Additional Program Information
The Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science offers a comprehensive curriculum grounded in scientific principles and their practical application to maintaining health through fitness and nutrition, training and performance, rehabilitation, and wellness. The Exercise Science program supports preparation for academic advancement into graduate health professions and other related areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, sports psychology and athletic training. Students interested in entering the work force upon graduating with the B.S. degree in Exercise Science will also be prepared to apply for positions within the wellness and fitness industry.
All Exercise Science students take the same core curriculum and specialize in one area of concentration. Both tracks prepare students for certifications such as the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C), and the NSCA Certified and Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exams.
The Exercise Science Major is both accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and endorsed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Clinical Track – Focus on Graduate School Preparation
This track has a strong sciences foundation and prepares students for entry into Graduate health profession programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant and exercise physiology.
Students enrolling in natural science courses must earn at least a letter grade of C in all Prerequisite courses. Students must place at the ENGL 111 level to enroll in all natural science courses.
Students must earn a minimum letter grade of C or better in all exercise science courses. Students may not repeat a course required in the curriculum more than once or repeat more than two EXSC courses in the major. Students who do not achieve the program criteria of a letter grade of C or better in an EXSC major course will be reviewed by faculty to determine if the student will be dismissed from the program.
Any student who earns a grade less than the required minimum grade in a course within the curriculum must repeat the course the next semester it is offered at Mercy College in order to progress to any course for which it is a prerequisite.
For any exercise science lecture course that has a laboratory course as a corequisite, both the lecture and laboratory courses must be taken concurrently. In the event that a student must withdraw from the lecture course, the student must also withdraw from the corequisite laboratory course. Students who wish to take the lecture or laboratory course alone will require Program Director authorization and may be required to participate in relevant labs or audit relevant lecture topics.
Program Dismissal Review
In cases which a student has been dismissed from the Exercise Science Program, the student may request a dismissal review when he/she believes that extenuating circumstances affected his/her academic performance in the program. The student must follow the SHNS Program Dismissal Review Policy detailed at the beginning of the School of Health and Natural Sciences section of this catalog.
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