What Can You Do With an Exercise Science Degree?

Published on: February 21, 2024

Male fitness instructor teaching a client.

Your passion for physical activity and fitness can be more than just a hobby or a pastime; with the right degree program, you could embark on an active career path in the field of exercise science. Whether you want to specialize in sports medicine or personal training, you may find that the health and fitness degree program is the perfect choice for you.

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What Is Exercise Science?

Defined by Coursera as the study of movement, exercise science is an invigorating field that allows students to explore how exercise impacts human health and physical capability. This field relies on other disciplines to zero in on the impact of exercise on the body, including physiology, psychology, anatomy and biomechanics. Although it's commonly interchanged with the field of kinesiology, it's key to keep in mind that exercise science is actually a subfield under the umbrella of kinesiology. It is a hyper-focused realm that takes a scientific approach to the impact of exercise activities on the body.

The Importance of Exercise Science in Today's World

In an era when humans are leading increasingly sedentary lives, the field of exercise science plays a critical role in our modern world. According to the Centers for Disease Control, half of adults do not get an adequate amount of physical activity or exercise on a daily basis, and as a result, people suffer from chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The CDC also notes that healthcare costs related to physical inactivity hover higher than $117 billion, highlighting the growing impact of this health crisis.

What Jobs Can You Get With an Exercise Science Degree?

A health and fitness degree program rooted in the principles of exercise science can allow you to pursue an exciting career path that is based on sports, nutrition and physical health. Below are several types of exercise science careers you may be able to pursue:

Fitness Trainer and Instructor

Fitness trainers and instructors are exercise specialists who help lead individuals or groups in structured physical activity. Oftentimes, fitness trainers and instructors create personalized exercise programs to address the unique needs of their clients. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fitness trainers and instructors may be responsible for:

Demonstrating exercise activities.
Monitoring exercise performance and making adjustments as necessary.
Evaluating progress and tailoring the exercise program to help an individual or group meet their goals.

Fitness trainers and instructors should be able to demonstrate a wide range of exercises, including cardiovascular exercises, strength training activities and stretches.

Strength and Conditioning Specialist

A strength and conditioning specialist is an exercise science professional who deals directly with athletes to design a strength and conditioning program intended to improve their overall athletic performance. These specialists are responsible for creating sport-centric programs, adhering to all safety guidelines and offering supplemental information to help improve results (such as nutritional and dietary advice).

Exercise Physiologist

Exercise physiologists are healthcare professionals who plan programs for individual patients to improve a particular aspect of their health, such as mobility, muscle strength or cardiovascular function. Per the BLS, exercise physiologists generally work closely with patients who are managing chronic conditions, and they must account for the patient's medical history to develop an effective and safe exercise strategy. They take a data-based approach to exercise and monitor key health indicators while patients work through their exercise routines to make sure the desired results are achieved.

Sports Coach

Sports coaches work with sports teams to help them develop the skills required to succeed in a specific sport, according to the BLS. Coaches may specialize in a sport or age group. While some may work primarily with young athletes who are in elementary, middle or high school, other coaches may prefer working with collegiate or amateur athletes. The most elite coaches typically work at the professional level. Coaches need a background in exercise science in order to create skills-based development programs that are both safe and effective.

Kinesiologist

A kinesiologist is an exercise science professional who works with injured individuals —primarily athletes — to help them recover from an injury and restore full functionality. As indicated by Indeed, kinesiologists use a wide range of exercise therapy activities and stretching techniques that help the body heal fully and completely. The primary responsibilities of kinesiologists include:

Identifying movement goals for the individual client.
Developing a personalized exercise therapy treatment program.
Offering information and resources designed to promote preventive care.
Showcasing proper muscle movements to protect the injured area and promote healing.
Monitoring progress to ensure the patient is healing properly in the wake of an injury.

Wellness Coordinator

As health education professionals who design innovative and engaging programs to support whole-body health and well-being, wellness coordinators often work for individual corporations, gyms or community centers. They are responsible for creating programs, presentations and classes providing people with actionable information about how they can improve their personal health and well-being. Some duties and responsibilities of wellness coordinators include:

Evaluating the needs of individual participants and designing custom wellness programs.
Arranging workshops and classes about specific topics that will benefit their target demographic.
Working to promote wellness programs within their community and improve accessibility.

Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistant

Occupational and physical therapist assistants work alongside occupational and physical therapists to support individual patients and help them achieve their goals. Occupational and physical therapist assistants are licensed clinical professionals who must work under the supervision of an occupational therapist or physical therapist. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, the primary responsibilities of occupational and physical therapy assistants include:

Assisting with patient care, sometimes supporting them as they complete exercise programs.
Collecting data for the therapist.
Collaborating with the healthcare team to modify the program and improve results.

Skills Needed for a Successful Career

In order to successfully launch a career in health and fitness, you need a well-developed set of industry-specific skills, including practical and soft skills. The practical skills required within the field of exercise science include:

Exercise techniques – You should have a universal foundation in the best and most effective exercise techniques. Additionally, you must be able to use a scientific approach when developing exercise programs, as you need to consider the impact those movements will have on the body.
Data and analysis skills – You will need to know how to collect data throughout the duration of an exercise program — and use that data to refine and improve the program for the individual client.

The soft skills that can help enhance your career in exercise science include:

Communication – Being able to clearly, effectively communicate the components and effects of an exercise regimen allows you to have a greater impact on your clients.
Critical thinking – Developing innovative and creative exercise programs designed to meet the unique needs of your patients will allow you to be more successful in the industry.
Empathy – Above all else, you must remain compassionate toward the challenges your clients are facing. Developing a balanced plan that takes their feelings into consideration helps them feel more empowered to continue working toward their goals.

Future of Exercise Science Careers

According to the BLS, the job outlook for the health, recreation and fitness industry is positive, as more people continue to recognize the importance of physical fitness. For example, demand for fitness trainers and instructors is projected to increase by 14% over the next decade, and demand for coaches is expected to rise by about 9% by 2032.

Earn Your Health and Fitness Degree From Husson University

At Husson University, our health and fitness degree program is designed to provide you with a universal foundation in exercise science as well as a developed, industry-particular skill set. With an emphasis on sports medicine and exercise principles, this degree program could prepare you to pursue one of the leading exercise science careers.

Request more information about our online degree programs today.