Exercise Science Major (B.S.)

This curriculum prepares students for careers in health and fitness promotion and allied programs in hospitals, sports medicine centers, wellness clinics, universities, and rehabilitation facilities. Students are also prepared for advanced degree programs in the health professions, basic biology fields, medicine, or other health-related fields.

Interested students should consult with the undergraduate major coordinator, Aurora.Vellante@unh.edu

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in every required course. Successful completion of prerequisite courses is required before advancing to sequenced and higher-level coursework. 

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Students must complete EXSC 735, EXSC 736, EXSC 737 prior to enrolling in EXSC 650A.

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These courses give students practical experience in evaluating health and fitness and prescribing exercise to a wide range of individuals. Students become proficient in assessing disease risk factors using tests of blood pressure, blood chemistry, body composition, maximal graded exercise tests with electrocardiogram and assessed measures of strength and flexibility. Students develop individualized exercise prescriptions for assigned clients and work with them one-on-one to improve their health and fitness. The internship experience is an off-campus, 10-week, 27-hours per week, full-time experience and can only be taken after completion of EXSC737. This is typically taken during the summer after the spring academic term of the junior year.  

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

• Apply fundamental principles of anatomy & physiology, chemistry, nutrition, exercise physiology, psychology, math and physics to anticipate and understand physiologic responses to acute and chronic exercise.
• Evaluate empirical literature in terms of accuracy, authority, bias and relevance, and synthesize information from a variety of sources for presentation in written and oral forms.
• Demonstrate competency in health and fitness assessments and use them to prescribe evidence-based exercise interventions to improve health, athletic performance, physical function and quality of life in diverse populations.
• Display professionally appropriate behaviors, ethical standards, sensitivity, compassion, and tolerance of individual differences, and demonstrate the ability to work in an interprofessional healthcare team.