Exercise Science Degree

Explore the Exercise Science degree program

Today’s health and fitness culture, contexts, and demands are rapidly evolving. Exercise for health, disease prevention, and rehabilitation is essential for developing healthy children, adults, and communities. Exercise for health and elite athletic performance is a dynamic field merging practice with research-based knowledge, skills, and abilities.

An Exercise Science degree is an excellent route to careers addressing health, physical fitness, and performance. Getting your Exercise Science degree from Wayne State will position you to be a leader in your chosen field with the abilities to adapt and develop in the changing health, fitness, and exercise environment. An Exercise Science degree can combine your passion for exercise with professional applications in fitness, conditioning, health, and research fields, as well as graduate programs in health sciences, such as physical and occupational therapy, medicine, and public health.

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Prepare for your future

Opportunities and outcomes

Exercise science topics covered

Human anatomy and physiological processes related to activity and training
Relationship between nutrition and physiological processes
Development of strength and fitness using free weights and machines
Physiological systems and their response to exercise
Anatomy and mechanics of human movement
Design and supervision of strength and conditioning programs
Design and supervision of health and rehabilitative exercise programs
Sport marketing and promotion; facility management in sport and wellness
Human needs, interests, and performance in the wellness field
Testing and measuring motor skills, endurance, and body mechanics
Assessment and prescription of exercise programs

Student learning outcomes

Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) of the foundational basic and applied sciences of Anatomy, Physiology, Exercise Physiology, and Biomechanics.
Demonstrate KSAs in risk factor, health status, and fitness assessment, to develop safe and effective exercise prescription for healthy and clinical populations, as identified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for exercise professionals eligible for a variety of ACSM Certifications.
Demonstrate the KSAs to effectively educate and/or advise individuals regarding lifestyle modification.
Design ACSM designed health and fitness programs for a wide range of apparently healthy individuals (low risk), athletic populations and/or various clinical populations (diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, etc.).
Integrate their KSAs in a hands-on manner in a professional exercise or allied health setting.

Exercise Science is a great choice of major if you are interested in entering the career fields of sports medicine, athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or public health.

Pathways to professional schools

Academic programs at Wayne State College provide an excellent foundation for your pathway to professional and graduate schools. Wayne State has long provided an excellent career pathway for students who have chosen to become a doctor, athletic trainer, therapist, nurse, pharmacist, chiropractor, lawyer, engineer, architect, or other professional. Our pre-professional health programs lay the foundation needed for admission to the region’s best medical schools, where Wayne State students regularly graduate at the top of their class.

Pre-professional programs

Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP)

RHOP is a special partnership between Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska-Medical Center (UNMC) that recruits and educates students from rural Nebraska to become health care professionals who will provide services in rural Nebraska communities. The program offers a full-tuition scholarship at WSC, guaranteed admission to UNMC, job shadowing and internship experiences, one-on-one advising, and early registration privileges.

Learn more about RHOP

Exercise science internships

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find exercise science internships and career opportunities.

Career services and internships

Graduates of the Exercise Science degree program work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Jobs of recent graduates:

(without advanced degree, or while pursuing advanced degree)

Assistant Track and Field Coach – Briar Cliff College (Sioux City, Iowa)
Certified Nursing Assistant – CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital (Kearney, Neb.)
Exercise Specialist – Omaha WellBound Fitness (Omaha, Neb.)
Fitness Manager – Anytime Fitness (Monument, Colo.)
Fitness Manager – Blue Moon Fitness (Lincoln, Neb.)
Physical Therapy Technician – Ortho Sports Physical Therapy (Petoskey, Mich.)
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Midland University (Fremont, Neb.)

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

After graduating from Wayne State College, recent grads pursued advanced degrees at the following schools:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSE) – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)
Kinesiology and Sport Management (M.A.) – University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)
Nursing (BSN) – St. Luke’s College (Sioux City, Iowa)
Nursing (BSN) – University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, Neb.)
Occupational Therapy (OTD) – Kansas Medical Center (Andover, Kan.)
Physical Therapy (DPT) – University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, Neb.)
Physical Therapy (DPT) – University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)
Physician Assistant (MPA) – University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, Neb.)
Public Health, Epidemiology (MPH) – University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla.)
Sport Management (MSOM) – Wayne State College

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Exercise Science major (55 credit hours)

Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to the physiological processes and anatomical features of the body which are related to and affected by physical activity and training. Systems include the integumentary, skeletal, and muscular.
Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to the careers commonly pursued with a major in Applied Human and Sport Physiology or Exercise Science. Topics will include the historical background professional associations, career opportunities, and academic advising for such careers. This course will include up to 10 hours of out-of-class job shadowing experience.
Credits: 3
Description: A continuation of the study of the physiological processes and anatomical features of the body which are related to and affected by physical activity and training. Systems include the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory. The study of metabolic and renal physiology will be addressed in the context of these systems.
Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I
Credits: 3
Description: This course will enable the student to attain a better understanding of the dynamic relationship between nutrition and human physiological processes akin to athletics and exercise.
Credits: 1
Description: Fundamental skills in the use of free weights and weight machines and the techniques for developing strength and fitness.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the major physiological systems and their response to exercise for students majoring in Physical Education K-12, K-6, 7-12, and Wellness, and students in these areas also taking the Coaching minor or endorsement. This includes the application of physiological concepts to physical training.
Prerequisites: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy, and PED 205 Anatomy and Physiology II or BIO 340 Human Physiology
Credits: 3
Description: The course will introduce students to the process, skills, technology, interpretation, and application of research as they examine current topics and trends in exercise science.
Credits: 3
Description: A kinesiological approach to the anatomical and mechanical analysis of human movement. Movement terminology as well as muscular and neuro-muscular function in sport will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed relating biomechanics to movement evaluation in K-12 health and physical education.
Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy
Credits: 3
Description: Designed to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of the physiological, biomechanical, and administrative aspects of designing and supervising strength and conditioning programs for various populations.
Prerequisite: PED 227 Weight Training, and PED 304 Sport Physiology or PED 305 Exercise Physiology
Credits: 3
Description: This course provides the student with knowledge and skills for developing and supervising safe and effective evidence-based health and rehabilitative exercise for patients and clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and other clinical co-morbidities. The student will gain knowledge in the pathophysiology and pharmacology of common non-communicable diseases, with an understanding of the evidence-based exercise prescription for these clinical populations. Skills will include blood pressure measurement and ECG rhythm interpretation.
Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I and PED 205 Anatomy and Physiology II, or BIO 220 Human Anatomy and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Choose one of the following:
- PED 411 Sport Marketing and Promotion (3 credits)– The economic, social, and political forces that affect sport. Analysis of successful and unsuccessful marketing campaigns. Integration of the elements of marketing segmentation, product, price, and communication into sport marketing.
- PED 464 Facility Management in Sport and Wellness (3 credits) – This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of conducting needs assessments, planning, constructing, equipping, staffing, programming, and managing facilities in sport, and wellness.
Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to the techniques of evaluation and assessment of human needs, interests, and performance in the wellness field.
Prerequisite: PED 305 Exercise Physiology
Credits: 3
Description: A study of tests used to determine motor ability, motor capacity, cardiovascular endurance, and body mechanics. Test diagnosis and construction; interpreting and using test results.
Prerequisite: A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Credits: 3
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively assess physical fitness, develop exercise prescriptions, and conduct applied research in the field.
Prerequisite: B or better in PED 470 Fitness Evaluation and Assessment, proof of current First Aid and CPR, and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Credits: 3
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively develop and implement an appropriate exercise prescription for various populations. This course may be repeated after both PED 472 and PED 473 have been completed.
Prerequisite: PED 357 Principles of Strength and Conditioning, PED 472 Advanced Fitness Assessment, Exercise Prescription, and Applied Research, proof of current First Aid and CPR, and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Credits: 1-12
Description: A supervised field-based experience to familiarize the student with the conditions, practices, and environmental settings where the aspired vocational roles are conducted. Students, with the help of their advisor, must find an internship site. The site must be approved by the student’s advisor and department chair.
Prerequisite: Completion of all General Studies requirements; completion of all Exercise Science major courses; completion of a minimum of 108 credit hours; obtain a grade of B (3.0) or higher in PED 470; have a cumulative Grade Point of 2.5 or higher; proof of First Aid and CPR certification from approved national organization requiring face to face skills; demonstration, which is current through the end of the following courses: PED 472, 473, 493.

Popular pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add a second major or a minor to complement their program of study, or to focus their studies on a specific topic. Students who recently majored in Exercise Science at Wayne State also paired this major with one or more of the following programs:

Biology (major or minor)
Business Administration (minor)
Coaching (minor)

View all majors and minors

Related programs

Students interested in the Exercise Science program may also be interested in:

Applied Human and Sport Physiology (B.A. or B.S.)
Pre-Athletic Training
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Sport Management (B.A. or B.S.)

I knew I wanted to go into allied health after suffering an injury in high school athletics. I had a fantastic athletic trainer and physical therapist throughout my rehab experience. I always knew that I wanted to work with athletes, but I had no idea how wide of a range of allied health professions I could go into until I chose the Exercise Science program here at WSC. WSC has set me up to have a very successful future! I loved my undergraduate studies at WSC so much so that I plan to receive a master’s degree in Exercise Science here as well.

Kiara Hochstein

Wayne, Nebraska

Major: Exercise Science