What Can You Do With an Exercise Science Degree?

Do you value health, nutrition, and fitness and want to teach others how they can live healthier lives? Maybe you’re fascinated by the human body and passionate about health but don’t want to be a pre-med student. With an exercise science degree, you can help people live their best lives by helping them reach their nutrition goals and optimize their athletic performance.

You might be passionate about health and fitness, but what can you do with an exercise science degree? Read on to find out!

What is exercise science?

Exercise scientists help people increase their longevity and quality of life by exploring various aspects of health and wellness. With a degree in exercise science, you will learn about fitness, nutrition, and the human body. Now more than ever, people are interested in fitness and nutrition. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, exercise science jobs will increase by 9% from 2021-2031, which is higher than average. With a degree in exercise science, you can answer people’s questions about health and help them live healthier lifestyles.

According to Grace College Exercise Science Program Director Christina Walters, “Every good exercise science program should be founded on the belief that it is our job to spread knowledge and help people realize the life they want to live.”

What can you do with an exercise science degree?

An exercise science degree will prepare you for a variety of careers in health, fitness, or nutrition. Depending on your interests and the concentration you choose, you can pursue any of the following careers:

• Physical therapy
• Athletic training
• Exercise physiologist
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy
• Strength and conditioning coach
• Certified personal trainer
• Nutritionist
• Health and wellness director
• Activities coordinator/director
• Fitness instructor

What can you do with different exercise science concentrations?

So what exactly is a concentration, and how do you go about choosing? A concentration is a specific focus within a major. When deciding which one is best for you, it’s important to understand your skills, your passions, and what careers each concentration will prepare you for. Here are the three exercise science concentrations offered at Grace College:

Fitness and Nutrition – A fitness and nutrition concentration focuses on fitness, nutrition, and sports performance to prepare students for careers as fitness coaches and dieticians.

Health and Wellness – This concentration teaches students about physical fitness, nutrition, and human anatomy to equip students to teach others about healthy living. Students are prepared for careers in physical therapy, athletic training, and nutrition.

Pre-Physical Therap – A pre-physical therapy concentration combines human anatomy with health and sports psychology to prepare students to work in a medical setting as a physical therapist or an occupational therapist.

Do you need more than a bachelor’s degree in exercise science?

You can pursue a viable career with just a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, but if you want to open the door to more job opportunities, you can get a master’s degree. If that’s your path of choice, you will want to make sure that the college you choose has a strong track record of getting its graduates placed into grad school.

Grace exercise science graduates go on to find success in grad programs at a variety of institutions, including Ohio State University, IUPUI, and Ball State University. At Grace, we make getting a master’s degree easy by partnering with Manchester University to offer students a Master of Athletic Training degree.

What internships are available to exercise science students?

Exercise science students can intern at YMCAs/YWCAs, hospitals, and fitness centers. The main goal of an internship is to help you gain hands-on experience and to help you figure out which path you want to take with your degree.

Why get an exercise science degree at a liberal arts institution?

A liberal arts education will help you have a well-rounded education. Relationships play an important role in the life of a personal trainer, physical therapist, or nutritionist, so at Grace, our core classes are focused on helping you improve your relationships with God, yourself, others, and the world. Classes like Essentials of Behavioral Science will help you learn about psychology and its effects, while Faith, Science, and Reason will teach you how the science you’re learning in your courses connects to Christianity.

Do you love fitness and nutrition but wonder “What can you do with an exercise science degree?” Learn about our exercise science degree and request more information about Grace College.