Health and Exercise Science

Become a leader in the continually evolving healthcare field with one of our highly respected programs.

Student exercising

Our bachelor’s degree program gives you the flexibility to take your education straight into a career in health promotion or gets you ready to move into advanced training in related healthcare fields. If you enjoy science courses and are passionate about helping people optimize their health, this is the major for you.

The curriculum within the Health and Exercise Science Program is designed to provide you with a strong understanding of human anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, sports psychology, nutrition, and assessment and screening. Professional development is a key focus, with the completion of a Health and Exercise Science internship that challenges you to integrate and apply what you have learned in the classroom to real-world, professional settings giving you the expertise and confidence needed to pursue your goals.

The Health and Exercise Science major prepares students with a solid foundation to serve as leaders of fitness, health promotion, and conditioning programs, in corporate, commercial, university, and clinical settings that provide health and wellness programming for apparently healthy individuals and those with chronic disease.

Anatomy model.

Graduates are equipped to pursue careers in a wide range of fields, such as athletic training, chiropractic, corporate wellness, exercise physiology, healthcare, military/law enforcement force readiness, nutrition, occupational therapy, personal training and physical therapy.

Depending on your goals, your academic advisor may work with you to determine whether you should take additional elective courses or make course substitutions. Your advisor may also hep you identify appropriate graduate programs. We have affiliation agreements with PennWest University for athletic training and with Chatham University and Methodist University for physical therapy.

Experiential Learning in Action

From the lab to the community, students apply their knowledge in meaningful ways that prepare them for future careers.

The Health and Exercise Science student examines all aspects of human performance including a background in natural sciences, human physiology, anatomy, metabolic and muscular systems, and research and testing protocols.

Academic Catalog

Need to find a course description or review your degree requirements? View the current online catalog or search previous years at the link below.

2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Health and Exercise Science Mission, Purpose, Goals and Outcomes

Mission

The Health and Exercise Science major will provide quality undergraduate education that integrates the principles of evidence-based practice, critical-thinking, faith, ethics and communication competences to meet the diverse needs of an evolving health industry.

Purpose

Goals and Learning Outcomes

Upon satisfactory completion of the Health Sciences Program, Graduates should be able to:

Apply Knowledge of and Analyze Healthcare Systems

Utilize knowledge of the principles and processes of the basic sciences and the scientific method in their completion of basic science courses, and other experiential learning.
Describe and assess basic components of the U.S. healthcare system, including care delivery, financing, quality and management challenges.
Apply this knowledge to issues of healthcare access, quality and health disparities.
Describe the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in health, including health care professionals, the community and policy makers.

Apply Knowledge of Biological Sciences & Behavioral Sciences

Identify the basic structure-function relationships of the human body and the skeletomuscular system.
Describe the relationships between the skeletal and muscular system and movement.
Discuss the structure and functional changes in tissue and organs of the body, which cause or are caused by disease processes and mechanisms.
Describe normal processes of growth and development across the life span.
Identify the principles of human behavior.
Discuss the pathologies of abnormal functioning.

Construct Evidence Based Practice Methods and Analytic Strategies

Apply independent decision making grounded in evidence-based practice/best practices.
Describe and assess the evidence-based practice model of health information utilization and paradigm approaches.
Apply this knowledge to analyze, critically appraise external and internal evidence and interrupt publications.

Define and Explain Faith and Learning

Successfully utilize expressive and receptive skills to effectively demonstrate faith and values with peers, educators and the community at large.

Develop Knowledge and Analyze Cultural Competency and Healthcare Ethics

Discuss a conscious effort to view people in terms of their individual characteristics rather than group membership.
Knowledge of reducing stereotyping and stigmatization.
Knowledge of interventions that address physical barriers to access healthcare.

Identify and Communicate Health Information Effectively

Knowledge of shared decision-making between patients and providers.
Build social support networks.
Knowledge of how to deliver accurate, accessible and actionable health information.
Identify the meanings of medical terms in the context of the structure and function of the human body in health and disease.
Demonstrate, through the use of correct/appropriate language, the ability to effectively communicate with a prospective patient.

The Buzz
Tue, Jun 9

Senior Reflection: Clara Paige Miller
Learn more
The Buzz
Tue, May 19

Senior Reflection: Alison Landon
The Buzz
Wed, May 13

Marine Biology students conduct, present Alabama field research
The Buzz
Wed, Feb 18

Waynesburg U. students travel to Florida to study marine conservation