Program Overview
Asbury University’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Exercise Science degree program is an interdisciplinary major emphasizing skills students can apply in settings including sports administration, facility management, health and wellness, athletic training, and physical and occupational therapy.
If you’re called to learn more about how physical movement and exercise culturally, spiritually, economically and socially impact the world around you, Asbury’s exercise science major program can be tailored to fitness careers at any level. Graduates of our bachelor of exercise science program are highly prepared to make a difference in the workforce or enter graduate or medical professional programs.
Graduate or doctoral studies are entry-level requirements to become practitioners in advanced medical, academic and athletic training fields. In exercise physiology careers, a master’s degree can earn you higher salaries and advancement opportunities.
Our exercise science undergraduate students have research and writing skills, hands-on experience with patients and a powerful personal drive to help others through movement. The B.A. in Exercise Science is an excellent foundation for pursuing further education for the following advanced career paths:
The well-rounded critical thinking, synthesis and communication skills taught in general education and core courses ensure Asbury exercise science majors are prepared to excel in any graduate or professional program they pursue. These advanced careers are also predicted to remain in high demand, with the employment of physical therapists and athletic trainers both predicted to experience 17% growth in 10 years by 2031.
Exercise science courses you may take include:
In addition to 35 credits in core courses, 25-34 of your Bachelor of Arts credits will come from concentration area required courses and electives. You may take concentration courses such as:
Exercise science majors intending to apply to Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) programs after graduation can participate in a dedicated pre-physical therapy preparation program in addition to selecting the medical career-oriented kinesiology concentration.
You won’t be alone in taking on the prerequisite courses and application process for your Doctor of Physical Therapy studies with Asbury’s dedicated advisors and experiential learning opportunities.
As part of Asbury’s bachelor’s in exercise science degree program, students learn to use instrumentation for metabolic and body composition analysis, motion analysis and reaction time. Equipment you’ll use regularly include Cosmed® and IWorx® systems, calipers, bioelectrical impedance, goniometers and more.
As an exercise science major, you’ll also complete a semester-long internship where you’ll gain professional field experience in corporate, commercial, private and clinical fitness; wellness; strength and conditioning and sports medicine settings. Students have interned at high schools, colleges and clinics. With these hands-on experiences, students move even closer to sitting for certification from leading organizations in health, fitness and sports.
Asbury students are encouraged to gain mission and leadership experiences at home and abroad through our travel courses and cultural immersion experiences.
Exercise science majors can work closely with faculty on both independent projects and faculty-led research. After developing the skills that lead to new knowledge and insight, you may present your research at the annual SEARCH competition on-campus or conferences nationwide.
Students in the B.A. in Exercise Science degree program have produced meaningful research that furthers their field, including:
As an exercise science major, you’ll have access to way more than the Luce Center gym and the dedicated athletic training and physiology lab facilities.
Supported by student services departments and peer-created clubs and organizations, students at Asbury forge deep relationships with each other and the surrounding community. We’re here to help you stay healthy, connected and supported even as you leave Asbury to begin your career.
Whether it’s spending time with extracurricular clubs over coffee in the Student Center, finding an internship with the help of the Office of Career & Calling or taking care of your mental health, the rich student resources at Asbury help you thrive on your unique path to greatness.
Students in the exercise science program pick a concentration area supporting either general exercise science and sports-related careers or advanced physical therapy and medical careers.
Gain in-person practicum experience in professional sports and health industry settings and develop a background in sport administration, management, marketing and law.
Build on exercise and health knowledge with advanced scientific studies and exposure to medical ethics, medical research, psychology and behavioral science concepts.
Exercise science majors at Asbury University will be well-prepared to seek out their future careers with an interdisciplinary blend of general education courses, diverse electives and hands-on experiences in the lab as well as health, wellness and athletic training internships.
The training of a bachelor’s degree in exercise science opens entry-level career opportunities across the world of health, fitness and sports. Whether you’re interested in careers in fitness, wellness, education, healthcare, coaching, community outreach or elsewhere, you’ll be positioned and empowered to help people attain optimal health according to their goals and abilities.
Careers with a bachelor’s in exercise science include:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these fulfilling and high-energy roles will experience high growth in the near future. Over ten years by 2028, employment across occupations in fitness and recreational sports centers is expected to grow by 15%, much faster than the average across all occupations. Fitness trainers and instructors are predicted to see a 19% increase in employment by 2031, recreational therapists 4% and exercise physiologists 9%.
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