B.S. in Exercise Science University of Saint Joseph

Pursue your passion for exercise and help others live healthier lives

If you are passionate about helping others improve their wellness through fitness or exercise programs, the University of Saint Joseph’s Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree is what you need to transform your passion into a meaningful career.

From professional athletes to patients in a clinical setting, everyone can benefit from a knowledgeable fitness professional. Exercise science is the study of human movement and the understanding of how a variety of factors impact the human body. It helps you recognize the structural and functional changes that occur during exercise on the physiological, biochemical, and biomechanical levels.

With a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from USJ, you are prepared to begin successful careers helping individuals achieve their goals and improve their well-being—whether that’s in professional sports, college athletics, or community gyms.

The University of Saint Joseph’s Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science is a 4-year degree program that requires 120 credits to graduate. The comprehensive and engaging program curriculum utilizes in-classroom lectures, clinical lab sessions, and field-based learning to nurture your expertise in exercise testing and prescription, exercise program design, injury care, and prevention, nutrition planning, and more.

The first two years of the program focus on building your foundational knowledge in science through prerequisite coursework in the field of chemistry, biology, and physiology. After completing the prerequisites, you then deepen your knowledge in exercise physiology and sports nutrition through a set of core courses.

In senior year, you have two semesters of internships where you can gain professional experience to prepare for your career before graduation.

Hands-on Training and Internship Opportunities

With the growing industry and the high demand for healthcare workers, the Exercise Science major provides internship opportunities in healthcare and athletic organizations. You will expand your knowledge with engaging courses to stay on top of industry trends and prepare for graduate programs and a variety of professional careers.

Emphasizing hands-on learning, all exercise science classes have lab components to sharpen your clinical skills that can be applied to real-world settings.

Rigorous Sports Nutrition Courses

The University of Saint Joseph has a long history of unparalleled sports nutrition education. The B.S. in Exercise Science program blends in the robust courses of sports nutrition to help you gain a holistic understanding of how physical activity, nutrition, fitness, and diet intertwine in improving one’s well-being.

The Connecticut Department of Labor projects growth by 2028 in many professions that Exercise Science program graduates can pursue. There is a projected growth of 23.8% for physician assistants, 13.3% for physical therapists, 15.2% for athletic trainers, 11.1% for occupational therapists, and 6.3% for exercise physiologists.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, you can pursue careers such as athletic trainer and director, recreation therapist, exercise therapist, fitness or health coach, fitness center manager, PE teacher, exercise physiologist, PT assistant, health consultant, and more.

USJ’s Exercise Science major also provides excellent preparation for those who want to continue their graduate studies in physical therapy or occupational therapy.