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Maintaining or attaining good health and fitness through exercise are top priorities for many Americans. While technology exists to track personal fitness, nothing can replace the expertise and motivation that a degreed exercise professional brings to any fitness program.
MSU Denver’s bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science is practitioner-focused with a strong science foundation, making students immediately employable in a variety of health and wellness settings. Students are also prepared for graduate programs in areas such as exercise physiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or as a physician’s assistant.
Our knowledgeable professors have years of experience in the fitness industry as well as an extensive network of community facilities for internships that will provide students real-world experience working with diverse populations.
The objective of the MSU Denver Exercise Science (EXS) major is the professional preparation of pre-service Exercise Science specialists, qualifying them to sit for established, nationally recognized certification examinations. Upon successful completion of a national certifying exam, EXS graduates may practice as a certified professional in areas such as: Health Fitness Instructor, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, or Performance Enhancement Specialist.
The Exercise Science major does not encompass academic preparation for the Athletic Training professions (care and prevention of athletic injuries). Students who pursue a degree in EXS will not be eligible to take the National Athletic Trainer’s Board of Certification examination.
Please review the ES Pre-Advising Information document for extensive pre-advising information.
The degree requirements for the Exercise Science major are listed below. Please note, this major does require a minor. Visit the University Catalog to learn more about the program, course prerequisites, and other degree requirements. The University catalog can be found HERE.
For a printable list of these course requirements, click here: Exercise Science Degree Requirements_2020-2021
Below is a sample of what an Exercise Science student’s course schedule might look like for their 4 years enrolled at MSU Denver. This schedule is flexible and students have the freedom to choose their General Studies (GS) courses as well as any minor and elective courses. All students interested in adopting the EXS major should contact one of the advisors listed below for assistance in declaring their major and for specific academic planning.
Fall Semester (16 Credit Hours) |
Spring Semester (16 Credit Hours) |
GS: Quantitative Literacy (MTH 1210 Recommended) (3-4) | GS: Natural & Physical Sciences (NUT 2040 Recommended) (3) |
GS: Natural & Physical Sciences (Bio 1080 & Bio 1090 Recommended) (4) | GS: Written Communication (3) |
GS: Written Communication (3) | GS: Oral Communication (3) |
EXS 1020: Resistance Training (3) | BIO 2310: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) |
ESS 1623: Introductory Sports Medicine Concepts (3) | EXS 1640: Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs (3) |
Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) |
Spring Semester (16 Credit Hours) |
GS: Arts & Humanities (3) | ESS 4660: Legal Liability for Physical Educators, Coaches, & Administrators (3) |
NUT 3200: Nutrition and Sports Performance (3) | EXS 4680: Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription (4) |
ESS 3300: Anatomical Kinesiology (3) | Major Elective (3) |
EXS 3841: Comparative Fitness Programs (3) | Unrestricted Elective (3) |
Major Elective (3) | Unrestricted Elective (3) |
Fall Semester (16 Credit Hours) |
Spring Semester (16 Credit Hours) |
GS: Social and Behavioral Sciences (3) | GS: Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSJ Recommended) (3) |
GS: Historical (Global Diversity Recommended) (3) | ESS 3110: Medical Topics and Injury/Illness Pathophysiology for Exercise Science (3) |
GS: Arts & Humanities (3) | ESS 3340: Physiology of Exercise (4) |
BIO 2320: Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) | Major Elective (4) |
EXS 2680: Group Exercise Leadership (3) | Unrestricted Elective (3) |
Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) |
Spring Semester (10 Credit Hours) |
EXS 4780: Community Fitness Testing & Program Planning (3) | EXS 4880: Internship in Exercise Science (10) |
EXS 4790: Special Considerations for Exercise Assessment and Prescription (3) | |
EXS 4650: Exercise Electrocardiography (3) OR EXS: Advanced Strength and Conditioning (only offered in Spring) (3) | |
Major Elective (3) | |
Unrestricted Elective (3) |
Fall Semester (16 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (16 Credit Hours) | |
---|---|---|
HPS 2060: Emergency Rescue/First Responder & CPR (3) | EXS 1640: Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs (3) | |
BIO 1080 & BIO 1090: General Biology & Lab (4) | BIO 2310: Human anatomy and Physiology I (4) | |
NUT 2040: Introduction to Nutrition (3) | GS: Written Communication (3) | |
GS: Written Communication (3) | GS: Oral Communication (3) | |
GS: Quantitative Literacy (3) | GS: Arts & Humanities (3) |
Fall Semester (17 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (15 Credit Hours) | |
---|---|---|
EXS 3780: Fitness Programs for Special Populations (2) | EXS 3790: Fitness Programming for Children, Adolecents and Older Adults (3) | |
HPS 330: Anatomical Kinesiology (3) | EXS 4680: Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Perscription (4) | |
GS: Social and Behavioral Studies I (MC recommended) (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) | |
EXS 3841: Comparative Fitness Programs (2) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) | |
Minor (or approved elective) (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) | |
Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
Fall Semester (16 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (16 Credit Hours) | |
---|---|---|
EXS 1020: Resistance Training Techniques (3) | ATP 1623: Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (3) | |
Minor (or approved elective) (3) | *HPS1440: Skills and Methods of Teaching Stress Management (3) | |
BIO 2320 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) | HPS 3340: Physiology of Exercise (4) | |
GS: Historical (GD Recommended) (3) | PSY 1001: Introductory Psychology (3) | |
GS: Arts and Humanities (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (10 Credit Hours) | |
---|---|---|
HPS 4660: Legal Liability for Physical Educators, Coaches & Administrators | EXS 4880: Internship in Adult Fitness (10) | |
EXS 4780: Community fitness Testing & Program Planning (3) | ||
Minor (or approved elective) (3) | ||
Minor (or approved elective) (3) | ||
Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
The Exercise Science internship exists to assist students in making a successful transition from the classroom to the professional work enviornment, validate the student’s academic knowledge, and help the student develop a professional career orientation.
The Internship is a 10-credit hour course that is designed for the exercise science major to acquire practical experience in the fitness field. Students must meet the following requirements:
Below is a list of locations where Exercise Science students have completed their internships
Benefits of an EXS Degree
Career Opportunities with an EXS Degree
MSU Denver Exercise Science (EXS) students should take pride in the fact that their academic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and is evaluated by the Committee on the Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) to ensure students are adequately prepared to become exercise professionals. MSU Denver is one of only 66 undergraduate programs in the United States to have achieved this credential. This prestigious distinction shows prospective employers that MSU Denver EXS graduates have completed a nationally recognized rigorous program of study.
Accreditation by CAAHEP requires MSU Denver EXS faculty to collect data on specific program outcomes to ensure that EXS students are being adequately prepared to enter the competitive job market. See below for outcomes form the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Name | Email Address |
Brian Cooper, MS, CSCS | [email protected] |
Carrie Meyer, PhD | [email protected] |
Gary Paulson | [email protected] |
Bill Pottle | [email protected] |
Julie Rummel Mancuso, MS, ACSM EPC | [email protected] |
Debbie Sleight | [email protected] |
Chris Tetro, MS, CSCS | [email protected] |
Ernie Heyman | [email protected] |
Derik Eselius | [email protected] |
Svetlana Lambrozo | [email protected] |
Doug Leber, PhD | [email protected] |
Lia Ridley | [email protected] |
Summer Sides | [email protected] |
Email: [email protected] l Phone: 303-615-1818
Main Office Location:
Physical Education/Event Center (PE) 217
Campus Map
Mailing Address:
PO Box 173362
Campus Box 25
Denver, CO 80202