• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The Exercise Science curriculum provides a broad foundation for students planning to further their science education at the graduate or professional level. Students complete rigorous coursework in anatomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, physiology, and psychology to build a foundation of science knowledge needed for success in the upper-level kinesiology courses. The core kinesiology courses emphasize biomechanics, exercise physiology, sport psychology, and motor learning/control. This major provides excellent preparation for graduate work in adapted physical education, ergonomics, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, sport psychology, and sports medicine. In addition, students with this major prepare for admission to graduate programs in athletic training, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy, medicine, physician assistant, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, chiropractic, osteopathy, and other allied health fields.

Degree Requirements

The four-year Exercise Science curriculum in the subject matter of human movement and sport provides the student with an understanding of current theoretical problems. Through the use of targeted electives, the student is asked to relate knowledge from other disciplines to the study of human performance. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of exercise science major requirements.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portion of this degree entitled, kinesiology major courses. 
• No Pass/Fail except for free electives.

General Education (20–39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington General Education Common Ground Requirements. Visit gened.indiana.edu to review them.

Major (83–90 cr.)

Kinesiology Major Courses (26–28 cr.)
Minimum 2.0 GPA required in courses completed to fulfill this requirement.
Complete each of the following courses

• SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• SPH-K 200 Microcomputer Applications in Kinesiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 205 Structural Kinesiology (3 cr.)  +(N&M)-or-ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +(N&M)
• SPH-K 212 Introduction to Exercise Science (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• SPH-K 391 Biomechanics (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 405 Introduction to Sport Psychology (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 409 Basic Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 412 Exercise in Health & Disease (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 452 Motor Learning (3 cr.)

Foundational Science (23 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.) +(N&M)
• PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.) +(N&M)
• PSY-P 101 Introduction to Psychology I (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• SPH-N 220 Nutrition for Health (3 cr.) or SPH-N 231 Human Nutrition (3 cr.) +(N&M)

Foundational Chemistry (5-10 cr.)
Complete one of the following chemistry options:

Option 1: Complete the following two chemistry courses

• CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 127 Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.) +(N&M)

OR

Option 2: Complete the following four chemistry courses:

• CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry I (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry II (N&M) (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 122 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory II (2 cr.) +(N&M)

Foundational Statistics (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following statistics courses:

• SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.)
• PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
• SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences (3 cr.)

Foundational Communications: (6 cr.)

• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-B/H 350 Writing in Public Health Discipline OR
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.) OR
• ENG-W 240 Community Service Writing (3 cr.) OR
• MSCH-C 221 Writing for Electronic Media (3 cr.)

In-Major Electives (complete a minimum of 9 credits from the list of In-Major Electives)

In-Major Electives (complete a minimum of 9 credits from this list of In-Major Electives)
____3 SPH-I 119 Personal Fitness
____3 SPH K 201 Intro to Exp. Research w/ Human Subjects
____3 SPH K 216 Foundations of Phys. Act./Public Health
____3 SPH K 250 Introductory Special Topics in Kinesiology
____2 SPH K 280 Basic Prevention & Care of Athl. Inj.
____3 SPH K 305 Mech. Basis of Hum Movement (P:K205/A215)
____2 SPH K 316 Theories of Adv. Conditioning
____2 SPH K 317 Theory and Pract. of Resistance Training
____3 SPH-K 319 Phys. Act./Exercise Leadership
(P:K216/K119 & K205/A215)
____3 SPH K 350 Intermediate Special Topics in Kinesiology
____3 SPH K 398 Adapted Physical Activity
____3 SPH K 417 Phys. Act. & Disease (P: K409)
____3 SPH K 419 Fit. Test. & Interp. (P: K409)
____3 SPH K 450 Advanced Special Topics in Kinesiology
____3 SPH K 490 Motor Development and Learning
____1-3 SPH K 492 Research in Kinesiology
____1-3 SPH K 496 Lab Asst/Field Exp in Kines
____1-3 SPH K 497 Internship in Kinesiology
Students may take more than the required In-Major Elective credits to
fulfill a portion of the remaining 120 credit degree requirements

Common Electives
(Arranged in Career Focus Areas to assist students in elective section)
Students may select elective courses under any Focus Area, or
between Focus Areas. Students may also choose classes not listed
here to fulfill the remainder of the 120 required credits for their degree.

Integrated Exercise Science Focus
____3 HPSC-X 200 Intro to Scientific Reasoning N&M
____3 BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology (P: BIOL-L 211) OR
BIOL-L 330 Biology of the Cell
____3 BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology
____3 CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I
____3 CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II
____3 CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry OR
CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry

Professional Focus
____3 SPH-K 416 PA/Fitness Administration
____3 SPH-M 211 Introduction to Sport Management
____3 SPH-M 318 Management of Sport Enterprise
____3 SPH-M 426 Sport Sales
____3 PSY-P 303 Health Psychology
____3 SPH-P 309 Public Health Administration
____3 SPH-E 311 Human Diseases & Epidemiology
____3 SPH-S 332 Ergonomics & Human Factors**
(P/C: ANAT-A 215 or SPH-K 205)

Pre–Health Professions Focus
____2 CLAS-C 209 Medical Terminology
____4 BIOL-L 112 Foundations in Biology N&M
____3 BIOL-L 113 Biology Lab
____3 BIOL-L 111 Found. of Biol: Evol, Dvrsty & Ecology
____3 BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
____3 BIOL-M 200 Microorganisms in Nature & Disease**
____1 BIOL-M 215 Microorganism Laboratory**
____3 BIOL-M 250 Microbiology (P: College Chemistry)
____3 BIOL-M 380 Mircrobiology of Infectious Disease
____2 BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Lab
____3 CHEM-C 341 Organic Chem I
____3 CHEM-C 342 Organic Chem II
____2 CHEM-C 343 Organic Chem Lab I
____5 CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chem OR
CHEM-C 118 Prin of Chem and Biochem II
____3 CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry OR
CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry
____3 MSCI-M ANY MSCI-M course
____5 PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
____3 PSY-P____ Any PSY course excluding P101 & K300
____3 SOC-S 100 Intro to Sociology S&H OR
SOC-S 101 Social Prblms & Policies: VT: Med in Am
____3 SOC-S 358 Social Issues in Health & Med
____3 SPH-F 150 Intro to Lifespan Development OR
EDUC-P 314 Lifespan Development OR
____3 SPH-H 160 First Aid and CPR

Pre–Allied Health – Pre–Athletic Training Focus
____3 SPH-H 160 First Aid and CPR
____2 SPH-K 280 Basic Prev. & Care Athletic. Injuries
(if not completed in Major Electives)
____2 SPH-K 316 Theories of Advanced Conditioning
(if not completed in Major Electives)
____3 SPH-H 401 Emergency Medical Technician
____1 SPH-H 404 Emergency Medical Technician Lab
(additional EMT Certification recommended)
____3 SPH-K 205 Structural Kinesiology
(if not completed in Core)
____3 SPH-E 311 Human Diseases & Epidemiology
____3 EDUC-G207 Intro Student Athlete Counseling Psych

+ Courses followed by an A&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, arts and humanities requirement.

+ Courses followed by an N&M notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, natural and mathematic sciences requirement.

+ Courses followed by an S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Suggested Courses for the First-Year Exercise Science Student
Fall Semester (15 cr.)
Chemistry Preparation Course (5 cr.) or a Free Elective (3 cr.)
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.) or ENG-W 170 Introduction to Argumentative Writing (3 cr.)
MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.) or MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.)
PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.)
SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.)

Spring Semester (16 cr.)
CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 127 Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.)
or
CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory (2 cr.)
COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.)
SPH-I 119 Personal Fitness (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 cr.)
Free Elective (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Majors have the opportunity to work with faculty research specialists in areas specific to kinesiology. Students planning to pursue graduate kinesiology programs are encouraged to gain laboratory research experience offered by departmental faculty, and the school coordinates internship opportunities outside of the department in a wide variety of medical and allied health areas. Throughout the year, the Kinesiology Club invites speakers from a number of health profession areas to share their expertise and professional perspective with majors. Through these experiences, students learn firsthand about the graduate programs/professions of interest to them. Expert and in-depth advising services help students tailor their major program to meet their eventual goals.

Careers

Many students with this major enter graduate programs in their career area of interest, most often a health profession, such as athletic trainer, physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician’s assistant, medical doctor, dentist, optometrist, or other allied health profession. Other students pursue graduate degrees in physical activity, exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning and control, and ergonomics. Others may seek positions in coaching, cardiac rehabilitation, health screening and education, pharmaceutical sales, or sales and marketing of medical, fitness, or sports-related equipment. This major can be combined with a minor or professional certification to tailor the student’s background to a specific area, such as health care, coaching, fitness, or business.