• 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 health and movement provides the student with an understanding of current issues and how the field of kinesiology can provide solutions to health and performance challenges. Through the use of targeted electives, the student is asked to relate knowledge from other disciplines to the study of human health and 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 (27–29 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 225 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.) (P: Junior or Senior Standing required)
• SPH-K 409 Basic Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.) (P: ANAT-A 225 or SPH-K 205, and PHSL-P 225 required)
• 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 225 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.)

Complete the following course:

• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following courses:

• SPH-H 360 Writing in Public Health (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 240 Community Service Writing (3 cr.)
• 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)

• 3 SPH-I 119 Personal Fitness and Wellness
• 3 SPH-K 201 Intro to Experimental Research w/ Human Subjects
• 3 SPH-K 216 Foundations of Physical Activity in Public Health
• 3 SPH-K 250 Introductory Special Topics in Kinesiology
• 2 SPH-K 280 Basic Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries.
• 3 SPH-K 305 Mechanical Basis of Hum Movement (P:K205/A225)
• 2 SPH-K 316 Theories of Advanced Conditioning
• 2 SPH-K 317 Theory and Practice of Resistance Training
• 3 SPH-K 319 Physical Activity/Exercise Leadership (P:K216/K119 & K205/A225)
• 3 SPH-K 350 Intermediate Special Topics in Kinesiology
• 3 SPH-K 398 Adapted Physical Activity
• 3 SPH-K 417 Physical Activity & Disease (P: K409)
• 3 SPH-K 419 Fitness Testing & Interpretation (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 / J 341 Organic Chemistry I
• 3 CHEM-C 342 / J 342 Organic Chemistry II
• 3 CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry OR
  CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry

Professional Focus

• 3 SPH-K 416 Physical Activity and 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 225 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 Microbiology of Infectious Disease
• 2 BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Lab
• 3 CHEM-C 341/ J 341 Organic Chem I
• 3 CHEM-C 342 / J 342 Organic Chem II
• 2 CHEM-C 343/ J 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)
•  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. 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.