The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology (B.S.E.P.) degree is based on the desired educational content and outcomes (knowledge, skills, and abilities) listed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
The B.S.E.P. degree prepares students to work in two broad career paths:
--as an exercise physiologist who utilizes exercise training programs to help individuals improve cardiovascular function, body composition, strength, flexibility, and balance as well as help toward preventing or recovering from chronic diseases; and
--as a strength and conditioning professional to help athletes improve their performance or skill in a sport and to prevent and rehabilitate injuries.
Many graduates in exercise physiology continue on to the MS or PhD in exercise physiology or advanced schooling in related fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine, physician assistant, and chiropractic. To help students obtain the prerequisite courses for application to graduate school, the B.S.E.D. degree allows for 23 hours of elective courses in the math and science area.
The program requires a 400-hour internship in an exercise physiology setting. Designed as a 12 credit hour senior level capstone experience, the internship allows students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom, attain work experience, and clarify work goals. Students are placed in hospitals, work sites, university fitness centers, athletic departments, and a variety of private, commercial, and public settings.
Selected Educational Outcomes
Students who graduate with a B.S.E.P. degree will be able to demonstrate:
- Knowledge in basic functional anatomy, biomechanics, electrocardiography, and physiological responses to exercise.
- Knowledge of nutrition and body composition as related to exercise performance and health maintenance.
- Knowledge of electrocardiography, submaximal and maximal exercise testing procedures, and techniques related to health and fitness assessments.
- Administrative and leadership skills for exercise programs in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings.
- Knowledge of assessment, evaluation, and education of various populations in clinical and non-clinical settings regarding physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
- Knowledge of training theory and methods for developing physical abilities as they relate to athletic performance.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
Students who graduate with a B.S.E.P. degree will be able to:
- Develop, through written, oral, and practical examinations, a scientifically based and medically safe fitness assessment and exercise prescription.
- Interpret successfully, through written, oral, and practical examinations, the results of health and fitness assessments and demonstrate proficiency in exercise and nutrition prescription for an individualized program for exercise performance and health maintenance.
- Demonstrate applied competency in electrocardiography interpretation, submaximal and maximal exercise testing, which includes gas analysis, body composition analysis techniques, risk stratification utilizing health and fitness assessments, and various other tests to determine aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
- Optimize adoption of and adherence to exercise and other healthy behaviors by applying effective behavioral strategies and motivational techniques.
- Describe the principles underlying the development of hypertrophy, strength, power, speed, agility, and anaerobic capacity for athletic performance through written, oral, and practical examinations.
- Successfully meet VSU guidelines for academic credit for participating in an internship program.
- Sit for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist Certification or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification.
Admission Requirements
Students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology should declare their major as Health Sciences with an Exercise Physiology concentration. Minimum requirements to be considered for admission to the program are:
- a declared Exercise Physiology concentration
- completion of all Core IMPACTS courses as it pertains to the Exercise Physiology curriculum
- a 2.00 cumulative, overall grade point average
- a grade of “C” or better in all Writing, STEM, and Field of Study courses, including lab sections. Students not earning a "C" or better in Anatomy 1 and Anatomy II after 2 attempts in either course (excluding a withdrawal pass) are not eligible for admission to Exercise Physiology.
Program Progression and Retention
Once admitted into the program, classes are taken in blocks, 1 through 4, in sequence. To be eligible for any third block courses, students must have earned a "C" or better in all first and second block courses. An exception to the third block policy is having to repeat just one second block course. To be eligible for HSEP 4510 Practicum, students must be in good academic standing, must have a returned graduation application from the Registrar, and must be currently enrolled in all remaining courses required for graduation excluding HSEP 4550 Internship. To be eligible for the fourth block internship (HSEP 4550), students must be in good academic standing, must have a "C" or better in all third block courses, and must meet all other prerequisites for the course.
Major Requirements
A “C” or better in all B.S.E.P. coursework at the 3000 and 4000 level and a 2.0 cumulative overall grade point average.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology Degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Exercise Physiology majors may follow D.1, D.2, or D.2.b. | ||
| Core Field of Study | ||
| BIOL 2251K & BIOL 2252K | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 8 |
| Electives--Select 10 hours from the from the following: | 10 | |
| Computer Technology for the Workplace | ||
or CS 1000 | Introduction to Microcomputers and Applications | |
| Pathophysiology | ||
Course(s) in BIOL, CHEM, MATH, PHYS, or PSYC | ||
| Professional Program Requirements | 60 | |
| HSEP 3010 | Exercise Testing and Prescription I | 3 |
| HSEP 3011 | Exercise Testing and Prescription II | 3 |
| HSEP 3020 | Fitness and Performance Testing in Exercise Physiology | 4 |
| HSEP 3050 | Prevention of Exercise Related Injuries and Conditions | 3 |
| HSEP 3200 | Nutrition for Health and Human Performance | 3 |
| HSEP 3420 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSEP 3430 | Structural Kinesiology | 3 |
| HSEP 3650 | Applied Exercise Musculoskeletal Interventions | 3 |
| HSEP 4050 | Principles of Strength and Conditioning for Athletic Performance | 4 |
| HSEP 4070 | Exercise Cardiopulmonary Physiology | 3 |
| HSEP 4080 | Exercise Electrocardiography | 3 |
| HSEP 4140 | Professional Practices in Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSEP 4160 | Exercise Psychology | 3 |
| HSEP 4210 | Clinical Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSEP 4510 | Exercise Physiology Practicum | 4 |
| HSEP 4550 | Exercise Physiology Internship | 12 |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
