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Exercise Science Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science offers four tracks and prepares students to work in a variety of health, wellness, and sports performance environments.  

Students can pursue one of the four track options depending on their career goals:

  • Exercise Science
  • Exercise Science - Pre-Athletic Training
  • Exercise Science - Pre-Occupational Therapy
  • Exercise Science - Pre-Physical Therapy

The Exercise Science program also offers 3 + 2 accelerated degree options for students with interests in either athletic training or occupational therapy and who intend to pursue the respective graduate program at EWU.

The exercise science track prepares students to work with a range of populations from athletes to those with medically controlled disease. Graduates may be employed in commercial fitness, corporate wellness, or clinical and sports performance settings. The pre-professional tracks prepare students to apply to graduate programs in allied health care. While the pre-professional tracks are specific to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training, an increasing number of students use the extensive science requirements to prepare for applications to other programs in allied health care including chiropractic, nursing, and physician's assistant.  

The degree also lays a strong foundation for graduate degrees in kinesiology and related fields. The course work prepares students to pursue certifications from esteemed organizations in the industry including American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Note:

  • all four options require additional courses to complete the general education requirement;
  • completion of any one of the four options as shown will not guarantee completion of 60 credits of upper division credits;
  • students should work with their advisor to select appropriate courses or minor.

Professional Membership Requirements:  every student graduating from a major in the Department of Wellness and Movement Sciences must be a member of a professional organization, at least by their senior year.

Required Core Courses–minimum grade ≥C+ for each
EXSC 301INTRODUCTION TO EXERCISE SCIENCE1
EXSC 390PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAM DESIGN3
EXSC 420PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAM DESIGN FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS4
EXSC 440EXERCISE COUNSELING AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE3
EXSC 460PHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE4
PHED 193STANDARD FIRST AID AND SAFETY2
PHED 349FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY4
PHED 350EXERCISE TESTING AND PRESCRIPTION4
PHED 352BIOMECHANICS4
PHED 360HEALTH FITNESS MANAGEMENT3
PHED 372APPLIED NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS3
Required Supporting Courses30
Pre-OT and Pre-PT require minimum average GPA ≥3.0 for each series listed below.
Exercise Science and Pre-AT require a minimum grade of ≥C for each course listed below.
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS
and HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS
and HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS
GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
and BIOCHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
and BIOCHEMISTRY LAB FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
Choose one of the following5
EXSC and Pre-AT–minimum grade ≥C
Pre-OT and Pre-PT–minimum grade ≥B
STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
PSYCHOLOGICAL STATISTICS
Choose three from the following–minimum grade ≥C+ for each7-9
NUTRITION IN SPORT AND EXERCISE
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND COGNITION
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
ELECTROCARDIOLOGY INTERPRET
GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROLAB
Major Options–choose one of the four options to complete the BS degree15-28
Exercise Science
PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP (variable credit course–must complete 15 credits–minimum grade ≥B)
Pre–Athletic Training
EXERCISE SCIENCE PRACTICUM (must complete 100 hours with Certified Athletic Trainer–must complete 8 credits–minimum grade ≥B required)
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (minimum grade ≥B required)
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I
and MECHANICS LABORATORY
PHYSICAL SCIENCE I
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (minimum grade ≥B required)
Pre–Occupational Therapy
EXERCISE SCIENCE PRACTICUM (must complete 8 credits–minimum grade ≥B required)
INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (minimum grade ≥B required)
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT (minimum grade ≥B required)
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (minimum grade ≥B required)
Pre–Physical Therapy
EXERCISE SCIENCE PRACTICUM (must complete 8 credits–minimum grade ≥B required)
Minimum average GPA ≥3.0 required for PHYS series (PHYS 131, PHYS 132, PHYS 133)
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS II
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS III
MECHANICS LABORATORY
HEAT AND OPTICS LABORATORY
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY I
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Required Senior Capstone
EXSC 490SENIOR CAPSTONE IN EXERCISE SCIENCE (minimum grade ≥C+)4
Total Credits96-111

Plan of Study

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 161
161L (Natural Science BACR 1)
5CHEM 162
162L (Natural Science BACR 2)
5CHEM 163
163L
5
ENGL 1015CSBS 320, MATH 380, or PSYC 3105Humanities & Arts BACR 115
MATH 1075ENGL 2015Social Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
BIOL 2325BIOL 2335BIOL 2345
EXSC 3011Diversity - graduation requirement15PHED 3504
Humanities & Arts BACR 215Global Studies - graduation requirement15PHED 3723
Social Science BACR 215 Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 16 15 17
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PHED 3494EXSC 3903EXSC 4204
PHED 3524PHED 1932EXSC 4403
Exercise Science Elective23PHED 3603Exercise Science Elective23
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective4Exercise Science Elective23Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective1 
 15 12 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
EXSC 4553EXSC 4604EXSC 4885
EXSC 4885EXSC 4885EXSC 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)4
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective4  
 17 14 14
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Elective–choose three from the approved list, minimum grade ≥C for each.

Plan of Study

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 161
161L (Natural Science BACR 1)
5CHEM 162
CHEM 163L (Natural Science BACR 2)
5CHEM 163
163L
5
ENGL 1015CSBS 320, MATH 380, or PSYC 3105Humanities & Arts BACR 115
MATH 1075ENGL 2015Social Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
BIOL 2325BIOL 2335BIOL 2345
EXSC 3011Diversity - graduation requirement15PHED 3504
Humanities & Arts BACR 215Global Studies - graduation requirement15PHED 3723
Social Science BACR 215 Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 16 15 17
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PHED 2562EXSC 3903EXSC 4204
PHED 3494PHED 1932EXSC 4403
PHED 3524PHED 3603Exercise Science Elective23
PHYS 100 or 131 and 1615Exercise Science Elective23Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Exercise Science Elective23  
 18 11 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
EXSC 3884EXSC 3884EXSC 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)4
EXSC 4553EXSC 4604Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
PSYC 3025Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective4 
 12 17 14
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Exercise Science Elective–choose three from the approved list, minimum grade ≥C for each.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB


General Education Requirements (GER)
  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences


University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List


Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BS in Exercise Science from EWU should be able to:​
  • demonstrate competence in first aid response to emergency situations;
  • explain core principles of nutrition for health;
  • identify musculoskeletal structures that enable human movement;
  • apply the principles of biomechanics to assess human movement;
  • assess health-related components of fitness for apparently healthy adults in accordance with all ACSM guidelines;
  • analyze health-related fitness assessments for apparently healthy adults;
  • design an exercise prescription to enhance health-related components of fitness;
  • apply principles of exercise management for persons with controlled disease;
  • explain physiological responses to exercise;
  • explain theories of behavior change;
  • identify an exercise professional's scope of practice;
  • demonstrate competence as an entry-level Exercise Science professional in the cognitive learning domain, in accordance with the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences;
  • demonstrate competence as an entry-level Exercise Science professional in the psychomotor learning domain, in accordance with the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences;
  • demonstrate competence as an entry-level Exercise Science professional in the affective learning domain, in accordance with the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.