Exercise Science Major

Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness

OVERVIEW

Prepare for a career that is in-demand, wellness-focused and versatile. Exercise science is a dynamic major that centers on exercise design, fitness management, and strength and conditioning.

It combines practical experiences, theoretical study and rigorous coursework in anatomy, physiology, fitness and health assessment and exercise prescription.

Real-world focused, the major helps you develop the interpersonal and professional skills needed for client interaction, fitness assessment and evaluation of client needs, and integration of this information into a rehabilitation or exercise program.

Hands-on learning is integral to the program. You'll benefit from impressive lab and research opportunities, diverse clinical visits, community outreach initiatives and more.

A required internship in your senior year synthesizes your studies, builds networking contacts and hones analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.

Through your studies, you will learn to conduct fitness testing and implement exercise programs for low- to moderate-risk clients and individuals with controlled diseases.
A required internship builds networking contacts and hones analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
You will also gain competencies for developing strength and conditioning programs for clients and athletes.
Participating in professional organizations enables you to network with experts in your field and distinguish yourself early in your career. BW students attend the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine Conference.

Stellar ACSM Certification

100 percent first-time pass rate for ACSM Certification

100% passage rate for first-time takers of the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist exam in the last three years.

Excellent NSCA Results

100 percent passage rate for first-time test takers over the past five years for students seeking NSCA certification

100% passage rate of the NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist exam this year.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

BW's 20-minute accessibility to Cleveland, a nationally recognized center for the healthcare industry, provides outstanding internship, clinical and career opportunities.

Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
Community program director
Exercise specialist
Group exercise leader
Healthcare consultant
Medically-based fitness center manager
Personal trainer
Recreation and sports director
Strength and conditioning coach
Wellness coordinator

CAAHEP Accredited Program

The exercise science major at Baldwin Wallace is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

CoAES

BW faculty is committed to program quality through alignment to the national standards set forth by CAAHEP which aligns to the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) established to ensure programs develop knowledgeable and skilled practitioners in the field of sports science.

Outcome Data: 100% of 2024-25 exercise science graduates successfully completed culminating internships and 100% indicated satisfaction with the BW exercise science program.

NSCA Recognition

The exercise science major is an approved and recognized program through the National Strength and Condition Association (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP). The ERP recognizes curricula that prepares students for NSCA certification and provides benefits such as reduced membership and exam fees.

Exercise is Medicine On Campus

BW has earned silver status with the Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) program. EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. Faculty, staff and students will work together toward improving the health and well-being of the BW community.

CURRICULUM

Offered as a major, exercise science is a comprehensive program that has career application in clinical, corporate, community and commercial settings.

Through your studies, you'll learn to conduct fitness testing and implement exercise programs for low- to moderate-risk clients and individuals with controlled diseases. You'll also gain competencies for developing strength and conditioning programs for clients and athletes.

Upon graduation, students are strongly encouraged to seek professional certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) to enhance their opportunities for employment.

Some students further their education by attending graduate school for allied health professions.

Exercise science is an ideal companion major to the pre-allied health/pre-physical therapy major or the sport medicine minor.

The exercise science major prepares students to:

Demonstrate mastery of basic principles of anatomy & physiology as related to exercise, training and general health/wellness
Demonstrate mastery of skills related to assessment of fitness, health, human movement and performance
Analyze and interpret current scientific literature and evidence to create effective professional presentation of content
Apply best practices in developing, prescribing and administering safe and effective exercise or strength and conditioning programs for clients or athletes
Effectively communicate content related to the field of fitness, health, human movement and performance in written format
Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with discipline and scope of practice

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities.

As part of your studies, you'll work on an independent or team-based research project. The research can range from development of sports-specific techniques for athletes to focusing on ways to encourage individuals to adhere to an exercise program.

Exercise is Medicine on Campus
Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is designed to engage universities and colleges and their students, faculty and staff in ongoing efforts to improve physical fitness, health and wellness across campus and in the community. This student group promotes healthy, active lifestyles to the people of the Baldwin Wallace and surrounding communities, through education and evaluation.

Allied Health and Sport Medicine Student Organization
This organization is a student-led group. It provides students with educational opportunities to develop skills, enhance their knowledge of these professions and learn about the requirements for graduate and professional programs.

At the annual Honors Ceremony in the spring, recognitions include:

Bonnie Raye Graduate Scholarship (in honor Bonnie Raye, who taught at BW and was the women's basketball coach, 1980-89).
Dr. Lee J. Tressel Scholarship (in honor of Dr. Lee Tressel '48, who taught and was BW's football coach, 1957-80).
Hower-Stover Award (in honor of Dr. Marjorie Hower, who was a professor at BW, 1947-80, and Myrta Stover, who coached and taught at BW, 1943-68).

Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program

The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in exercise science. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding substantial annual, renewable scholarships.