Exercise Science Program

The Exercise Science program is a scientifically based program designed to prepare competent entry-level Exercise Science professionals in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (abilities) learning domains. The Exercise Science program offers a diversified program that includes both introductory and advanced coursework, laboratory experiences and the opportunity for practical application of knowledge through community and research-based experiences. The program can also be used as pre-professional preparation for postgraduate study in exercise science or other health-related disciplines including physical therapy, occupational therapy and medical programs. The Exercise Science program is designed to prepare students for appropriate professional certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Associate and International Society for Sports Nutrition. For information regarding program admission, please contact the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services Advising Center.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs logo.
The B.S. in Exercise Science at ČâČâ´«Ă˝ is an academic program accredited by the  evaluated by the  which establishes standards and guidelines for academic programs. This distinction recognizes the rigor of our curriculum designed to comprehensively prepare students to practically apply knowledge and skills through critical thinking. Maintaining accreditation requires  assessment of program and student learning outcomes to ensure successful preparation for the current industry needs.
National Strength and Conditioning Association logo.
The B.S. Exercise Science program is also recognized by the  Education Recognition Program (ERP). The NSCA (ERP) recognizes and distinguishes programs with approved and standardized strength and conditioning curriculum. Recognized programs are designed to prepare students for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certification.

 

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program students will have met the academic requirements necessary to sit for an examination for a nationally recognized certification in exercise science.

B.S. in Exercise Program Outcomes - 2023-2024

  • Internship Pass Rate: 100%
  • National Certification Exam Pass Rate: 100%
  • Graduate Satisfaction Rate: 97%
  • Enrollment (Summer 2024): 1245 students (852 Exercise Science Interests, 393 Exercise Science Majors)
  • Exercise Science Major Retention Rate: 97%
    (Defined as declared majors Fall 2023 who returned Spring 2024 or graduated in Fall 2023)

Exercise Science Admission

Program Admission and Retention Criteria 

In order to declare the Exercise Science major, students must meet the following requirements:
  1. Must have met ČâČâ´«Ă˝ admission requirements.

  2. Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average with a minimum grade of "C" in each required course for admission including BIOL 2251, BIOL 2251L, BIOL 2252, BIOL 2252L, ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102 and ES 2100.  No more than two attempts per course will be allowed to earn the degree.

  3. Admitted students must earn a grade of "C" or better in each required course within the Exercise Science curriculum of which only two attempts per course will be allowed to earn the degree.

  4. Information regarding the application process can be obtained from the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services Advising Center.

Information regarding the application process can be obtained from the Advising Center.

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Academic Program Map and Curriculum

The academic program map offers a suggested four-year schedule for the programs based on requirements in the current catalog. The map provides a sample schedule each term, including milestones, keeping you on track for progressing towards graduation. Questions regarding the academic program please refer to Health and Human Services Advising Center.

Exercise Science Internships

Exercise Science students may elect to earn academic credit for internship experiences and may use this credit in the Major Field Elective area or the Free Elective area.

Effective for the Fall 2022 catalog: At least 1 credit hour must be an internship experience which can be completed through ES 3398 or ES 4950. No more than 12 credit hours can be taken of a combination of ES 3398, ES 4000 and ES 4950.

Students have two internships from which to choose:

ES 3398—Internship in Exercise Science: ES 3398 is an exploratory internship experience that provides students the opportunity to learn more about professions within the field of Exercise Science.  

  • Prerequisites:
    • Exercise Science Major
    • Proof of CPR Certification
    • Approval of Department Chair
      • May be taken for between 1 and 3 credit hours
      • Repeatable once

ES 4950—Exercise Science Senior Internship: ES 4950 is a senior-level experiential course in which Exercise Science majors are given the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and obtain new, advanced skills under the supervision of a highly qualified professional in the field.

  • Prerequisites:
    • Exercise Science Major
    • 90+ Credit Hours Complete
    • ES 4500
    • ES 4550
    • Proof of CPR Certification
    • Approval of Department Chair
  • May be taken for between 3 and 12 credit hours

  • ES 3398 and ES 4950 are variable credit hour courses. Students must select the appropriate credit hours based on the number of credit hours needed to fulfill graduation requirements and the number of contact hours they expect to complete with the internship site.

    Each credit hour equals 37.5 contact hours during the semester at the internship site.

  • Students who desire assistance in the internship search process should contact the  for an appointment. They can assist with resume reviews, interviewing support, Handshake, and how to search for opportunities.

  • Once an internship site has been selected, students must submit a completed Internship Application which requires the following:

    The online application must be completed and submitted through the above link. Be prepared to provide the following information:

    • Number of credit hours you are pursuing
    • Exact start date
    • Job Description
    • Physical address where you will be working
    • Supervisor’s full name and email address

    All communication regarding your application will be sent to your KSU student email address.  

  • Proof (that is, photocopy) of current Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator certification (CPR/AED) from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or equivalent (preapproval of other certifying agencies is required and the certification MUST include a practical exam—that is, online certifications are not acceptable). The certification must be valid through the end of the internship. In rare cases where an internship site requires a specific certification (for example, child, and so forth) or provides in-house certification training, contact the Internship Coordinator (wchhscareersinterns@kennesaw.edu) for assistance. Proof of CPR certification should be emailed to the internship coordinator.

    Application due dates are posted at the above application link.
    Failure to submit a completed application by the due date will result in the inability to register for ES 3398 or ES 4950.

  • Liability insurance is included as a $16 course fee for all students who enroll in ES 3398 or ES 4950. Coverage is effective for the term in which you are enrolled

  • Once an application has been approved, course registration will be opened for the student. Notification and instructions will be sent to the student’s KSU student email address.

    It is the responsibility of the student to officially ADD the specific internship course during early registration through Owl Express. Here are important points regarding course registration:

    • Owl Express will show the course (ES 3398 or ES 4950) as CLOSED. Students approved to register for the internship will simply ADD the CRN for their specific course to their registration worksheet. An override will be provided to allow students to register for the “CLOSED” course.
    • As noted earlier, the KSU registration system will default to 1 credit hour. Students are responsible for selecting more than 1 credit hour when appropriate.
    • Students who intern at a location that is more than 50 miles from the KSU campus will be eligible for a waiver of certain institutional fees. This is a University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policy () and cannot be waived or amended by the Department of ESSM or KSU. You should notify the Internship Coordinator (wchhscareersinterns@kennesaw.edu) to receive more details if you believe you may qualify.
    • It is imperative to understand; that students must complete the application and course registration process during early registration; otherwise, they must select other elective courses (that is, not ES 3398 or ES 4950) for the next semester.
  • Please be aware that most hospital and clinically-based sites require a written contract between the hospital and ČâČâ´«Ă˝ before you can begin the internship. All contracts to which ČâČâ´«Ă˝ is expected to be a signing party must be reviewed in the Division of Legal Affairs before being signed by a KSU-authorized signatory and can require a month or longer to complete. Contact the Internship Coordinator (wchhscareersinterns@kennesaw.edu) for assistance. Also, many sites require extensive documentation (for example, criminal background checks, vaccination records, blood tests, and so forth); therefore, students must work directly with each internship site’s Human Resources Department to fulfill these requirements.