater appreciation for its development, function, and divine nature.
Spiritually StrengtheningThrough faith-based learning, students will (1) recognize and appreciate the connection between the health of the human body and spirit, (2) grasp the import of caring for the human body in God's plan of happiness, (3) strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, and (4) develop a lasting commitment to cultivate physical health that is often required to serve others throughout mortality.
Students will apply their knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to solve problems related to the body's responses and adaptations to physical activity and exercise, empowering them to promote lifelong health and service.
As disciples of Christ, students will bless the lives of others, including individuals in the broader community, by sharing the knowledge they gained from faith-based classroom instruction and mentoring experiences.
Students will use exercise science to improve quality of life, including proposing strategies that will improve quality of life, rehabilitate injury, enhance performance, and reduce utilize principles of exercise in the reduction and prevalence of lifestyle related diseases.
Students will express an understanding of requirements necessary to gain admittance to a graduate or professional program or for exercise science related employment (See program description). Students will also desire to pursue lifelong learning leading them to successful employment in their chosen careers.
Evidence of Learning
Direct Measures
- Performance in individual courses that emphasize structure and function of the human body (e.g., Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology, Orthopaedic Impairments, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology and Biomechanics) Evaluation of student learning is accomplished by exams, quizzes, lab reports, projects, and papers required in each class.
- Approximately 90% students majoring in Exercise Science take national exams, such as the GRE, DAT, and MCAT, as required for acceptance into graduate or medical school. Other students take national credentialing examinations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certifications. These examinations measure learning in specific areas of study.
- Students majoring in Exercise Science take a group of courses that are considered capstone classes. These include EXSC 362 (Kinesiology and Biomechanics); EXSC 463 (Exercise Physiology), EXSC 390 (Advanced Musculoskeletal Human Anatomy - includes lab); and EXSC 460 (Orthopedic Impairments and Therapeutic Exercise). These are required classes for all majors. These classes are designed to integrate knowledge, concepts, and skills associated with the program's sequence of study.
- Performance in individual and faculty mentored research projects.
- Course evaluations will help in evaluation of the program since the course outcomes lead to program outcomes.
- Graduating seniors complete an on-line exit survey. The responses to this survey will enable the department to track the career and educational choices and outcomes of students. The survey will also be able to provide information about entrance exam results (e.g., MCAT, GRE, DAT, etc.), how students hear of the major, when students declare Exercise Science as a major, their use of academic advisors, student perceptions of the major and their preparation for graduate or medical school.
Indirect Measures
- Department Senior Exit Survey (Related to Direct Measure #6).
- Brigham Young University Alumni Survey
- Brigham Young University Employer Survey
- Authorship or co-authorship of published papers and abstracts. (Related to Direct Measures #3,4).
- Number of ORCA grants, MEG grants, and Fulton Awards applied for and received. (Related to Direct Measures #3,4)
- Student course evaluations are used by the Department Chair to evaluate the teaching competency of each faculty member. Results of students evaluations are reviewed annually and are included as part of the third and sixth year faculty advancement process. (Related to Direct Measures #2,3,4).
- Ongoing accreditation reviews are conducted on a regular basis (at seven year intervals) for the BYU Academic Unit Self-Study review, and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities [NWCCU]).
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
- Each Fall semester the Exercise Science Program Committee will evaluate the assessment data bases in light of the program objectives. When sufficient evidence exists that the program is not meeting its objectives, the Committee will make recommendations to the appropriate Curriculum Committee and the faculty for improvement. This may include modification of the objectives or learning outcomes for a specific course, resources available to the department and students, or changes to the program.
- The Department Chair is responsible for evaluation of teaching performance. The chair compiles results of student evaluations of courses and instructors. The chair conducts annual stewardship interview with each faculty member, in which teaching effectiveness is addressed.