female personal trainer observes as male adult uses exercise equipment

Exercise Science Major

Earn a degree in exercise science

Receiving a bachelor's degree (B.S.) in exercise science at SBU will prepare you to pursue any allied health career as you learn how to deal with people who need injury rehabilitation. A combination of coursework in sciences and human development will equip you with the skills needed for a variety of professions.

The exercise science major is designed for students interested in a career in personal training, biomechanics, or those students who intend to pursue post-graduate schooling/certification in physical therapy, athletic training, or exercise physiology.

Choose from two majors and multiple concentrations:

Exercise Science - Rehabilitative Sciences — For students who intend to pursue post-graduate schooling/certification in physical therapy, athletic training, or exercise physiology. This concentration is great preparation for career success and advanced education in a variety of fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician's assistant, personal training, and more. Your faculty advisor will work with you to ensure your course plan includes all prerequisites needed for any graduate degree program you wish to pursue.
- Exercise Science - Rehabilitative Sciences - Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Exercise Science - Rehabilitative Sciences - Occupational Therapy (OT)
- Exercise Science - Rehabilitative Sciences - Chiropractic
- Exercise Science - Rehabilitative Sciences - Athletic Training (AT)
Exercise Science — For a career in personal training or coaching. Courses will prepare you to take the American College of Sports Medicine Personal Training certification exam if you wish to become a certified personal trainer.
- Exercise Science – Health, Human Performance
- Exercise Science

Hands-on practicum experiences, small class sizes and dedicated faculty will prepare you to either pursue graduate school or enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

The Exercise Science degree is offered through SBU's College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

95%
placement
rate

(Percentage of May 2020 exercise science graduates placed in employment or graduate school within three months of graduation)

The SBU Advantage

You will gain beneficial real-world experience through a required practicum completed during the B.S. in Exercise Science program and a required internship completed at the end of the program.
Faculty will work with you one-on-one to help find the practicums and internships that best fit your interests and desires.
Most allied health career paths require additional graduate or professional school programs, but the exercise science faculty will work with you individually to help set you up for success at the next level.

Exercise Science – Rehabilitative Sciences

The Exercise Science – Rehabilitative Sciences concentration at Southwest Baptist University prepares students for careers dedicated to restoring movement, improving function, and enhancing quality of life for individuals recovering from injury, illness, or physical limitations. This program provides a strong scientific foundation in human movement, anatomy, physiology, and therapeutic exercise while preparing students for graduate study in a variety of rehabilitation and allied health professions.

Students gain a comprehensive understanding of how the body responds to injury and disease, how movement can be restored, and how rehabilitation programs are designed to help individuals regain independence and performance. Coursework emphasizes biomechanics, kinesiology, exercise physiology, injury prevention, and evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.

The Rehabilitative Sciences concentration is designed to prepare students for graduate programs and careers in several highly respected health professions. Concentrations include:

Pre-Physical Therapy (PT) Concentration

Physical therapists evaluate and treat individuals with injuries, neurological conditions, and movement disorders. They design therapeutic exercise programs and use specialized techniques to reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve functional movement.

Pre-Athletic Training (AT) Concentration

Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly in athletes and active populations. They work closely with physicians, coaches, and physical therapists to help individuals safely return to activity.

Pre-Occupational Therapy (OT) Concentration

Occupational therapists help individuals regain the ability to perform daily activities such as dressing, cooking, working, and self-care. They focus on improving independence and adapting environments or tasks to support functional living.

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine Concentration

Chiropractors focus on diagnosing and treating neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those involving the spine. Treatment often includes manual therapy, rehabilitation exercises, and movement-based care to restore function and reduce pain.
Students in this concentration benefit from hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, and experiential opportunities that connect classroom knowledge with real-world clinical practice. Graduates leave well prepared to pursue advanced degrees and careers focused on helping others recover, move better, and live healthier lives.

Exercise Science – Health & Human Performance

The Exercise Science – Health & Human Performance concentration at Southwest Baptist University prepares students to understand how the human body performs, adapts, and thrives through movement. This concentration combines cutting-edge exercise science with practical, hands-on learning to equip students for careers that improve health, performance, and quality of life.

Students study the science behind physical activity, including exercise physiology, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, nutrition, and human movement. Through laboratory experiences, performance testing, and applied training methods, students gain the skills needed to evaluate fitness, design evidence-based exercise programs, and optimize human performance for a wide range of populations.

The program emphasizes real-world experience; students work closely with faculty mentors while gaining practical exposure through internships, community wellness programs, and performance training environments. These experiences help students translate scientific knowledge into effective training, injury prevention, and health promotion strategies.

Graduates are well prepared for careers in:

Strength and conditioning
Personal training and fitness coaching
Corporate and community wellness programs
Sports performance and athlete development
Health promotion and preventative health services

This concentration also provides a strong academic foundation for graduate study in fields such as physical therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology, and other health professions. At Southwest Baptist University, students in the Exercise Science – Health & Human Performance concentration develop the knowledge, leadership, and professional skills needed to help individuals and communities move better, perform stronger, and live healthier lives.

Faith Integration

The integration of Christian faith and academic discipline distinguishes SBU's exercise science degree program. While receiving an academically rigorous exercise science education, you also will be intentionally challenged to consider how your faith will influence your interaction with patients and clients. Faculty are committed to producing graduates who will be servant leaders in their chosen professions in line with SBU's mission to "prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society."

Within the Rehabilitative Sciences concentration, you will learn skills for allied healthcare professions from the perspective of a Christian worldview. For example, you will be challenged to consider how an injury affects the whole person — body, mind and soul — and then learn how to work with the injured person and the emotions they are experiencing due to the injury.

Careers

Exercise science majors have pursued a variety of kinesiology and allied health careers including:

Cardiac Rehab Nurse
Nutritionist
Occupational Therapist
Personal Trainer
Physical Therapist
Physician's Assistant
Strength and Conditioning Coach

Graduate Schools

Many B.S. in Exercise Science graduates go on to pursue further education in subjects such as:

Physical therapy (many stay at SBU for our Doctor of Physical Therapy program)
Occupational therapy
Nursing
Education (SBU offers several graduate education programs)

Articulation Agreements

At Southwest Baptist University, the Exercise Science – Rehabilitation Sciences concentration equips students with the scientific knowledge, clinical awareness, and compassionate perspective needed to serve others in the growing field of rehabilitation and healthcare.

SBU has articulation agreements with Logan University for the Doctorate of Chiropractic and/or Masters in Strength and Conditioning.

SBU has articulation agreements with Culver-Stockton College and Missouri State University for students interested in the Master of Athletic Training (MAT).

Exercise Science FOUR YEAR PLAN

EXERCISE SCIENCE HEALTH & HUMAN PERFORMANCE FOUR YEAR PLAN

EXERCISE SCIENCE REHABILITATIVE SCIENCE

EXERCISE SCIENCE REHABILITATIVE SCIENCE Pre AT FOUR YEAR PLAN

EXERCISE SCIENCE REHABILITATIVE SCIENCE Pre OT FOUR YEAR PLAN

EXERCISE SCIENCE REHABILITATIVE SCIENCE Pre Chiropractic FOUR YEAR PLAN

EXERCISE SCIENCE Rehabilitative Science Pre PT FOUR YEAR PLAN

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