HomeCareer ProspectsCurriculumApplication MaterialsService-LearningInternshipContact Us
What is Exercise Science?
Exercise Science, also referred to as kinesiology, is an “umbrella” term to describe the various aspects of physical activity, exercise, and sport performance. These aspects include, but not limited to, the body’s response to movement and the subsequent physiological, psychological, biomechanical and functional adaptations.
What discipline am I interested in?
Adapting from ACSM’s Introduction to Exercise Science (Potteiger, 2014), the disciplines and examples of the areas of study are provided below.
- Exercise Physiology: examines the physiologic response to physical activity, exercise, sport, and athletic competition.
- Clinical Exercise Physiology: uses movement in the prevention and rehabilitation of acute and chronic diseases.
- Motor Behavior: controls the body movement in healthy and diseased conditions and improves sport and athletic performance.
- Clinical and Sport Biomechanics: examines the mechanical aspects of movement in disease, injury, sport, and athletic performance.
- Fitness Leadership: incorporates the holistic approach using physical activity, exercise, nutrition, and behavioral aspects with business and management.
Typically, these disciplines cluster themselves into three main areas in which students whom attended and graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at the University of Central Arkansas find themselves interested and employed in. These three main areas include: 1) clinical exercise (e.g. cardiac rehabilitation), 2) strength and conditioning (high school, college and professional team athletics, and military), and 3) fitness leadership (group instruction, corporate wellness, and facility management).
Career Prospects
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, estimates increased demand for fitness trainers and instructors (14%) and exercise physiologists (10%) between the years 2023 and 2033. Given the varied opportunities for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, not all the potential careers are clearly identified. For instance, graduates may work as fitness specialists in clinical settings such as cardiac rehabilitation. Additionally, given that a large percentage of current declared students are seeking professional degrees upon graduation, the estimated demand for athletic trainers (13%), chiropractors (10%), occupational therapists (11%), and physical therapists (14%) also represent a significant outlook for the students within the program.
The increased demand for individuals with a background in exercise science results from employers looking for educated individuals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to administer physical activity programming among a variety of settings at the individual level (apparently healthy, athletes, at risk, and older adult, etc.), group settings (group exercise and fitness courses encompassing both a homogeneous and heterogeneous clientele, strength and conditioning facilities, etc.), and management settings (wellness programs, corporate fitness, etc.)
According to several public health and health rankings, Arkansas is in need of educated residents. U.S. News and World Reports listed Arkansas #49 in public health, #42 in health care quality, #39 in health care access, and above the national average in preventable hospital admissions and percentage of obese adults. Additionally, County Health Rankings list Arkansas as having an average of 20% of adults reported that they consider themselves in fair or poor health, an average of 30% of adults reported participating in no physical activity outside of work (second highest in the U.S.), and only an average of 64% of people living close to a park or recreation facility. Lastly, The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, Arkansas has an adult obesity rate of 37.4% (tied for twelfth highest in the U.S.) and a childhood obesity rate of 19.1% (tenth highest in the U.S.). Additionally, in regard to obesity co-morbidities, Arkansas has an adult diabetes rate of 16.3% (second highest in the U.S.) and an adult hypertension rate of 40.7% (fourth highest in the U.S.).
Where are our recent graduates?
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Central Arkansas have gone on to:
Employment:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Coaching
- Corporate Wellness
- Fitness and Recreation Centers
- Human Performance
- Sports Performance
- Strength and Conditioning
Graduate Programs:
- Athletic Training
- Chiropractic
- Exercise Science/Exercise Physiology/Kinesiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Sport Management/Administration