B.S. in Exercise Science

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Program Highlights

• CAAHEP accreditation that ensures industry-standard quality of curriculum and objectives. Grove City College is one of only a few schools in Pennsylvania to be accredited by CAAHEP.
• 92-95 major credit hours of rigorous undergraduate coursework that gives you exposure to many disciplines within the field and is tailored to your chosen concentration. Curriculum is standardized by the American College of Sports Medicine and builds a foundation in anatomy, physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, wellness, clinical populations, statistics, human movement, and sports/human performance. For detailed course descriptions, refer to the College Catalog.
  • Six optional concentrations to choose from, with flexibility to sample different pathways during the first two years. To explore concentrations, refer to concentration information.
    • Pre-Physical Therapy
    • Pre-Occupational Therapy
    • Athletic Training
    • Personal Training
    • Strength and Conditioning
    • Coaching
  • Option to minor in nutrition.
  • Wide variety of major-related electives that give you freedom to explore, such as functional kinesiology, exercise and sport psychology, medical terminology, dietary supplements, prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, nutrition and health, lifecycle nutrition, prevention and care of injuries, biomechanics, facility management, exercise leadership, lifting techniques, tactical strength and conditioning, introduction to athletic training, introduction to physical therapy and occupational therapy, exercise testing, introduction to sports ministry, ethics in sports, and basic principles of coaching, among others.
  • Unique four-year program that will give you a solid foundation in the field and an education that trains you to treat patients as whole people.
    • Thanks to the rigor of our program and impressively high four-year graduation rate (78% at Grove City College compared to 53% nationally for private colleges and universities), you will have the preparation and resources you need to thrive in graduate school and start earning a salary sooner than you might have coming from another school (even a 3+3 program that has a lower graduation rate).
  • During the 2022-2023 academic year, the Exercise Science program at Grove City College reported a 100% retention rate.
• Advanced research opportunities (rare at the undergraduate level) that will set you apart when you graduate and prepare you to hit the ground running in your career. Recent research projects covered wide-ranging topics and took many of our students to national conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Internship opportunities in a wide range of clinical environments, usually completed over the summer between junior and senior year or during a semester. Recently, students have interned with EXOS, Yale University, Robert Morris University, Spire Institute, Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and Rehabilitation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Drayer Physical Therapy, STAR Physical Therapy, and Athletes in Action. One-hundred percent of students earned a passing grade.
• Annual Exercise Science Symposium on campus that brings together students and experts in the field to share their findings via workshops, lectures, and presentations. Recent topics covered include sports medicine, human performance, recovery, and health.
• Networking opportunities with visiting professionals who share the realities of career paths and expose students to the benefits of various careers.
• Articulation agreements in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and physician assistant studies at schools including University of Pittsburgh, Baylor, Chatham, LECOM, Liberty, Duquesne, Gannon University, and Slippery Rock, among others.
• Access to highly accomplished, hands-on faculty who serve as guides and mentors in and out of the classroom and laboratory, as well as personal pre-health advising from a faculty mentor with expertise in health-related careers.
• Major-related student groups on campus including the Exercise Science Club, Pre-Health Society, Christian Medical & Dental Association, American Chemical Society, and Tri-Beta Biology Honorary.
• Vocation-enriching humanities core courses woven into your academic schedule that will cultivate greater empathy, critical thinking, writing and other communication skills, and a well-rounded understanding of the world and your place in it.

Career Outcomes

• If you are like 96% of Grove City College graduates, you’ll be ready to compete for employment with companies like Health Corps, T3 Performance, Valencell PerformTek Precision Biometrics, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and YMCA or for admittance into prestigious graduate programs at institutions such as University of Pittsburgh, Baylor, LECOM, and Mount Union, among others.
• You will prepare to score highly on either the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association or the Exercise Physiologists Certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (taken before you graduate). During the 2022-2023 academic year, the pass rate for our students who took the Exercise Physiologists Certification exam and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification was 80% and 55%, respectively, which is higher than the national average.
• If you choose to pursue medical school, you will benefit from our allied health/medical school placement rate that is 10% higher than the national average.
• No matter where you take your exercise science degree, you are bound to make a restorative impact as a skilled and caring therapist, trainer, coach, or care provider.

Student & Alumni Stories

Morgan Blanchflower '23
B.S. in Exercise Science

John Gould '19
B.S. in Exercise Science

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