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Exercise Science Major

College of Education and Health Sciences

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Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness

(440) 826-3175, asutterl@bw.edu

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OVERVIEW

Prepare for a career that is in-demand, wellness-focused and versatile. Exercise science is a dynamic major that centers on exercise design, fitness management, and strength and conditioning.

It combines practical experiences, theoretical study and rigorous coursework in anatomy, physiology, fitness and health assessment and exercise prescription.

Real-world focused, the major helps you develop the interpersonal and professional skills needed for client interaction, fitness assessment and evaluation of client needs, and integration of this information into a rehabilitation or exercise program.

Hands-on learning is integral to the program. You'll benefit from impressive lab and research opportunities, diverse clinical visits, community outreach initiatives and more.

A required internship in your senior year synthesizes your studies, builds networking contacts and hones analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Tyler Shaffer '16 with cardiac rehab patient

    Through your studies, you will learn to conduct fitness testing and implement exercise programs for low- to moderate-risk clients and individuals with controlled diseases.

  • Paul Szabo '16 interns at Southwest General Lifeworks

    A required internship builds networking contacts and hones analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Christian Gaines '16 with Lindsey Steiner '16

    You will also gain competencies for developing strength and conditioning programs for clients and athletes.

  • BW exercise science students attend the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine Conference

    Participating in professional organizations enables you to network with experts in your field and distinguish yourself early in your career. BW students attend the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine Conference.

Stellar ACSM Certification

93 percent first-time pass rate for ACSM Certification

97% passage rate for first-time takers of the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist exam.

 

 


Excellent NSCA Results

93 percent passage rate for first-time test takers over the past five years for students seeking NSCA certification

99% passage rate over the past five years for first-time test takers seeking National Strength and Conditioning Association certification. BW is one of five schools selected for the NSCA Recognition Program, which recognizes outstanding curricula that prepares students for NSCA certification exams.


CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

BW's 20-minute accessibility to Cleveland, a nationally recognized center for the healthcare industry, provides outstanding internship, clinical and career opportunities.

  • Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
  • Community program director
  • Exercise specialist
  • Group exercise leader
  • Healthcare consultant
  • Medically-based fitness center manager
  • Personal trainer
  • Recreation and sports director
  • Strength and conditioning coach
  • Wellness coordinator

CAAHEP

CAAHEP Accredited Program

The exercise science major at Baldwin Wallace is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).


CoAES

BW faculty is committed to program quality through alignment to the national standards set forth by CAAHEP which aligns to the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) established to ensure programs develop knowledgeable and skilled practitioners in the field of sports science.

Outcome Data: 100% of exercise science students completing their internship in the 2022-23 academic year indicated satisfaction with the BW exercise science program.


National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program Logo

NSCA Recognition

The exercise science major is an approved and recognized program through the National Strength and Condition Association (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP). The ERP recognizes curricula that prepares students for NSCA certification and provides benefits such as reduced membership and exam fees.


Exercise is Medicine

Exercise is Medicine On Campus

BW has earned silver status with the Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) program. EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. Faculty, staff and students will work together toward improving the health and well-being of the BW community.

CURRICULUM

Offered as a major, exercise science is a comprehensive program that has career application in clinical, corporate, community and commercial settings.

Through your studies, you'll learn to conduct fitness testing and implement exercise programs for low- to moderate-risk clients and individuals with controlled diseases. You'll also gain competencies for developing strength and conditioning programs for clients and athletes.

Upon graduation, students are strongly encouraged to seek professional certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) to enhance their opportunities for employment.

Some students further their education by attending graduate school for allied health professions.

Exercise science is an ideal companion major to the pre-allied health/pre-physical therapy major or the sport medicine minor.

The exercise science major prepares students to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of basic principles of anatomy & physiology as related to exercise, training and general health/wellness
  • Demonstrate mastery of skills related to assessment of fitness, health, human movement and performance
  • Analyze and interpret current scientific literature and evidence to create effective professional presentation of content
  • Apply best practices in developing, prescribing and administering safe and effective exercise or strength and conditioning programs for clients or athletes
  • Effectively communicate content related to the field of fitness, health, human movement and performance in written format
  • Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with discipline and scope of practice
Course Catalog

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities.

As part of your studies, you'll work on an independent or team-based research project. The research can range from development of sports-specific techniques for athletes to focusing on ways to encourage individuals to adhere to an exercise program.

Exercise is Medicine on Campus
Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is designed to engage universities and colleges and their students, faculty and staff in ongoing efforts to improve physical fitness, health and wellness across campus and in the community. This student group promotes healthy, active lifestyles to the people of the Baldwin Wallace and surrounding communities, through education and evaluation.

Allied Health and Sport Medicine Student Organization
This organization is a student-led group. It provides students with educational opportunities to develop skills, enhance their knowledge of these professions and learn about the requirements for graduate and professional programs.

At the annual Honors Ceremony in the spring, recognitions include:

  • Bonnie Raye Graduate Scholarship (in honor Bonnie Raye, who taught at BW and was the women's basketball coach, 1980-89).
  • Dr. Lee J. Tressel Scholarship (in honor of Dr. Lee Tressel '48, who taught and was BW's football coach, 1957-80).
  • Hower-Stover Award (in honor of Dr. Marjorie Hower, who was a professor at BW, 1947-80, and Myrta Stover, who coached and taught at BW, 1943-68).

Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program

The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in exercise science. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding annual, renewable scholarships of up to $6,500.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Baldwin Wallace has long championed the success of its students. Evidence of this can be seen in the extraordinary achievements of its alumni spread throughout the United States and the world.

Mary KileyMary Kiley '21, Graduate Assistant, CSU, Health & Human Performance. "I attribute my success to BW's high standards of learning and professionalism. Faculty and staff provided support that led to internships and career development. My passion for exercise science and motivation to improve are products of my BW experience."

Alexandria KozichAlex Kozich '21 completed a degree in pre-PT and exercise science; on pace to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from OSU in 2024. "My experiences at BW and faculty mentors helped me to succeed in graduate school. Through internships, I found a passion to help those with neurologic disorders. BW set me up for success to become a PT and changed my life in the process."

Dan EberleDane Eberle '19, Physical Therapist & Spine/Orthopedic Specialist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dane earned degrees in athletic training and pre-physical therapy; he published research papers with a case study, received three All-OAC academic honors and three varsity football letters. He earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kelly FerianKelly Ferian '19, Athletic Trainer, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, earned an athletic training degree from BW and a Master's in exercise science and health promotion, California University of Pennsylvania. "BW professors guided me academically, professionally, socially and mentally and helped develop my confidence as a clinician."

Zoe Hopkins photoZoe Hopkins '18, Fitness Specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Health and Fitness Center in Columbus, Ohio. Zoe is an ACSM certified personal trainer and teaches group fitness classes specializing in programming specific to Parkinson's disease.

FACULTY

Cory Beaumont

Assistant Professor
Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

Cory Beaumont

Jaimy M. Dyer

Program Director, M.S. in Exercise Physiology
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Jaimy M. Dyer

Megan Frank

Associate Professor
Ph.D., Kent State University

Megan Frank

Wendy Hyde

Assistant Professor
M.Ed., Springfield College

Wendy Hyde

Amy Jo Sutterluety

Chair, Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Amy Jo Sutterluety

Full-Time Faculty

Amy Jo Sutterluety
Chair, Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness
Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Jaimy M. Dyer
Program Director, M.S. in Exercise Physiology
Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Cory Beaumont
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

Megan Frank
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Kent State University

Karyn Gentile
Associate Professor
Assistant Athletic Trainer
M.S., Syracuse University

Wendy Hyde
Assistant Professor
M.Ed., Springfield College

Alexander Morgan
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee