Exercise Science
The professional curriculum in Physical Education & Human Performance, integrated with courses in liberal arts and sciences, is designed to prepare exercise science and sport medicine leaders for careers in corporate fitness, hospital-based wellness, community recreation and fitness, private and commercial fitness and athletic training.
By coupling the specialized exercise science major with an effective liberal arts curriculum, the department prepares graduates who are not only well trained in specific subject matter area of the profession but who are developed as persons possessing distinctive and desirable cultural and spiritual attributes, with training in reason and logic and who have extensive knowledge of fundamental scientific processes.
Wellness And Fitness Promotion
The Exercise Science major is designed for students who wish to work in the wellness and fitness promotion field. This concentration provides the requirements for certification as an Exercise Specialist from the American College of Sport Medicine and/or certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Both certifications are considered the gold standard within the wellness and fitness promotion field.
In order to certify students, students must gain knowledge in the following areas: foundation core (scientific competencies and first aid), exercise prescription for normal and special populations (physiological testing and exercise prescription), wellness promotion (nutrition and weight control, stress management and substance abuse), administrative tasks (programming, facilities and equipment, marketing and legal), human relations (communication and motivation), professional development (orientation and professional growth) and practical experience (orientation and Practicum). An important aspect of the wellness/fitness concentration is the professional Practicum undertaken by these students. All students in the wellness/fitness promotion concentration are required to complete two practicums, one usually in the health and fitness field and the other in a clinical setting ( ie cardiac rehabilitation). Students greatly enhance their graduate school and career options by participating in these professional practicums during their college years.
Graduates of exercise science major work as fitness and wellness program personnel, exercise test technicians, personal trainers, strength and conditioning specialist of athletes, or fitness/wellness consultants. Additionally, graduates have elected to develop and implement fitness and wellness programs for special populations (geriatrics, cardiac rehabilitation, weight control, mentally or physically challenged).
Many graduates of Manhattan's wellness and fitness promotion concentration attend graduate school to pursue advanced degrees in areas such as exercise physiology, fitness program management, health education, physical theropy and related areas. Approximately 20 students a year enter the Department planning to attend a graduate school program in physical therapy. Graduate physical therapy programs into which Manhattan students have been accepted recently include Mayo Clinic, Columbia, New York Medical School, Hahnemann, Beaver, Long Island University, Gannon, and Springfield College.
A minor is also offered in Exercise Science to Biology majors in both B.A. and B.S. degree programs.
