Use Your Degree in Exercise Science to Improve Lives
If you are fascinated by human movement and have a desire to improve the lives of others, SWAGÊÓƵ’s Applied Exercise Science (AES) degree will give you the tools needed to attain your professional dreams. Through a combination of classroom learning, research, internships, and hands-on lab activities, you will learn to use exercise to help others prevent disease, rehabilitate injuries, and enhance athletic performance.
SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science sets the foundation for a career as an exercise science professional or for graduate study in a variety of different health science fields. An exercise science major is a strong alternative degree program to either a bachelor’s in athletic training, kinesiology, or sport performance.
Why SWAGÊÓƵ for your B.S. in Exercise Science
Our department’s close working relationship with SWAGÊÓƵ’s medical school opens the door to fascinating opportunities, including courses in gross anatomy taught by exercise scientists. With access to SWAGÊÓƵ’s other health professions students and faculty, you’ll learn how to work effectively in collaborative, interprofessional health care teams.
- Focus on clinical application and hands-on learning
- Only program in Maine accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Programs and endorsed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Unique breadth of research opportunities
- Key opportunities for professional development and exposure
- Exceptional rate of employment/acceptance to graduate school
Justin St. Peter ’19
The best thing about studying Applied Exercise Science at SWAGÊÓƵ is an extremely well-rounded approach to the subject matter and a strong knowledge-base of the human body. Professors have a deep understanding of how the body’s basic physiology changes from things like sickness or exercise, and they really share that with students. You get to learn when the body is at its weakest or at its strongest.
Now, I’m getting my master’s in exercise science. SWAGÊÓƵ helped me get there by preparing me for the rigor of a master’s degree and also by providing a connection to other universities for post-grad.
Beyond the Classroom
After joining my first year and doing some hiking in the Whites — I had never hiked in the White Mountains until my first-year orientation trailblazer trip — I heard about this thing called the 48 4,000-footers. It’s a challenge where you do all 48 of the 4,000-foot mountains in New Hampshire. I decided then that I was going to try to do them all in the four years before I graduated.
Eleven of the 4,000-footers are grouped together there in a 30-mile ring called the Pemigewasset Wilderness. I’ve had some truly amazing moments in that wilderness on those peaks. It’s my favorite place in the world right now. Another thing that’s cool is that the Whites are only about an hour and a half to two hours away from SWAGÊÓƵ so it’s a really doable challenge if you space it out across four years.
These kinds of endurance events are furthered by my studies in AES about learning how the body reacts in those situations — to train the body to take something that seems super hard so that it feels like it was not super hard after the proper training and adaptations.
Because of the AES program at SWAGÊÓƵ I am able to analyze the seemingly unlimited capacity of the human body from a scientific perspective.
What Will You Study? Exercise Science Degree Curriculum Overview
There are many ways you can navigate our Applied Exercise Science degree program. The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:
- Human Gross Anatomy
- Fitness Evaluation and Prescription
- Concepts of Strength & Conditioning
- Lead ECG Interpretation
- Clinical Diagnostic GXT
- Exercise Management for Chronic Disease & Disability
- Metabolism and Bioenergetics of Sport Nutrition
You may apply through our GradVantage program to our Doctor of Physical Therapy or Physician Assistant programs for graduate study.
Curriculum
| WCHP Common Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 105 – Bio I: Ecology/Evolution | 4 |
| BIO 106 – Bio II: Cellular/Molecular | 4 |
| BIO 208 – Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 209 – Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO 309 – Pathophysiology | 3 |
| CHE 110 – General Chemistry I | 4 |
| ENG 110 – English Composition | 4 |
| IHS 130 – Interprofessional Health Care First-Year Experience | 3 |
| IHS 310 – Ethics for Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| MAT 120 – Statistics | 3 |
| NUTR 220 – Nutrition | 3 |
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 – Lifespan Development | 3 |
| SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One (1) Creative Art Course (ART, ARH, MUS Prefix) | 3 |
| One (1) Explorations Course | 3 |
| Total Credits | 54 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ATC 101 – Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| ATC 306 – Psychology of Sport and Exercise | 3 |
| ATC 333 – Gross Anatomy | 3 |
| ATC 420 – Research Methods | 3 |
| EXS 101 – Introduction to Applied Exercise Science | 1 |
| EXS 120 – Personal Health and Wellness | 3 |
| EXS 180 – Motor Learning and Performance | 3 |
| EXS 310 – Kinesiology and Biomechanics | 3 |
| EXS 320 – Exercise Physiology w/Lab | 3 |
| EXS 322 – Metabolism and Bioenergetics of Sport Nutrition | 3 |
| EXS 330 – Fitness Evaluation and Prescription w/Lab | 3 |
| EXS 380 – 12 Lead ECG Interpretation w/Lab | 3 |
| EXS 340 – Concepts of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXS 392 – Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription w/Lab | 3 |
| EXS 432 – Exercise Management for Chronic Disease & Disability | 3 |
| EXS 495 – AES Seminar | 1 |
| EXS 499 – Internship* | 6 |
| PHY 110 – General Physics w/ Lab | 4 |
| One (1) Advanced Studies Course | 3 |
| One (1) EXS or ATC Elective Course | 3 |
| Two (2) EXS, ATC, BIO, CHE, or PHY Elective Course** | 6 |
| Total Credits | 66 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
*Internship experience
The senior-level culminating experience may be either EXS 499 taken as a six (6)-credit field experience internship (taken in the summer, fall, or spring) or a combination of two (2) EXS 499 three (3)-credit field experience internships totaling six (6) credits. Each student is required to complete a minimum of two-hundred and seventy (270) hours (forty-five (45) hours/credit) under the direct supervision of an approved clinical internship site supervisor. To be eligible to complete the internship the student must: be senior-level status with a minimum of ninety (90) earned credits, be in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater, and be compliant with all academic and technical standards. Failure to achieve these academic standards may delay graduation.
**EXS, ATC, BIO, CHE, or PHY Electives
An elective course substitution is allowed per permission of the Exercise and Sports Performance Department Chair.
To learn more about SWAGÊÓƵ’s Applied Exercise Science program visit the Academic Catalog, explore our FAQ, or read the Applied Exercise Science Student Handbook (PDF).
Meet Nikko, an Applied Exercise Science major at SWAGÊÓƵ
Career Paths for Exercise Science Majors
With your knowledge of anatomy, exercise science, and athletic training; real-world experiences from internships; and extensive hands-on lab work, you’ll be equipped to perform pre-participatory screenings, fitness testing, exercise prescription, and exercise leadership for healthy, health-compromised, and athletic populations.
Our graduates have pursued many rewarding careers, including:
- Exercise Physiologist
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
- Non-Invasive Cardiology Technician
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Corporate Health and Fitness Specialist
- Fitness Director
- Personal Trainer
- Wellness Coordinator
Career Advising in the Applied Exercise Science Program
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
of AES majors were employed or continuing higher education within six months of graduation
Exercise Science Facilities
As an Applied Exercise Science major, you enjoy extensive modern facilities for the study of exercise and sport performance. In addition to the discipline-specific equipment and training spaces in the Harold Alfond Forum, Campus Center, and Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences, you also benefit from the cutting-edge computer resources, modern labs, and classrooms SWAGÊÓƵ has to offer.
The Alfond Forum
The Harold Alfond Forum, which opened in 2012, includes a 105,000-square-foot athletics complex featuring: an ice hockey rink with 900 seats; a basketball court with 1,200 seats; classroom space; a fitness center; and multi-purpose indoor practice courts that can also be used for performances and other events, with a combined seating capacity of 3,000. It also houses the Athletic Training and Applied Exercise Science programs, which have custom-designed teaching and laboratory spaces.
The Campus Center
Opened in 1989, the 55,000-square foot Campus Center houses a sports complex that includes a 25-yard/six-lane handicapped-accessible swimming pool, an eight-person hot tub, and a fully-equipped fitness center with two racquetball courts and a free weight area. It also contains a 12,100-square-foot gym with a 1/12-mile balcony track, showers, a sauna, and locker rooms. The Campus Center is also home to BodyWISE, a SWAGÊÓƵ and community-at-large resource designed especially for people who have specific physical performance objectives, ranging from rehabilitating physical limitations to enhancing peak athletic performance. BodyWISE is an extension of SWAGÊÓƵ's educational mission and serves as a clinical training program for exercise and sport performance students as well as students in other allied health professions programs.
The Harold Alfond Center for the Health Sciences
The Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences is a state-of-the-art laboratory and educational facility. Located at the center of our scenic shoreside campus in Biddeford, this three-story building houses labs and lecture halls. It places SWAGÊÓƵ at the national forefront of health and life sciences education. The Center's gross anatomy lab is used by medical, health professions, and Exercise and Sport Performance students.
Motion Analysis Lab
The Motion Analysis Lab on SWAGÊÓƵ's Portland Campus allows you to observe and measure human motion that cannot be observed with the naked eye, and to quantify the forces in the joints and neuromuscular and muscle systems.
The research you do in this technologically-advanced 1500-square-foot learning space allows you to apply the theoretical knowledge you’ve gained in the classroom to projects investigating such crucial matters to your field as better understanding the laws of sports biomechanics, or the most effective approaches to ACL rehabilitation.
Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center
As Athletic Training or Applied Exercise Science student, you utilize our Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center to apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to realistic clinical situations before putting actual patients at risk.
Guided by skilled instructors, you participate in simulations specifically designed to enhance your clinical aptitudes. Simulations allow you to test your skills in evaluating a patient in an emergency situation or to individualize patient care for a variety of medical conditions. Rather than just hearing about and reading about difficult or unusual cases, you experience them by treating our high fidelity patient simulators and patient actors in scenarios that mimic real life.
Experiential Learning in the Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science Program
We give you real-life, hands-on experiences in our custom-designed labs and teaching spaces and in your internships. Whether you’re conducting your own research, getting on-the-job training, or presenting at a regional or national conference, Applied Exercise Science makes doing the most important part of learning.
The Olympic Journey of SWAGÊÓƵ’s Wayne Lamarre
SWAGÊÓƵ AES Students Work with Hockey Players
Internships for Exercise Science Majors
As an Applied Exercise Science student, you are required to perform a six-credit (270 hours) internship during your senior year. This internship experience can be during the summer, fall, or spring semester, and averages about 20 hours per week.
You will work with our internship coordinator to identify an appropriate site for the type of work you wish to perform. Then, you work at the site under the joint supervision of Applied Exercise Science faculty and a site supervisor.
A wide array of enriching internship opportunities exists at sites including:
- Turning Point Cardiac Rehabilitation & Prevention
- Southern Maine Health Care – Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
- Spurling Fitness
- Quest Fitness
- Saco Bay Physical Therapy
- Massabesic Health Resources – Physical Therapy
- Southern Maine Health Care – Performance Center
Apply Today
Ready to begin your future in SWAGÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Science in Applied Exercise Science? Get started today.
Accreditation
The SWAGÊÓƵ's Applied Exercise Science program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Exercise Sciences (CoAES) Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
View our Applied Exercise Science Program Outcome Data (PDF)
Exercise Science Frequently Asked Questions
What is exercise science?
Exercise science is a multidisciplinary field examining physiological, biomedical, and psychological responses to physical activity and exercise. Like kinesiology and exercise physiology, applied exercise science encompasses various areas of study related to human movement, fitness, health, and performance.
The SWAGÊÓƵ offers a B.S. in Applied Exercise Science, where students learn to use exercise to help others prevent disease, rehabilitate injuries, and enhance athletic performance. The Department of Exercise and Sport Performance has a close working relationship with SWAGÊÓƵ’s medical school, which allows for fascinating opportunities, including courses in gross anatomy taught by exercise scientists.
Learn more about our B.S. in Applied Exercise Science degree program at SWAGÊÓƵ
What can you do with an applied exercise science degree?
A degree in applied exercise science opens up a diverse range of career opportunities. Some settings where professionals in exercise science could work include research, laboratories, clinical settings, fitness centers, sports organizations, rehabilitation facilities, and educational institutions. Exercise science professionals work with diverse populations, ranging from athletes and fitness enthusiasts to individuals with chronic diseases or disabilities. As an applied exercise science professional, your work is not just a job, but a mission to improve your clients’ health, fitness, and quality of life.
SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science sets the foundation for a career as an exercise science professional or for graduate study in various health science fields. Through your exercise science courses and hands-on learning, you'll be ready to perform pre-participatory screenings, fitness testing exercises, and exercise leadership seminars for healthy, health-compromised, and athletic populations.
Graduates with a B.S. in Applied Exercise Science degree from SWAGÊÓƵ have pursued many rewarding careers, including:
- Exercise Physiologist
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
- Non-Invasive Cardiology Technician
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Corporate Health and Fitness Specialist
- Fitness Director
- Personal Trainer
- Wellness Coordinator
SWAGÊÓƵ students can work with our Academic and Career Advising Center to find a path that speaks to them. It doesn’t matter if you have a clear career goal or just a general interest in a field.
How do you become a personal trainer?
Although no formal degree is required for personal training, most personal trainers pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or sports performance. Many personal trainers also obtain certification through organizations such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Beyond certification, it’s essential for personal trainers to continually educate themselves on exercise science, nutrition, and any specialty areas of interest, such as training specific populations like athletes, seniors, or individuals with medical conditions.
You can learn to become a personal trainer through SWAGÊÓƵ’s Applied Exercise Science bachelor’s degree program. Through classroom learning, research, internships, and hands-on lab activities, you will learn to use exercise to help others prevent disease, rehabilitate injuries, and enhance athletic performance.
SWAGÊÓƵ is the only program in Maine accredited by the and endorsed by the .
What classes do you take as an applied exercise science student?
As an applied exercise science student, your coursework typically includes a range of topics related to human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise programming, nutrition, and psychology.
The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take as an Applied Exercise Science student at SWAGÊÓƵ:
- Human Gross Anatomy
- Fitness Evaluation and Prescription
- Concepts of Strength & Conditioning
- Lead ECG Interpretation
- Clinical Diagnostic GXT
- Exercise Management for Chronic Disease & Disability
- Metabolism and Bioenergetics of Sport Nutrition
Learn more about SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science degree curriculum
What is the best applied exercise science degree program for me?
There are many factors to consider when choosing which college or university has the best applied exercise science degree program for you.
Faculty
Look into the faculty members within the program and read about their areas of expertise. Search for programs where faculty members have experience in areas that align with your interests, as they can provide valuable mentorship and guidance.
As an Applied Exercise Science major at SWAGÊÓƵ, you have access to a wealth of faculty expertise across the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance. B.S. in Applied Exercise Science students can work with faculty on hands-on clinical skills in our state-of-the-art facilities. With access to SWAGÊÓƵ’s other health professions students and faculty, you’ll also learn how to work effectively in collaborative, interprofessional health care teams.
Meet SWAGÊÓƵ faculty and professional staff in the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance
Curriculum
Review the curriculum and course offerings of the exercise science program that interests you. It’s important to ensure the topics covered are relevant to your career goals. Explore areas like fitness evaluation, strength and conditioning, human gross anatomy, exercise management, and sports nutrition.
You can navigate SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science degree program in many ways. The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:
- Human Gross Anatomy
- Fitness Evaluation and Prescription
- Concepts of Strength & Conditioning
- Lead ECG Interpretation
- Clinical Diagnostic GXT
- Exercise Management for Chronic Disease & Disability
- Metabolism and Bioenergetics of Sport Nutrition
Learn more about SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science degree curriculum
Career Goals
Choose an exercise science program that aligns with your career aspirations and goals. Explore the available resources to help you plan your path forward.
Applied Exercise Science students at SWAGÊÓƵ are well-equipped to enter the workforce and get certified as exercise science professionals. With your anatomy, exercise science, and athletic training knowledge, you’ll be ready to perform pre-participatory screenings, fitness testing, exercise prescription, and exercise leadership for healthy, health-compromised, and athletic populations.
With your knowledge of anatomy, exercise science, and athletic training, real-world experiences from internships, and extensive hands-on lab work, you’ll be equipped to perform pre-participatory screenings, fitness testing, exercise prescription, and exercise leadership for healthy, health-compromised, and athletic populations.
Our graduates have pursued many rewarding careers, including:
- Exercise Physiologist
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
- Non-Invasive Cardiology Technician
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Corporate Health and Fitness Specialist
- Fitness Director
- Personal Trainer
- Wellness Coordinator
At SWAGÊÓƵ, we understand that choosing a career path can be daunting. That’s why we offer our students the support of our Academic and Career Advising Center. Whether you have a clear career goal or just a general interest in a field, our advisors can help you find a path that matches your passions.
Learn more about Career Advising at SWAGÊÓƵ
Learning Environment
Consider whether you prefer to study in a specific location or environment, such as an urban university campus or a smaller college town. Take a tour of the campus to learn more about its campus culture, extracurricular activities, and student support services.
As a student in SWAGÊÓƵ’s B.S. in Applied Exercise Science program, you will study on our oceanside campus in Biddeford, ME, where you will have access to some of the best classroom and lab facilities nationwide for exercise science and sports performance. Some of our state-of-the-art facilities include the Alfond Forum, Campus Center, Alfond Center for Health Sciences, Motion Analysis Lab, and Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center.
Financial Aid
Evaluate the cost of tuition, fees, and other expenses associated with each exercise science degree program, as well as any available financial aid, scholarships, or assistantship opportunities.
A SWAGÊÓƵ education can be affordable. Our tuition is 16% below the average tuition for private universities in New England. All incoming full-time undergraduate students at SWAGÊÓƵ will receive Merit Scholarships in amounts from $5,000 to $22,000 per year.
Learn more about grants and scholarships available to students at SWAGÊÓƵ
SWAGÊÓƵ's Student Financial Services includes both Financial Aid and Student Accounts offices. Our program maximizes available institutional and federal funds. To discover ways to fund your education, reach out to sfs@une.edu or call (207) 602-2342 during our Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. office hours.