Exercise Science

Exercise science prepares students to pursue rewarding health and fitness careers.

Are you ready to get moving?

You'll get a solid foundation in the science of exercise and health with& hands-on experience in the health/fitness industry. Our students are prepared for graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical exercise physiology, kinesiology, and exercise science and careers in commercial fitness centers, health clubs, community centers, corporate wellness programs, and non-profit health promotion organizations.

Our students conduct clinical research, lead group exercise and personal training sessions, coach sports teams, and work in rehabilitation settings — with skills mastered in service learning with community organizations, at the Holmes Sports Center on campus, and in our world-class neighboring health centers.

Majors will complete four prerequisite courses, a core consisting of ten courses plus two electives spread out across their four years. All Majors are required to have CPR and First Aid Certifications by March 1 of the senior year. 3+3 Exercise Science/DPT students should refer to the undergraduate DPT course sequence in the course catalog. The suggested four-year sequence for core courses is:

First Year

BIOL 113	General Biology	4
	OR
BIOL 115	Advanced General Biology	4
CHEM 111	Principles of General Chemistry	4
CHEM 112	Principles of Organic Chemistry	4

BIOL 113, BIOL 115, CHEM 111, CHEM 113, and CHEM 112 include labs

BIOL 113 or BIOL 115, and STAT 118 or STAT 227: prereq. for BIOL 246

CHEM 111, CHEM 112: prereq. for BIOL 231

Students may complete BIOL 113 or BIOL 115 to fulfill Introductory Biology requirement.

Students may complete CHEM 111 or CHEM 113 to fulfill Introductory Chemistry requirement.

First Year or Sophomore Year

STAT 118	Introductory Statistics	4
	OR
STAT 227	Intermediate Statistics: Design & Analysis	4
PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychological Science	4
NUTR 112	Introduction to Nutrition Science	4
EXSC 100	Introduction to Exercise Science	2
EXSC 110	Form and Function in Resistance Exercise	2

EXSC 100 and EXSC 110: Required for Class of 2023+. Each counts as .5 ExSci elective for Class of 2022.

Sophomore Year

BIOL 231	Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BIOL 232	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BIOL 246	Foundations of Exercise and Health	4

BIOL 231, BIOL 232, and BIOL 246 all include labs.

Junior Year

BIOL 332	Exercise Physiology	4
PSYC 232	Health Psychology	4
EXSC 361	Exercise Assessment & Prescription	4
	CPR with AED Training -offered during DPT orientation-junior year summer

BIOL 332 and EXSC 361 include labs

BIOL 332: prereq. for EXSC 361

First Aid Certification offered during EXSC 361 lab at cost

Senior Year

PHYS 110	Introductory Physics I	4
BIOL 362	Kinesiology	4
BIOL 370	Internship	0

PHYS 110 and BIOL 362 include labs

PHYS 110: optional for class of 2023+. Class of 2022 can opt to take EXSC 100 and EXSC 110 instead of PHYS 110

BIOL 370: 8 credits (4 credits in Fall and 4 credits in Spring)

Courses in DPT curriculum that satisfy Exercise Science degree requirements:

DPT 612	Professional Seminar	1
DPT 672	Frameworks of Physical Therapy: Musculoskeletal I	7
DPT 613	Professional Seminar	1
DPT 673	Frameworks of Physical Therapy: Musculos keletal II	7
DPT 621	Human Anatomy	7
DPT 622	Movement Science I	3
DPT 652	Evidence Based Practice I	2

DPT 612 and DPT 672: Serves as a replacement for BIOL 370 (Fall)
DPT 613 and DPT 673: Serves as a replacement for BIOL 370 (Spring)
DPT 621 and DPT 622: Serves as a replacement for BIOL 362
DPT 652: Serves as a replacement for 2nd EXSC elective (1st met by PHYS 110)

Exercise Science Electives:

AST 232	Race, Gender & Health	4
EXSC 233	Strength and Conditioning	4
CHEM 223	Principles of Biochemistry	4
SOCI 241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI 345	Health Systems & Policy	4
SOCI 266	Sociology of Sports	4
NUTR 110	Sociocultural Implications of Nutrition	4
NUTR 215	Sports Nutrition	4
NUTR 311	Nutrient Metabolism	4
NUTR 360	Lifestyle Rx	4
PHYS 111	Introductory Physics II	4
	Mind-Body Medicine

NUTR 311: CHEM 223 prereq.

SOCI 345: SOCI 101 prereq.

See minor requirements for Exercise Science.

You'll work with a faculty advisor to tailor your program to your interests and career goals. Simmons students have many opportunities to further customize with dual majors, accelerated programs and complementary minors — including the accelerated 5-year BS in Exercise Science/MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion and the 6-year combined BS in Exercise Science/ Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT).

Facilities and Equipment:

The Exercise Physiology lab contains a metabolic cart, five computerized data acquisition workstations, exercise ergometers and a treadmill.

Our students master skills in measurement and assessment of oxygen consumption (VO2), neuromuscular activation (EMG), thermogenic, metabolic, pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to exercise. The Holmes Sports Center serves as a living lab for Exercise Assessment and Prescription skills. The Holmes Sports Center is also the home to two new classes at Simmons University; "Strength and Conditioning and Form" and "Function: Resistant Training."

Internship and Research Opportunities:

Simmons is located in the Longwood Medical area, home to world class medical, clinical and research facilities. Our students have done research in childhood asthma and in obesity at Children's Hospital, in amenorrhea at Brigham and Women's Hospital, interned in fitness/wellness at the BI/Deaconess Tanger Center and led exercise classes for cancer survivors at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

So you know that Simmons is a great place to be, you've learned about our programs, maybe even come for a visit...now you're ready to apply! Let's get started.

Offered As