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From caring professors to one-on-one advising appointments, we have resources to support you in reaching your goals and being successful in your classes.

Select a sample four-year degree plan to see a list of the classes you’ll take as a student with a major in exercise science.

Exercise Science Four-Year Planning Guide (PDF)

Exercise Science: Cardiac Rehabilitation Four-Year Planning Guide (PDF)

Exercise Science: Pre-Occupational Therapy Four-Year Planning Guide (PDF)

Exercise Science: Pre-Physical Therapy Four-Year Planning Guide (PDF)

An emphasis in cardiac rehabilitation prepares you to transition into a clinical exercise science setting. Designed to train you to serve patients who have experienced a heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery or are at risk for such an event, cardiac rehabilitation is a hospital-supported rehabilitation program.

You’ll receive exposure to the distinctive aspects of Phase I, Phase II and Phase III of cardiac rehabilitation and learn to better understand stress testing laboratory duties. Phase I addresses the design of an inpatient program, aiming to provide patient education that allows patients to resume their daily routines. Phase II serves outpatient clients, scheduling patients to complete exercise therapy sessions each week and planning educational programming to address risk factors and lifestyle intervention techniques. Phase III exists as a long-term extension of Phase II, offering patients the option to remain in the program following the immediate medical need.

Beyond meeting the degree requirements for a major in exercise science, you’ll complete six additional courses, gaining a comprehensive cardiac rehab internship experience in preparation for successful completion of the certification exam designed by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Studies in cardiovascular rehabilitation prepare you for career opportunities involving the administration of stress tests, design of exercise programs, development of technical knowledge, discussions concerning aspects of nutrition, interaction with patients, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills, monitoring exercise sessions and risk factor education.

An emphasis in pre-occupational therapy prepares you for entrance into competitive graduate degree programs in occupational therapy, equipping you with foundational knowledge you’ll build upon as you learn methods to empower patients and clients in attaining the ability to complete their day-to-day tasks with ease.

In addition to meeting the requirements for a major in exercise science, you’ll register for six courses that serve as pre-requisites for admittance into graduate programs in the field. Chosen to align with the admission requirements of occupational therapy graduate programs in Michigan, you may choose to expand upon this list as you research specifications of your preferred graduate program.

After you complete graduate course work, you’ll have career opportunities as a client educator, consultant, developer of intervention programs, field researcher, patient evaluator or treatment program implementor.

A concentration in physical therapy allows you to bridge knowledge of human anatomy and the physiological changes that occur while exercising to introductory knowledge of techniques and practices utilized to address injuries and restore range of motion.

Beyond fulfilling the requirements for a major in exercise science, you’ll complete six courses, meeting the course prerequisites summary of the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service published by the American Physical Therapy Association.

After you complete graduate course work, you’ll have career opportunities that involve conducting patient assessments and evaluations, contributing to research in the field, coordinating individualized conditioning schedules, implementing programs to treat diseases and injuries and utilizing goal formation techniques for rehabilitation.

Our Kinesiology, Science, Engineering & Mathematics Division students receive admission to respected graduate schools, including the esteemed institutions listed below.

• Andrews University
• Central Michigan University
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Grand Valley State University
• Michigan State University
• Mount Mary University
• Spring Arbor University
• University of Maryland
• University of Michigan
• University of North Dakota
• Wayne State University
• Western Michigan University