Exercise Physiology (BS)
Get an in-depth look at Exercise Physiology (BS)
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We are committed to excellence in education and strive to provide our students with an engaging and well-rounded educational experience. We make every attempt to incorporate students' areas of expertise into the classroom. These include: clinical exercise physiology, cardiovascular physiology, neuromuscular physiology, pediatrics, community based interventions, diabetes, HIV, nutrition, aging, special needs populations, and strength and conditioning. Our students aspire to be professionals in health-related environments such as: physical and occupational therapy facilities; medical and rehabilitation clinics; public health agencies; corporate and personal wellness facilities; university athletics; research laboratories, and academia.
It is an exciting time for the Exercise Science program at the University of Louisville, highlighted by our relocation into a new facility with state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories. Thank you for taking a moment to explore the program’s website and we encourage you to contact us with any questions. We are happy to talk with you about our wonderful program.
View the program overview, general admission requirements and degree requirements for Exercise Physiology (BS)
Exercise Physiology (BS) In Depth
The degree offers an energetic and flexible curriculum that is centered on exploring the relationships between human movement, physical activity, exercise, performance and public health. Our curriculum is grounded in providing a core foundational knowledge base that focusses on the structures of the human body and how the human body functions. Central to our curriculum is to provide our students with a deep understanding how the human body responds to a single bout of exercise, to continuous expose to structured exercise, injury and disease. We accomplish this through hands-on learning and ensure our students have multiple laboratory experiences and courses during their time at the University of Louisville.
A cornerstone of our curriculum is the program’s exercise science internship experience. The internship experience requires our students to apply what they have learned in the classroom and laboratory to real-world situations and provides our students with the opportunity to develop and enhance their profession skills prior to graduation. The internship program also provides our students seeking entry into professional healthcare programs the opportunity to secure all of their required volunteer hours while also receiving university credits toward their undergraduate degree.
The faculty of the Exercise Science program are committed to providing our students with a top-quality educational experience. Further, we work with our students to ensure that they become leaders and health-advocates dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals within their communities.
Click on a course name (ex. "HSS 263") in the degree requirements for further information about courses. Information includes class description, prerequisites (if any), terms offered, among other information.
Opportunities for Graduates
Exercise physiologists work in health promotion, fitness development, colleges and universities, clinical rehabilitation, and sport and athletic programs. Hence, they are hired as:
- sports and wellness program instructors and directors
- strength coaches for college, university and professional sports programs
- teachers at institutions of higher learning (i.e., if they have a PhD)
- researchers in companies that make physiological equipment for testing and evaluation
- managers and exercise leaders in corporate wellness programs
- instructors in health and fitness clubs
- supervisors of specialized health, fitness, wellness, or lifestyle programs in correctional services, police, fire, and emergency response organizations
- fitness instructors in YMCAs, spa and resort centers
- exercise specialists in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs
- fitness directors and managers in the military (such as the air force and army)
- exercise technologists in cardiology suites
- fitness instructors and supervisors at the state, regional, and national levels in sports and athletic programs including
- sports consultants in areas of psychology and training, biomechanics, efficiency and metabolism, and nutrition
- electrophysiology technologists in hospital settings
Research Job Opportunities
Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for all fitness workers were expected to increase 29 percent from 2008-2018, www.bls.gov. While opportunities may vary for exercise physiologists, jobs will be created by the increasing population and the need for research in exercise science. In November 2011, PayScale.com reported that most exercise physiologists earned $26,703-$53,951 annually, including bonuses. Among the factors that PayScale.com cited as influencing pay were experience and the certification an individual holds.
Department of Health & Sport Sciences
College of Education & Human Development
Room 105F - SAC E
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-6645
FAQ: Exercise Physiology (MS)
Visit UofL's academic calendar site.
For general education requirement questions and transfers, you should consult your advisor at the Education Advising Center, 502-852-5597.
Students from our program work in a variety of fields. Some of these areas may require additional training and/or certification:
| Teaching | Teacher Education |
| Corporate Wellness | Community Health |
| Public Health | Personal Trainer or Fitness Specialist |
| Athletic Trainer | Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| Exercise Physiologist | Medicine |
| Nursing | Physician Assistant |
| Physical or Occupational Therapy | Dentistry |
| Pharmacy | Medical, Pharmaceutical, or Fitness Sales |
Questions about courses should be addressed to the course instructors and students who have completed the courses. Instructors can give you a reasonable estimate on workload.
Students may choose what electives they want to take. Some choose electives related to their degree while others choose to take electives in other disciplines. If you have a minor or second major, some of these hours can be used to fulfill those requirements. In order for a course to count as an elective, it must be at least a 100 level class and not a vocational course. Many students take additional internship credits as their electives. Remember, you must have at least 50 hours at or above the 300 level to graduate. This includes the core and exercise science courses, and the electives.
Many of our graduates go on to graduate or professional programs in a variety of disciplines. The admissions prerequisites differ widely from program to program and from school to school. For this reason, we encourage you to contact the schools/colleges you want to apply to and request information about their requirements. Please also see ‘human anatomy & physiology’ substitution question under “Ex. Sci. Course Questions” below.
First, contact an advisor about the program you are interested in applying to. Some require different steps in the admission process.
Visit the master's degree page here. If you have additional questions regarding the master's program, contact Dr. Adrienne Bratcher, the Graduate Program Coordinator, 502.852.4031.
Questions about Registration
Visit your ULink site to see a registration schedule, OR visit the Registrar's registration information web page.
First, get on the wait list. The course instructors honor the order of the wait list. So if you are not on the list, you may have less of a chance getting into the class. If it is the last class that you need to graduate, contact the course instructor. The course instructor decides who can/cannot get into the course (not your faculty advisor). Also, make sure to attend the first class!
First, visit your ULink site to find out what is causing the block. If the block is due to not meeting prerequisites, then you need to take the prerequisites before taking the particular course. If the 'prerequisite' block occurs by mistake, contact your faculty advisor to clear you to register for the course. If the block is due to academic probation, you will need to meet with the academic probation advisor at the Education Advising Center. If the block is due to unreturned library books, unpaid parking tickets etc., then you need to take care of these issues to be able to register.
Visit the Registrar's Deadlines webpage for semester deadlines. Please note: After the deadline, the instructor will not approve dropping the course unless there is a TRUE unforeseen emergency situation.
Exercise Science Course Questions
All core courses in HSS and the Exercise Science requirement courses are offered in the Fall and the Spring semesters. However, the Physical Education Activity courses offerings may vary by semester. HSS 202 (Human Anatomy and Physiology), HSS 387 (Biomechanics), HSS 394 (Foundations of Exercise Physiology), and HSS 492 (Internship) are typically offered in the Summer session. Please note--these courses may not always be offered due to budgetary constraints or low enrollment.
You can take the courses in any order you like as long as you meet the prerequisites, but you should finish early HSS 394 (Intro to Exercise Science), 320 (Growth and Motor Development), and 387 (Biomechanics). They are prerequisites for several of the core courses. Taking a course with the respective prerequisite course concurrently is not allowed, for example, HSS 386 and HSS 390. If it is necessary (transfer student), they may be taken concurrently with courses that require them as prerequisites, however, this will require the permission of the course instructor.
If you were officially admitted to the Ex.Sci. major prior to summer 2010, then you are allowed one "D". If you were admitted to the Ex.Sci. major after summer 2010, you are note allowed to have any "D's" in the Exercise Science requirement courses. The graduation requirements for your degree are listed at the top portion of your program sheet.