B.S. in Exercise Science

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Program Distinctives

• Rigorous education from a Christ-centered perspective.
• Accessible faculty mentors — Highly accomplished Christian faculty who serve as guides in and out of the classroom and laboratory, as well as personal pre-health advising from faculty with expertise in health-related careers.
• CAAHEP accreditation that ensures industry-standard quality of curriculum and objectives. Grove City College is one of only a few schools in Pennsylvania to be accredited by CAAHEP.
• Advanced research opportunities (rare at the undergraduate level) that will set you apart when you graduate and prepare you well for your career. Recent research projects have covered wide-ranging topics; many of our students have presented their work at national conferences and have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Internship opportunities in a wide range of clinical environments, usually completed junior or senior year. Recently, students have interned with EXOS, Yale University, Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and Rehabilitation, and UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. One hundred percent of students earned a passing grade.
• Exercise Science Symposium — Held annually on campus bringing together students and experts in the field to share their findings via workshops, lectures, and presentations. Recent topics covered include sports medicine, human performance, recovery, and health.
• Networking opportunities — Visiting professionals share the realities of career paths and expose students to the benefits of various careers.
• Accelerated program opportunity: enroll in our M.S. in Kinesiology program to earn your master’s degree in just one year and unlock a wider range of career possibilities.
• Post-graduate affiliations – Articulation agreements provide opportunities for early acceptance or guaranteed consideration for advanced degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, physical assistant studies, and more.
• Major-related student groups on campus including the Exercise Science Club, Pre-Health Society, Christian Medical & Dental Association, American Chemical Society, and Tri-Beta Biology Honorary.
• Vocation-enriching humanities core courses woven into your academic schedule that will deepen critical thinking, writing, and other communication skills while cultivating empathy and a well-rounded worldview.

Career Opportunities & Outcomes

• Career paths: physical therapist, occupational therapist, athletic trainer, personal trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, coach, research scientist, dietitian, physician assistant, medical doctor, exercise physiologist, and more.
• High employment rate — Like 95% of Grove City College graduates, you’ll be ready to compete for employment with companies like Health Corps, T3 Performance, Valencell PerformTek Precision Biometrics, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and YMCA or for admittance into prestigious graduate programs at institutions such as University of Pittsburgh, Baylor, LECOM, and Mount Union.
• Excellent pass rates on certification exams — You will prepare to score highly on either the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association or the Exercise Physiologists Certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (taken before you graduate). During the 2022-2023 academic year, the pass rates for our students who took the Exercise Physiologists Certification exam and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification were 80% and 55%, respectively, which is higher than the national average.
• Superior medical school placement rate — If you choose to pursue medical school, you will benefit from our allied health/medical school placement rate that is 10% higher than the national average.
• Make a restorative impact as a skilled and caring therapist, trainer, coach, or care provider, or wherever you take your exercise science degree.

Program Specifics

• 92-95 major credit hours of rigorous undergraduate coursework that gives you exposure to many disciplines within the field and is tailored to your chosen concentration. Curriculum is standardized by the American College of Sports Medicine and builds a foundation in anatomy, physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, wellness, clinical populations, statistics, human movement, and sports/human performance. For detailed course descriptions, refer to the  College Catalog.
  • Six optional concentrations to choose from, with flexibility to sample different pathways during the first two years. To explore concentrations, refer to concentration information.
    • Pre-Physical Therapy
    • Pre-Occupational Therapy
    • Athletic Training
    • Personal Training
    • Strength and Conditioning
    • Coaching
  • Option to minor in nutrition.
  • Wide variety of major-related electives that give you freedom to explore, such as medical terminology, dietary supplements, nutrition and health, lifecycle nutrition, lifting techniques, tactical strength and conditioning, and introduction to physical therapy and occupational therapy, among others.
  • Unique four-year program that will give you a solid foundation in the field and an education that trains you to treat patients as whole people.

Student & Alumni Stories

Morgan Blanchflower '23
B.S. in Exercise Science

John Gould '19
B.S. in Exercise Science

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