As an exercise science major you will learn to scientifically address issues of health and fitness as well as human performance as part of a rapidly growing field. A clinical track focuses on helping people recover from the unhealthy effects of a sedentary lifestyle and an athletic track focuses on training athletes to extend and expand their capacity for exceptional human performance.
RIT's exercise science degree is designed to be completed in four years and is offered at RIT as an on-campus learning experience. The program also offers clinical and athletic tracks.
The clinical track is designed for students interested in using exercise as therapy. Clinical exercise medicine is an emerging field that is poised to grow as the population ages. This field is for students who see the opportunity to provide exercise/fitness services as an integrated medical service. With an entrepreneurial spirit, students prepare themselves to become the newest practitioners in the health care field. Clinical exercise physiologists perform fitness assessments, design exercise prescriptions, and implement therapeutic exercise programs for health promotion.
The athletic track is for students who want to raise the bar of performance for athletes at all levels. A scientific approach to athletic conditioning improves performance while maintaining the health of athletes. Athletic track courses allow students to learn how to better train and maintain athletes, especially those performing at intense levels of competition. Skilled strength and conditioning specialists are in demand at all levels of sports and the prevalence of private-sector sports-specific training facilities has never been higher. Students interested in a career to train athletes and enhance the capabilities of those who play sports will be well prepared to advise and guide the next generation of athletic performers.
Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
The exercise science program has set the following student goals and learning outcomes:
Integrate scientific information and research into practice
- Demonstrate how to locate, interpret, evaluate, and use professional literature to make ethical practice decisions.
- Use current information technologies to locate and apply evidence-based guidelines and protocols.
Develop communication skills and professional behaviors for entry into pre-professional practice
- Demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication
- Demonstrate assertiveness, advocacy, and negotiation skills appropriate to the situation
- Demonstrate counseling techniques to facilitate behavior change
- Apply established guidelines to professional practice
- Describe the professional roles that collaborate with an exercise physiologist in the delivery of fitness services
Develop and deliver information and clinical customer services
- Use the fitness assessment process to make decisions, identify problems and evaluate fitness interventions
- Apply knowledge of the role of the environment, exercise, and lifestyle choices to develop interventions to affect change and enhance wellness in diverse individuals and groups
- Utilize knowledge of education and behavior change theories to develop an educational session or program for a target population
Demonstrate foundational knowledge of core sciences
- Demonstrate knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological sciences
Prepare students for successful completion of National Fitness Certification Exams
- Acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for successful completion of an advanced certification with an organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Examples include the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Certified Exercise Physiologist, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Minor in Exercise Science
The exercise science minor is designed to prepare students to take an accredited certification exam and to become a professionally credentialed personal trainer. The minor is open to all RIT students, except those majoring in exercise science.
Certificate in Exercise Science
Completion of the certificate in exercise science prepares you for employment as an entry-level service provider in a fitness facility. To enroll in the certificate program, you do not need to be a matriculated student at RIT. The certificate requires the completion of three courses. For additional information, including curriculum and admissions information, please visit the exercise science certificate program page.
Certification
Students who complete the athletic track are prepared to achieve professional certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). The CSCS is a highly respected and sought-after credential in the field of strength conditioning. Students completing the clinical track are well prepared to take the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist exam. This certification validates the knowledge, skills, and abilities of fitness and exercise practitioners who are prepared to work with people diagnosed with chronic diseases.
Exercise Science as a Pathway to Medical School
An exercise science degree can allow to pursue your passion for human performance and prepare you to apply to medical school.
Physicians who understand the value of regular exercise in the management of chronic disease conditions such as coronary artery disease and diabetes are often successful providers in future models of health care. An undergraduate education in exercise science is an ideal way to develop this knowledge while preparing for entrance to medical school. RIT's exercise science major also prepares you for certification as an ACSM Exercise Physiologist, a credential that verifies your knowledge, skills, and abilities in exercise prescription and qualifies you for employment in a number of growing areas of fitness provision.
The exercise science major also provides you with an excellent education that serves as a strong foundation for a medical career that follows the principles of Exercise is Medicine, a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which seeks to increase the use of exercise as a primacy therapeutic modality for the management of chronic disease.
Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions (such as physician assistant, physical therapy, and occupational therapy) welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. Acceptance into these programs requires the completion of pre-med requirements such as course work in biological and physical sciences, a strong academic record, pertinent experiences in the field, and key intrapersonal and interpersonal capabilities. Learn more about how RIT's Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program can help you become a competitive candidate for admission to graduate programs in the medical and health professions.
2+2 Transfer Options
The exercise science program has articulation agreements with a number of colleges that enable you to seamlessly transfer into the exercise science program upon the successful completion of your associate degree at one of the following schools. For more information regarding these 2+2 transfer options, please contact Undergraduate Admissions or the program director.
- Finger Lakes Community College
- Genesee Community College
- Hudson Valley Community College
- Morrisville State College
- SUNY Erie
- Monroe Community College
Learn more about transferring credits and additional information about transferring to RIT by visiting the Transfer Admissions website.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.
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