2021-2022 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
- Requirements
- Emphasis Courses
- Suggested Order of Coursework for Clinical Exercise Science
- Suggested Order of Coursework for Health-Fitness Instruction
Requirements
Students in the exercise science program at Grand Valley State University must follow all general education requirements as defined in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.
Core Courses
There are 51, 54, or 57 credits* required, including:
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- BMS 105 - Basic Nutrition (3 credits)
- EXS 209 - Research Methods in Exercise and Health Sciences (3 credits)
- EXS 320 - Exercise Testing and Prescription (3 credits)
- EXS 321 - Exercise Testing Lab (1 credit)
- EXS 390 - Fieldwork in Exercise Science (2 credits)
- EXS 420 - Laboratory Practicum in Exercise Science (3 credits)
- EXS 470 - Exercise for Special Populations (3 credits)
- EXS 490 - Internship in Exercise Science (6, 9, or 12 credits)
- EXS 495 - Professionalism in Exercise Science (3 credits) SWS
- MOV 101 - Foundations of Human Movement Science (3 credits)
- ATH 217 - Modern Principles of Athletic Training (2 credits)
- MOV 300 - Kinesiology (3 credits)
- MOV 304 - Introduction to Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- PSY 310 - Behavior Modification (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
*Depending on EXS 490
Emphasis Courses
Students must choose between clinical exercise science or health fitness instruction as an emphasis within their exercise science degree program.
Clinical Exercise Science
There are 35 credits required. Students have the opportunity to complete nine credits of electives within the emphasis. The electives must be at either the 300- or 400-level.
- BMS 208 - Human Anatomy (3 credits)
- BMS 290 - Human Physiology (3 credits)
- BMS 391 - Laboratory in Human Physiology (2 credits)
- CHM 109 - Introductory Chemistry (4 credits)
- CHM 231 - Introductory Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
- CHM 232 - Biological Chemistry (4 credits)
- EXS 465 - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for the Clinical Exercise Physiologist (3 credits)
- PHY 200 - Physics for the Life Sciences (4 credits)
- Electives (9 credits)
Health-Fitness Instruction
There are 32 credits required. Students are given the opportunity to complete six credits of electives within this emphasis. The electives must be at either the 300- or 400-level.
- BMS 223 - Infectious Human Diseases; Prevention and Control (3 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- MOV 201 - Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Education and Sport (3 credits)
- MOV 310 - Motor Skill Development (3 credits)
- PSY 364 - Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- SOC 252 - Sociology of Drug Use and Abuse (3 credits)
- SOC 286 - Sociology of Health Care (3 credits)
- Electives (6 credits)
Elective Courses
The following is a list of approved elective courses within either emphasis. Consult with an academic advisor, as additional elective courses may be approved. A different course is required where a listed course has already been taken in the emphasis (e.g. MOV 310 and PSY 364 are required within the health fitness instruction so they cannot be used as electives within that same emphasis, but MOV 310 and PSY 364 may be used as electives in the clinical exercise science emphasis).
- BIO 355 - Human Genetics (3 credits)
- BMS 375 - The Biology of Aging (3 credits)
- EXS 460 - Strength and Conditioning for Athletic Performance (3 credits)
- MOV 310 - Motor Skill Development (3 credits)
- MOV 350 - The Obesogenic Environment (3 credits)
- MOV 480 - Special Topics in Movement Science (1 to 3 credits)
- PSY 364 - Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- STA 345 - Statistics in Sports (3 credits)
Program Costs
Students will be responsible for the costs associated with the required pre-internship health compliance check (immunizations, background check, and drug screening), travel to and from fieldwork or internship sites, and all textbooks and supplemental materials required for each course.
Fieldwork and Internship
Students are required to undertake both a fieldwork and internship in their junior and senior year, respectively.
Suggested Order of Coursework for Clinical Exercise Science
Year One
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- CHM 109 - Introductory Chemistry (4 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- MOV 101 - Foundations of Human Movement Science (3 credits)
- BMS 208 - Human Anatomy (3 credits)
- CHM 231 - Introductory Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
- General education Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
- General education Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
Year Two
- BMS 290 - Human Physiology (3 credits)
- BMS 391 - Laboratory in Human Physiology (2 credits)
- CHM 232 - Biological Chemistry (4 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- General education Philosophy and Literature (3 credits)
- BMS 105 - Basic Nutrition (3 credits)
- ATH 217 - Modern Principles of Athletic Training (2 credits)
- MOV 304 - Introduction to Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
- PHY 200 - Physics for the Life Sciences (4 credits)
- General education U.S. Diversity (3 credits)
Year Three
- EXS 209 - Research Methods in Exercise and Health Sciences (3 credits)
- EXS 320 - Exercise Testing and Prescription (3 credits)
- EXS 321 - Exercise Testing Lab (1 credit)
- MOV 300 - Kinesiology (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
- EXS 390 - Fieldwork in Exercise Science (2 credits)
- EXS 465 - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for the Clinical Exercise Physiologist (3 credits)
- PSY 310 - Behavior Modification (3 credits)
- General Education Arts (3 credits)
- General Education Issues (3 credits)
Year Four
- EXS 420 - Laboratory Practicum in Exercise Science (3 credits)
- EXS 470 - Exercise for Special Populations (3 credits)
- EXS 495 - Professionalism in Exercise Science (3 credits)
- General education Global Perspectives (3 credits)
- General education Issues (3 credits)
- EXS 490 - Internship in Exercise Science (6, 9, or 12 credits) SWS course (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for Health-Fitness Instruction
Year One
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- BMS 105 - Basic Nutrition (3 credits)
- MOV 101 - Foundations of Human Movement Science (3 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- General education Arts (3 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- ATH 217 - Modern Principles of Athletic Training (2 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
- General education U.S. Diversity (3 credits)
Year Two
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- MOV 201 - Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Education and Sport (3 credits)
- ATH 217 - Modern Principles of Athletic Training (2 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- General education Philosophy and Literature (3 credits)
- BMS 223 - Infectious Human Diseases; Prevention and Control (3 credits)
- MOV 304 - Introduction to Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
- SOC 286 - Sociology of Health Care (3 credits)
- General education Physical Sciences (3 credits)
- General education Global Perspectives (3 credits)
Year Three
- EXS 209 - Research Methods in Exercise and Health Sciences (3 credits)
- EXS 320 - Exercise Testing and Prescription (3 credits)
- EXS 321 - Exercise Testing Lab (1 credit)
- EXS 390 - Fieldwork in Exercise Science (2 credits)
- MOV 300 - Kinesiology (3 credits)
- MOV 310 - Motor Skill Development (3 credits)
- PSY 364 - Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- SOC 252 - Sociology of Drug Use and Abuse (3 credits)
- Electives (3 credits)
- General education Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
- General education Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
Year Four
- EXS 420 - Laboratory Practicum in Exercise Science (3 credits)
- EXS 470 - Exercise for Special Populations (3 credits)
- EXS 495 - Professionalism in Exercise Science (3 credits)
- Electives (3 credits)
- Two Issues courses (6 credits)
- EXS 490 - Internship in Exercise Science (6, 9, or 12 credits)
- PSY 310 - Behavior Modification (3 credits)
- Issues (3 credits)