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Exercise Science

Join one of the fastest-growing fields in the country with a bachelor's degree in exercise science from SIU. You can help people reach their fitness goals as a personal trainer or manage health and fitness programs in corporate or clinical settings. This degree paves the way for graduate studies in physiology, biomechanics and motor behavior, too, and you can choose to go on to pursue a master's degree in kinesiology at SIU.

A bachelor's degree in exercise science is also a great springboard to a health professional's career. It has become the major of choice for many students pursuing careers in the occupational health, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, chiropractics, podiatry or other medical fields, or in pharmaceutical sales. About one-third of our students go on to pursue careers in the health arena.

Bachelor's Degree

Our exercise science program combines classroom instruction — provided by knowledgeable, professional faculty — with extensive opportunities for research and hands-on experience.

Students study and work in our numerous laboratories that focus on exercise physiology, cardiovascular control, biomechanics and integrative movement, motor behavior, sport psychology, and group fitness and training.

Learn by Doing

From facilities affiliated with our Student Recreation Center to custom-designed laboratories, we offer an array of opportunities for our students to practice their craft often and early. You'll also find Salukis changing the lives of local cancer survivors and their caregivers through Strong Survivors, a unique exercise and nutrition program providing individualized wellness plans and 1:1 testing/training experience between SIU students and community participants.

Master's Degree

Many graduates of our exercise science program choose to earn advanced degrees in Human Sciences. We offer four concentrations within the Master of Science degree: exercise science, nutrition and dietetics, sport and recreation administration, and an interdisciplinary option. These curricular paths heighten understanding of human movement, paving the way to higher-level employment and increased earning potential. You can also earn a Gerontology Graduate Certificate, preparing you for employment in rapidly expanding fields working with older adult populations.