Exercise Science
Are you passionate about health and fitness? Do you enjoy helping others? If you are an energetic “people” person who understands the life-changing benefits of exercise and improving our overall well being, exercise science may be an excellent career choice for you.
This specialized, multidisciplinary field focuses on how the human body responds to physical activity and incorporates the study of nutrition, biomechanics, and mental health. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for careers in exercise science will grow 9 percent in the next decade, faster than average for all occupations.
Ignite your future with a degree in exercise science at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Choose the kinesiology concentration to gain the knowledge and skills to become a certified health and fitness professional or sports coach. Or select the allied health concentration to build the foundations for graduate studies in physical therapy, athletic training, sports medicine, physical education, and many other related disciplines. Whatever direction you take, our exercise science program will prepare you for a rewarding career doing what you love and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
We are proud to have an Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) chapter at St. Thomas Aquinas College – which educates and promotes physical activity and healthy habits on campus. Learn more here.
At a glance
- Undergraduate major
- Concentrations in Kinesiology and Allied Health
- 4 years
- Main campus
Common Minors
- Psychology
- Sports Management
Only at St. Thomas Aquinas College
Ignite Your Career With Experiential Learning
Conduct research studies, prescribe exercise programs, and perform laboratory-grade fitness tests in our state-of-the-art Exercise Science Lab and Kraus Fitness Center. Using the latest tools, you will assess body composition, muscular strength and endurance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity testing, and flexibility. Gain practical hands-on experience working with diverse populations in the field, including a 400-hour semester-long internship at an off-campus site of your choice.
Our Exercise Science students also get hands-on experience by partnering with our Exercise Is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC), in educating and promoting physical activity and healthy habits on campus.
Career Preparation & Mentoring
Small classes are a big advantage at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Learn in a supportive academic community of experts who are set on your success. We will guide you through your college journey so you are fully prepared to excel in an advanced graduate program and in your future career.
Keep Exploring
Featured Courses
Explore the physiological principles of physical activity and human performance. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, you will learn the acute and chronic responses of the human body to physical activity.
What are the scientific-based principles of sport nutrition? Learn about the unique nutritional needs of athletes and how to formulate a diet plan for optimal sports nutrition.
Stress affects our physical and mental health in many ways. This course targets practical approaches for managing stress to minimize its impact on our health and to improve our sense of well being.
What Success Looks Like
Career Options
A degree in exercise science will prepare you for graduate programs and careers in many diverse fields, such as:
- Athletic Training
- Coaching
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutrition
- Massage Therapy
- Medicine
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Research
- Health & Fitness
Our exercise science students intern and find full-time employment at many organizations, including:
- Bardonia Physical Therapy
- Believe Elite Athletic Training
- Gramercy Physical Therapy
- Rockland Peak Performance
- Spine and Health Center
- St. Thomas Aquinas College Athletic Training Department
Program options
The BS in Exercise Science provides students with the opportunity to help others improve their health and achieve their personal fitness goals. Personally guided by experts in the sciences, sports, and business, you will hone your skills, gain professional experience, and graduate fully prepared for success in your future career.
Students who wish to pursue a career as a certified health and fitness professional or sports coach can focus your studies in our kinesiology concentration. The allied health concentration builds the foundations for graduate studies in physical therapy, medicine, education, and many other related disciplines.
St. Thomas Aquinas College will prepare you for a career as a Physical Therapist through our agreement with the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at New York Medical College. Upon completion of your Biology degree at the College, and with the recommendation of our Pre-Health/Pre-Graduate Committee you may receive early admission and seamlessly begin your graduate study.