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Applied Health Science (B.S.) Exercise Science Concentration

Program Overview

Exercise Science Concentration. Students in this concentration are prepared to pursue careers in fields such as corporate fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, personal training, strength and conditioning, or other health and wellness positions. In addition, students who are interested in pursuing degrees in fields such as occupational therapy, chiropractic medicine, or public health can tailor this major to prepare them for graduate work.

Dedicated faculty, a human performance laboratory, and a state-of-the-art fitness/wellness facility are some of the resources that enable Messiah to offer a quality Applied Health Science major. This program equips graduates with the necessary knowledge and abilities to qualify for positions in this highly competitive field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Applied Health Science program can:

  1. Describe the anatomical and physiological responses to acute and chronic exercise.
  2. Explain the role of exercise in disease prevention.
  3. Prescribe safe and effective exercise programs for diverse individuals.
  4. Integrate scientific information and research into professional situations.
  5. Identify factors influencing health and human performance.
  6. Identify how faith impacts professional practice in the applied health sciences.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

APHS 170Concepts of Conditioning

2
APHS 215Chronic Disease and Exercise

3
APHS 271Kinesiology

3
APHS 301Exercise Physiology

4
APHS 325Exercise Nutrition and Metabolism

3
APHS 412Senior Seminar for Applied Health Science

3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology

3

APHS 412: Writing in the major requirement.

Three credits from the following:

APHS 225Research Methods and Statistical Analysis

3
STAT 269Introductory Statistics

3

Three credits from the following:

GERO 251Biology, Nutrition, and Healthy Aging

3
PSYC 209Life Span Development

3
HDFS 210Child Development

3
HDFS 311Adolescent Development

3
HDFS 312Adult Development

3

Exercise Science Concentration (25-28 credits)

INTE 391Internship

1-3
NUTR 222Principles of Nutrition

3

INTE 391 must be taken for a letter grade.

At least 6 credits from the following:

APHS 210Sport and Exercise Psychology

3
APHS 220Health Promotion Management

3
APHS 310Elite Athletic Performance

3
APHS 315Stress Testing and ECG Interpretation

3
APHS 330Advanced Research Methods

1-3
APHS 360Exercise Testing and Prescription

3
APHS 410Topics in Health and Exercise Science

2-3
APHS 415Advanced Exercise Physiology

3
ATHT 235Musculoskeletal Assessment

3
ATHT 339Musculoskeletal Interventions

3
HPED 229Motor Learning

3
HPED 423Principles of Administration

3

Three or four credits from the following:

BIOL 189Genetics for Health Professions

3
CHEM 106General Chemistry II

4

At least 8 additional BIOL credits in consultation with the student’s major advisor from the following list:

BIOL 170Cell and Animal Physiology

4
BIOL 185Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4
BIOL 186Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4
BIOL 189Genetics for Health Professions

3
BIOL 260Genetics

4
BIOL 265Microbiology

4
BIOL 301Healthcare in the Developing World

3
BIOL 460Physiology

4
BIOL 465Gross Anatomy

4

BIOL 189: if student takes BIOL 189 for requirement above, they may not use this course to fulfill the elective in this category.

BIOL 189: Fulfills Writing Enriched course requirement for Major

Four credits from the following:

CHEM 103Chemical Science

4
CHEM 105General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 103: consult with advisor

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement met/major
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences 3-4
Laboratory Science (CHEM 103 or CHEM 105) met/major
Science, Technology & the World (APHS 301) waived
Social Science (PSYC 101) met/major
European History or United States History 3
Literature 3
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies 2 or 3
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course (APHS 170) met/major
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism 3
QuEST requirements 44-46
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration) 52-55
Free electives 27-22
Total credits 123