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Health and Exercise Science

Health and Exercise Science

The Health and Exercise Science Program prepares students to pursue rewarding careers within the healthcare, fitness and wellness fields.

Are you ready to get moving?

Students will receive a solid foundation in the sciences of exercise and health through hands-on experiences and coursework in the health/fitness industry. Our students are prepared for entry into graduate programs towards careers in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, clinical exercise physiology, kinesiology, medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, optometry, sports performance, wellness, and more.

Throughout their time within the program, our students have the opportunity to conduct clinical research, work in rehabilitation settings, develop & lead group exercise and physical activity programs, and more. These opportunities provide skills mastered through service learning engagement with community organizations, and in our world-class neighboring health centers.

Program Requirements

Majors will complete four prerequisite courses, a core consisting of ten courses plus one elective spread out across their four years. All Majors are required to have CPR and First Aid Certifications by March 1 of their senior year. 3+3 Health and 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 detailed below.

First Year

BIOL113	General Biology	4
CHEM111	Principles of General Chemistry	4
	OR
CHEM113	General & Quantitative Chemistry I	4
CHEM112	Principles of Organic Chemistry	4

BIOL 113, CHEM 111, CHEM 113, and CHEM 112 all include labs.

BIOL 113, and STAT 118 or STAT 227 or STAT 239: prereq. for BIOL 246.

CHEM 111, CHEM 112: prereq. for BIOL 231.

First Year or Sophomore Year

STAT118	Introductory Statistics	4
PSYC101	Introduction to Psychological Science	4
NUTR112	Introduction to Nutrition Science	4
EXSC100	Introduction to Exercise Science	2
EXSC110	Form and Function in Resistance Exercise	2

Sophomore Year

BIOL231	Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BIOL232	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BIOL246	Foundations of Exercise and Health	4

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

Junior Year

BIOL332	Exercise Physiology	4
PSYC232	Health Psychology	4
EXSC361	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

BIOL362	Kinesiology	4
BIOL370	Internship	4

BIOL 362 includes lab

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

** Students in both the 3+3 accelerated and the 4 + 3 BS Health and Exercise Science and DPT programs require 2 semesters of physics prior to entering the grad program: PHYS 110 and PHYS 111; both courses include labs.

In addition, students on the 3+3 DPT track do NOT complete BIOL 362 or BIOL 370.

Courses in DPT curriculum that satisfy Health and Exercise Science degree requirements

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

DPT612	Professional Seminar	1
DPT672	Frameworks of Physical Therapy: Musculoskeletal I	7
DPT613	Professional Seminar	1
DPT673	Frameworks of Physical Therapy: Musculos keletal II	7
DPT621	Human Anatomy	7
DPT622	Movement Science I	3
DPT652	Evidence Based Practice I	2

Health and Exercise Science Electives

AST232	Race, Gender & Health	4
BIOL221	Microbiology	4
BIOL233	Strength and Conditioning	4
BIOL334	Neurobiology	4
BIOL336	Genetics	4
BIOL337	Molecular Biology	4
CHEM223	Principles of Biochemistry	4
CHEM224	Organic Chemistry I	4
CHEM225	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM345	Biochemistry	4
EXSC233	Strength and Conditioning	4
	Mind-Body Medicine
NUTR110	Sociocultural Implications of Nutrition	4
NUTR215	Sports Nutrition	4
NUTR311A	Nutrient Metabolism Part I	4
NUTR360	Lifestyle Rx	4
NUTR405	Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise	3
PH101	Introduction to Public Health	4
PH201	Introduction to Epidemiology	4
PH345	Health Systems & Policy	4
PHIL130	Ethics	4
PHYS110	Introductory Physics I	4
PHYS111	Introductory Physics II	4
PSYC231	Psychopathology and Mental Health	4
PSYC235	Developmental Psychology	4
PSYC236	Psychology of Adolescence	4
SOCI231	Sociology of Childhood	4
SOCI241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI245	Global Health	4
SOCI266	Sociology of Sports	4
SOCI345	Health Systems & Policy	4

Minor Requirements

The Health and Exercise Science minor allows any interested student an opportunity to gain knowledge of the role that exercise plays in health and disease. Minors typically consist of 20 credits. No more than two transfer courses can be counted, and must be approved by the chair.

Student must complete all of the required courses and an additional elective from the list below.

Required Courses

BIOL246	Foundations of Exercise and Health	4
BIOL332	Exercise Physiology	4
EXSC100	Introduction to Exercise Science	2
EXSC110	Form and Function in Resistance Exercise	2
STAT118	Introductory Statistics	4

Health and Exercise Science Elective List

AST232	Race, Gender & Health	4
EXSC233	Strength and Conditioning	4
CHEM223	Principles of Biochemistry	4
SOCI241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI345	Health Systems & Policy	4
SOCI266	Sociology of Sports	4
NUTR110	Sociocultural Implications of Nutrition	4
NUTR215	Sports Nutrition	4
NUTR311A	Nutrient Metabolism Part I	4
NUTR360	Lifestyle Rx	4
	Mind-Body Medicine
PHYS110	Introductory Physics I	4

Customize Your Program

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, direct entry pathways and complementary minors.

Examples of the Accelerated Programs and Graduate Program Direct Entry Pathways through the Health and Exercise Program include:

3+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy Track
4+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy Track
4+3 Doctor of Occupational Therapy Track
4+1 Masters of Nutrition and Health Promotion
4+2 Masters of Athletic Training
4+3 Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine

Internships and Research

Facilities and Equipment:

The Exercise Physiology lab contains high level research grade equipment for students to gain experience and develop hands-on skills in assessing determinants of health.

Our students master skills in areas such as measurement and assessment of oxygen consumption (VO2), neuromuscular activation (EMG), thermogenic, metabolic, pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to exercise, and more. Our newly renovated Science Labs and Holmes Sports Center serve as a living lab for acquiring skills in Exercise Assessment and Prescription, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Strength & Conditioning, and Foundations of Exercise and Health.

Internship and Research Opportunities:

Simmons is located in the Longwood Medical area, home to world class medical, clinical and research facilities. Our students have completed a variety of research and internship experiences at regionally and world renowned organizations:

BostonChildren's Hospital
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Mass General Hospital
Beth Israel Deaconess
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Joslin Diabetes Center
Harvard Medicine Ginty Lab
Tufts Medical Center
Spaulding Rehab Hospital
Boston Medical Center
and more

Student and Faculty examining ankle of volunteer patient

Health and Exercise Science Program

Do you want to improve the lives of others in a rapidly growing field? By studying Health and Exercise Science at Simmons University, students are exposed to industry-leading technology used in the healthcare and wellness fields.

Learn more about Health and Exercise Science

Direct Graduate Pathways Available to Students

Simmons University and A.T. Still University's College of Graduate Health Studies are now partners! Learn more about that and about other direct entry enrollment pathways available to Simmons students!

Learn More

Our Faculty

Michael Welch

Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of the Health & Exercise Science Program

Ling Xin

Assistant Professor

Tim Hanway

Assistant Professor of Practice and Internship Coordinator for the Health & Exercise Science Program

Spotlight on Exercise Science Students and Alums

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Finding Community at Simmons as a Transfer Commuter Student

While at Simmons, Exercise Science major and Healthcare Management minor Kiani Jacobs ’23 received the 2023 Senior Scholar Award and interned at the Harvard Medical Ginty Lab on Neurological Research. She reflects on the value of time spent in the lab, planning events with student groups, and finding her place — as a transfer student and a commuter — at Simmons.

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