Exercise & Sport Science
Graduates with a major in Exercise and Sport Science will have the skills and knowledge to become personal trainers, exercise professionals, or strength and conditioning specialists. As exercise professionals, graduates will be involved in developing and implementing individualized approaches to exercise leadership in healthy populations and/or for those individuals with medical clearance to exercise. Graduates of the program will be proficient in writing appropriate exercise recommendations, leading and demonstrating safe and effective methods of exercise, and motivating individuals to begin and to continue with their healthy behaviors. Students will have the opportunity to sit for professional certification examinations offered by NSCA and ACSM. Graduates may also pursue graduate opportunities in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, nutrition, strength and conditioning, etc.
Common Career Paths
Some of the top jobs for those with an Exercise & Sports Science bachelor degrees include fitness trainer, coach, recreational therapist, sports facility manager, strength and conditioning coach, community program director, physical education teacher, and more.
Common Salary Ranges for Graduates
As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with Exercise & Sports Science degrees. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:
- Recreation and fitness studies teacher: $79,080
- Coaches and scout: $50,550
- Recreational therapist: $53,900
Average Tuition Cost
The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.
Tuition cost for the MU Online program in Exercise & Sport Science is $445 per credit, for a total of $55,180 for the program prior to transfer credits and financial aid being applied. Students who are Active Duty, Reservists, or National Guard have a discounted tuition rate of $250 per credit, for a total of $31,000 for the program prior to transfer credits and financial aid being applied.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.
Interested in Our Online Exercise & Sports Science program?
You're interested in the MU Exercise & Sports Science program with a concentration in Exercise Physiology, but are a working adult looking for the flexibility of an online program? Visit the Exercise & Sport Science program on our MU Online microsite for more information on the program, careers, how to apply, tuition and aid, and much more!
Apply Now
Available Concentrations
Students majoring in Exercise & Sports Science must choose one of the following concentrations:
Minor Requirements
The Exercise and Sports Science minor consists of 21-22 credits and is distributed as follows:
| KIN 1300 Weight Training Techniques (3) | KIN 2860 Foundations of Physiology (3) OR BIO 3080 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4) |
| KIN 2110 Professions & Development in Health Sciences (1) | KIN 2900 Structural Kinesiology (3) |
| KIN 2170 First Aid/CPR/AED (2) | KIN 3040 Physiology of Exercise (3) |
| KIN 2400 Sport & Fitness Nutrition (3) | KIN 4110 Strength & Conditioning (3) OR KIN 4115 Personal Training (3) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates with a major in Exercise and Sport Science will have the skills and knowledge to become personal trainers, exercise professionals, or strength and conditioning specialists. As exercise professionals, graduates will be involved in developing and implementing individualized approaches to exercise leadership in healthy populations and/or for those individuals with medical clearance to exercise. Graduates of the program will be proficient in writing appropriate exercise recommendations, leading and demonstrating safe and effective methods of exercise, and motivating individuals to begin and to continue with their healthy behaviors. Students will have the opportunity to sit for professional certification examinations offered by NSCA and ACSM. Graduates may also pursue graduate opportunities in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, nutrition, strength and conditioning, etc.
Some of the top jobs for those with an Exercise & Sport Science bachelor degrees include fitness trainer, coach, recreational therapist, sports facility manager, strength and conditioning coach, community program director, physical education teacher, and more.
Contact
Steven Capehart, M.S., CSCS, ACSM-EP
