HELP [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Exercise Science (BS) Print-Friendly Page Add to Portfolio

“My educational experience in the Exercise Science program has been one of positive influences and excellent mentoring. This positive environment motivated me to pursue my master’s degree here at SRU.”

Dennis Bowers’02
Slippery Rock University Graduate Student

The Exercise Science program is the first to be nationally accredited by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. In addition, the curriculum is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  This major is designed to prepare students to serve as fitness/exercise specialists in a variety of physical fitness/health promotion programs. The theoretical coursework is concentrated in the areas of exercise physiology, physical fitness assessment and fitness/wellness programming. These specialized courses are supplemented by foundation courses selected from the natural and behavioral sciences. Practical application and experience is provided through fieldwork at the Russell Wright Fitness Center, located on the campus of Slippery Rock University. The culminating experience is a full-time (12-credit) internship in one of approximately 75 quality programs, which have cooperative agreements with the university. The internship sites are selected through careful advisement to provide the best possible experiences for students in either corporate, hospital, commercial or community settings. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to attend regional and national professional meetings, be active participants in the Exercise Science Society, and assist faculty in research projects and activities.

Employment opportunities are available in YMCA’s, corporate fitness and health promotion programs, wellness centers, health spas and fitness clubs and various clinical and rehabilitative centers.

Policy for Admission into the Exercise Science Major

University acceptance to pursue the Exercise Science major does not guarantee admission into the exercise science program. Formal application to the Exercise Science major must be completed by the student according to the following procedures:

1. It is the student’s responsibility to submit an Application to the Major form to the Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences Department Chair’s Office (115 West Gym) during the semester in which he/she is enrolled and would earn a total of 48 credit hours.
2. As part of the application to the Exercise Science Major, students are required to document 20 hours of field experience. This process is explicitly stated in the Field Experience Policy Manual. Students will receive this manual in FYRST seminar, in Introduction to Exercise Science or from their Academic Advisor.
3. The application must be submitted by December 1st in the fall and May 1st in the spring.
4. Entering transfers from other universities with earned credits beyond 48 hours have a one-semester grace period.
5. By the beginning of the following semester students will receive notification of acceptance or denial to the major according to the following:
   1. Acceptance
      The student has fulfilled all major requirements listed on the Degree Audit Report (DARS) in the section “Prerequisites For Admission to Exercise Science Program” and has an overall and major QPA of 2.75 or higher. Once the student has been accepted into the Exercise Science major, it will take the student at least three semesters to complete the curriculum plus a 12-credit internship.
   2. First Denial
      Not fulfilling the requirements as stated above will result in a first denial. Failure to submit an application will also result in a first denial. Students who are denied for the first time are not permitted to take upper level Exercise Science coded courses. Students must reapply for a second time the following semester.
   3. Second Denial
      If students do not meet the requirements again, they are denied the second time. Failure to submit an application will also result in a second denial. In the case of a second denial, students are not retained in the major and their major is changed to Exploratory. Students are not permitted to reapply to the Exercise Science major for one year following a second denial. If after one year the student has an overall QPA of 2.75, he/she may reapply and repeat the application process as stated previously.

Policy for Retention in the Exercise Science Major

Students who are admitted into the program must maintain a major and overall QPA of 2.75 or higher. Students are not permitted to do their internships unless they have met QPA standards. Failure to maintain academic standards will result in a one-semester probation in which the student must remedy QPA deficiencies. If the necessary QPA requirements are not attained after one semester of probation, the student will be removed from the program permanently.

Policy for Changing to the Exercise Science Major

Any student changing their major to Exercise Science must have an overall QPA of 2.75 or higher.

Exercise Science Fact Sheet
Exercise Science Viewbook