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BS Exercise Science

Pursue a career in fitness, exercise, and physical performance and work with athletes, individuals, or people with health challenges

Whether it is fitness training at a gym or exercise physiology in a health care setting, an exercise science graduate helps people improve their health and wellness with physical activity. Through coursework and hands-on experience, students in the Loyola Exercise Science program will develop skills to evaluate health behaviors and risk factors, conduct fitness assessments, write exercise prescriptions, and motivate individuals to practice positive health behaviors.

Exercise science majors at Loyola can enroll in the five-year combined bachelor's/master's degree program and earn both degrees in only five years.

Our Commitment to You

Graduates with a BS in Exercise Science degree will gain the following knowledge, skills, and professional values to start a career in an exercise-related field.

KNOWLEDGE

You will be able to understand and conduct fitness assessments and create and implement exercise prescriptions. Graduates are also prepared to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist Exam.

SKILLS

Graduates are skilled in evaluating health behaviors and risk factors, as well as using effective oral and written communications within an interprofessional health care team.

PROFESSIONAL VALUES

You will be able to motivate individuals to learn positive lifestyle behaviors to promote better health.

By the numbers

21%

PROJECTED GROWTH OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPY FIELD BETWEEN 2020 AND 2030; MUCH FASTER THAN AVERAGE AMONG ALL OCCUPATIONS

90%

OF GRADUATE STUDENTS FEEL PREPARED TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF EXERCISE SCIENCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION

2

LABS ON CAMPUS DEVOTED TO PUTTING CLASSROOM CONCEPTS INTO PRACTICE

Curriculum

Explore the required curriculum and what you’ll learn.

Learn more about the ES laboratories that offer the latest health and exercise science technology to students and faculty.

Admission

Admission to Loyola University Chicago and the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health Exercise Science program is competitive and based on a number of different factors, including your academic transcript, class rank, ACT or SAT score, and a short essay. For more information about deadlines and the online application, visit Undergraduate Admission.

RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

Applicants to the Parkinson School should complete the following courses in high school:

  • One unit of chemistry
  • One unit of biology
  • Two units of math (one in algebra, one in geometry)
  • Four units of English
  • One unit of social science
  • Four units in other courses (computers or Spanish recommended)
" Knowing that I can make a difference in people’s lives and get them more independent or more mobile, that’s a really cool thing to be involved in. It directly relates to your quality of life. " Allison Rydberg (BS '15)

Tuition and Fees

The Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health and Loyola's Financial Aid Office are committed to helping students secure the financial resources to make their education at Loyola affordable.

FAQs

WHAT IS EXERCISE SCIENCE?

Exercise science is the study of human movement performed to maintain or improve physical fitness. Exercise science includes such subjects as biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, cardiac rehabilitation, athletic training, and fitness for special population groups.

WHAT JOBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A BS IN EXERCISE SCIENCE?

With a BS in exercise science, students can work as exercise physiologists, accredited professionals who conduct physical fitness assessments and develop exercise plans. You might work at a health care center, with patients who have medical conditions that they need help managing or are recovering from illness or injury. Or, you could work at a fitness center that helps healthy people get in shape and maintain their fitness level.

DO I NEED A MASTER'S DEGREE TO WORK IN THE FIELD?

Loyola graduates with a BS in exercise science are prepared to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist Exam and work as a physiologist. Many students go on to earn master's and doctoral degrees in the field, or attend graduate school for physical therapy. Learn more about Loyola's master's degree in exercise science — including the five-year master's program for undergraduate exercise science majors.

WHAT IS THE EXERCISE SCIENCE MINOR?

Students in other programs who want to expand their skills in exercise science can pursue a minor in this field. This program is an excellent option for students who want to work in the growing field of allied health, wellness, and fitness: Exercise Science Minor 2020-2021

WHAT TYPES OF FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BSES STUDENTS?

The BS in Exercise Science program is located at Loyola’s Lakeshore Campus. Multiple laboratory spaces, including the MSES Human Performance Laboratory located in the newly constructed Alfie Norville Practice facility, are well-equipped. Students will be exposed to state-of-the-art equipment in both classroom and laboratory settings, in addition to when they are conducting research independently or with faculty in the lab. BSES students will have access to equipmment including an electrocardiogram, heart rate monitors, laboratory treadmills, cycle ergometers, Olympic lifting platforms, resistance training equipment portable metabolic carts, force plates, electromyography, and body composition devices in these labs.

Pursue a career in fitness, exercise, and physical performance and work with athletes, individuals, or people with health challenges

Whether it is fitness training at a gym or exercise physiology in a health care setting, an exercise science graduate helps people improve their health and wellness with physical activity. Through coursework and hands-on experience, students in the Loyola Exercise Science program will develop skills to evaluate health behaviors and risk factors, conduct fitness assessments, write exercise prescriptions, and motivate individuals to practice positive health behaviors.

Exercise science majors at Loyola can enroll in the five-year combined bachelor's/master's degree program and earn both degrees in only five years.

Our Commitment to You

Graduates with a BS in Exercise Science degree will gain the following knowledge, skills, and professional values to start a career in an exercise-related field.

Curriculum

Explore the required curriculum and what you’ll learn.

Learn more about the ES laboratories that offer the latest health and exercise science technology to students and faculty.

Admission

Admission to Loyola University Chicago and the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health Exercise Science program is competitive and based on a number of different factors, including your academic transcript, class rank, ACT or SAT score, and a short essay. For more information about deadlines and the online application, visit Undergraduate Admission.

Tuition and Fees

The Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health and Loyola's Financial Aid Office are committed to helping students secure the financial resources to make their education at Loyola affordable.