COURSE CURRICULUM

The Exercise Science undergraduate program at The University of Akron combines a rigorous foundation in general education with specialized coursework to prepare students for careers in health, fitness, and wellness. Students complete 36 credit hours of general education courses, including academic foundations in mathematics, statistics, logic, writing, and speaking, as well as breadth of knowledge courses in arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, with integrated and applied learning experiences emphasizing complex societal issues or capstone projects. Pre-admission courses totaling 27 credit hours provide essential preparation in anatomy and physiology, psychology, communication, mathematics, and social sciences, ensuring students possess the foundational knowledge needed for advanced study. The required core courses, comprising 38 credit hours, cover exercise physiology, kinesiology, health promotion, strength and conditioning, exercise testing and prescription, exercise for special populations, leadership, administration, and a practicum culminating in a capstone project. Students pursuing the Applied Exercise Physiology concentration complete an additional 38 credit hours of electives, including medical terminology, pharmacology, sports medicine, musculoskeletal anatomy, advanced strength and conditioning, cardiac rehabilitation, nutrition, injury management, therapeutic exercise, clinical assessment, and applied health care practices. The program emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical experience, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skills, and credentials necessary for careers in exercise science, fitness leadership, clinical exercise settings, or advanced professional certification.