Make it your goal to help others achieve theirs.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy and other rehabilitation sciences are among the fastest-growing sectors of patient care. The healthcare industry’s renewed focus on preventative medicine is creating a surge of interest in wellness programs from families, individuals, communities and organizations. With this, there’s a growing demand for personal coaches, health educators, corporate wellness program managers and other related roles.
A degree in health and exercise science gives you the foundation for these rewarding and exciting fields that help others achieve their personal best.
increase in demand for fitness and athletic trainers estimated through 2028 (BLS.gov)
growth rate predicted for physical therapy assistants and aides through 2028 (BLS.gov)
expected growth in health educator positions through 2028 (BLS.gov)
Beyond the science and skills. Rooted in the liberal arts and built on Catholic values, our program develops you into a reflective, ethical professional, ready to provide compassionate care and service to others.
With activity- and project-based courses, you’ll see today’s best practices in action… and then practice them yourself. You’ll learn how to apply science-based evidence in real-world situations and hone valuable communication, coaching and organizational skills.
USF’s strong reputation in the regional healthcare community gives our students access to quality internships, opens doors for health and wellness jobs with top employers, and provides meaningful service-learning opportunities.
Our breadth of programs, in health sciences and beyond, allows our students to combine majors, minors and concentrations. Your faculty advisors can help you personalize your academic path to meet your ultimate goal.
Health & Wellness Concentration
This concentration is an ideal choice if you want a career in fitness, coaching, training, rehab or health-related marketing and management roles. This concentration also prepares you for these national certification exams:
Kinesiology Degree Concentration
Concentrating in kinesiology — the study of movement — fulfills prerequisites for graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training, among others.
Strength & Conditioning Concentration
The Strength & Conditioning concentration prepares students to sit for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), setting students up for success as a strength coach for athletes of any age. A variety of internships and practicums are required and will provide opportunities for experience in the field of study.
Two Degrees, Four Years
Students in our two-year physical therapist assistant associate degree program may continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science or health services.
Double Major
Add a second major in a related or complementary field to boost your opportunities. Popular choices include biology and psychology. Other majors may give you a chance to earn an associate’s degree along the way, such as surgical or radiologic technology.
Minors
Gain more marketable skills when you complement your health and exercise degree with a minor like nutrition or athletic coaching.
At USF, you’ll learn by doing from day one. In your first year, you’ll serve as a client for upper-level classmates in our mock lab — and things will come full circle by your final year when you build training plans for clients of your own.
Your final year culminates with a 200-hour internship; recent sites include:
Your internships might even serve as a pathway to your first position after graduation.
On-campus employment with USF athletics, health services and related offices also provide valuable practical experience.
All of this hands-on learning happens in places like our cadaver lab and an exercise physiology lab stocked with state-of-the fitness testing and body composition equipment. And you will learn from a faculty with a wealth of expertise and professional experience across the health and exercise science discipline.
As you prepare to enter a helping profession, you’ll be glad to know USF offers many opportunities for you to serve others through campus ministries, service-learning projects and student groups.
KAN — the Kinesiology and Nutrition Club — is all about career development and community activism: awareness projects, networking events, and even a monthly themed brunch where everyone contributes one ingredient. Depending on your career interest, you might also be interested in joining the Physical Therapy Assistants Club.
Plus, nine intramural teams give you options to stay active while enjoying a little friendly competition.
Health and wellness jobs abound in Indiana and beyond. You will join a network of USF graduates helping their communities stay healthy, get active and be well in roles such as:
Additionally, entrepreneurial health and exercise science graduates are known to start their own health, wellness or fitness businesses.
With plenty of real-world experience and a degree in health and exercise sciences in hand, our graduates start their careers at places like:
Whether you’re looking to become a practitioner, professor or healthcare leader, USF will prepare you well for advanced studies, such as a graduate kinesiology degree. Our students have pursued master’s and doctoral programs in a variety of areas, including:
Not all health and exercise science programs require practical experience, but I’m glad USF does. My internship not only gave me hands-on experience, but it got me in the door. I was considered to be very well rounded because of my education and the courses I took beyond my major.
Haylee Shirkey ’17
Business Support Analyst at Parkview Total Health
Your first step to becoming a USF Cougar is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.
Apply NowWhether you know what you want to see, who you want to meet or are just exploring your options, we will personalize your campus visit to fit your needs.
Visit USFAn academic plan is a general blueprint showing how one might complete the degree, semester by semester. Get an idea on what each semester could look like.