• 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 that count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• 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.

Major (68-76 cr.)

Kinesiology Major Courses (27-29 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in this category of courses.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• SPH-K 200 Computer Technology in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 205 Structural Kinesiology (3 cr.) +(N&M) -or- ANAT-A 225 Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +(N&M) 
• SPH-K 212 Intro 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)
• 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 and Disease (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 452 Motor Learning (3 cr.) (P: junior or senior standing)

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

• PHSL-P 225 Human Physiology (5 cr.) +(N&M) 
• PHYS-P 201 General Physics 1 (5 cr.) +(N&M)
• PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (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 (5 cr.)

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

OPTION 2: Complete the following four chemistry courses: (10 cr.)

• CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry 1 (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Lab 1 (2 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2 (3 cr.) +(N&M)
• CHEM-C 122 Elementary Chemistry Lab 2 (2 cr.) +(N&M)

Foundational Statistics (3 cr.)
Complete one of the following statistics courses:

• SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.)
• CJUS-K 300 Techniques of Data Analysis (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: (5-6 cr.)
Complete two Foundational Communications courses by selecting no more than one course from two of the three topic areas below:

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.) -or-
• COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.) -or-
• ANTH-A 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) +S&H

PROFESSIONAL WRITING

• SPH-H 360 Writing in Public Health (3 cr.) -or-
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.) (P: IUB General Education English Composition) -or- 
• ENG-W 240 Community Service Writing (3 cr.) (P: IUB General Education English Composition) -or-
• MSCH-C 221 Writing for Electronic Media (3 cr.)

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

• CLAS-C 209 Medical Terminology (2 cr.) 

In-Major Electives: (12 cr.)
Variable topics (SPH-K 250, SPH-K 350, and SPH-K 450) may be taken multiple times, provided the topic differs each time.

• SPH-I 119 Personal Fitness and Wellness (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 201 Intro to Experimental Research with Human Subjects (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 216 Foundations of Physical Activity in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 250 Introductory Special Topics in Kinesiology (1-3 cr.)
• SPH-K 280 Basic Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries  (2 cr.)
• SPH-K 305 Mechanical Basis of Human Movement (1-3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 205 -or- ANAT-A 225)
• SPH-K 319 Physical Activity/Exercise Leadership (3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 205 -or- ANAT-A 225 -and- SPH-K 216)
• SPH-K 327 Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity and Exercise (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 350 Intermediate Special Topics in Kinesiology (1-3 cr.)
• SPH-K 385 Practicum in Adapted Physical Activity** (1-3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 398 -and- department consent)
• SPH-K 395 Fitness Specialist Practicum (1-3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 216 -and- SPH-K 319)
• SPH-K 398 Adapted Physical Activity (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 416 Physical Activity/Fitness Administration (3 cr.) 
• SPH-K 417 Physical Activity & Disease (3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 409)
• SPH-K 419 Fitness Testing & Interpretation (3 cr.) (P: SPH-K 205 -or- ANAT-A 225 -and- SPH-K 212 -and- SPH-K 216 -and- junior or senior standing)
• SPH-K 450 Advanced Special Topics in Kinesiology (1-3 cr.) 
• SPH-K 490 Motor Development and Learning (3 cr.) 
• SPH-K 492 Research in Kinesiology** (1-3 cr.) (P: department consent)
• SPH-K 496 Laboratory Assisting or Field Experience in Kinesiology** (1-3 cr.) (P: department consent)
• SPH-K 497 Internship in Kinesiology** (1-3 cr.) (P: department consent)

**A maximum of three (3) credits can count for the In-Major Elective category.

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

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

Suggested Courses for the First-Year Exercise Science Student
Fall Semester (14-15 cr.)

• IUB General Education English Composition (3 cr.)
• IUB General Education Math Modeling (3-4 cr.)
• SPH-K 212 Intro to Exercise Science (3 cr.) +N&M -or- SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• Chemistry Preparation (5 cr.) +N&M

Spring Semester (14-17 cr.)

• IUB General Education S&H (3 cr.)
• Foundational Communication Course (2-3 cr.)
• Foundational Chemistry (5 cr.) +N&M
• SPH-K 200 Computer Technology in Public Health (3 cr.) 
• In-Major Elective (1-3 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.