Bachelor [Exercise Science] From Illinois State University

The major prepares students for certification by organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine.

The Exercise Science major offers a pre-professional track option for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate career in various allied health professions.

Exercise Science is the science of movement. A student in Exercise Science studies a broad range of topics related to human movement, including:

• how different exercises and fitness programs might affect the human body and its capacity to exercise
• how understanding forces produced by and acting on the body during movement can be applied to sports performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation
• how to improve and sustain individuals' motivation for exercise
• the impact of various psychological factors on youth sports, elite performance, burnout, team cohesion, and coaching and leadership behaviors
• understanding the reasons why we move the way we do and how unconscious and conscious processes combine to guide movement skill acquisition

These topics combine to prepare Exercise Science students for an equally broad range of careers, including allied health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician's assistant, nursing, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation; a variety of professions within corporate, commercial and clinical fitness and wellness contexts; and a host of other post-graduate opportunities.