The program prepares students to complete exercise testing and prescription in a wide variety of settings. Exercise specialists have professional titles such as Exercise Physiologist, Fitness Manager, Fitness Director, Strength Coach, Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist or Personal Trainer. Students may also complete coursework in sport management to develop competencies in management, budgeting, marketing and promotion or other electives.
Some students pursue graduate degrees.
Students develop career skills to administer various exercise tests to measure body composition, determine cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, agility, power and flexibility. These test results are used to prescribe exercise and design exercise training programs to improve athletic performance, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, reduce body weight, combat the debilitating effects of inactivity in aging or rehabilitate individuals after cardiac events or pulmonary problems. Curriculum Exercise specialist is a broad-based, allied health science major with a sport management component. Students complete courses in human anatomy and physiology, exercise testing and prescription, biomechanics, movement analysis, nutrition, athletic conditioning, and designing and directing exercise programs. The sport management component includes courses in legal aspects of sport and recreation, and event promotion and management.