Master's in Exercise Physiology

Some examples of courses you can expect to take:

• Research in Allied Health and Human Performance
• Nutrition for Health and Human Performance
• Neuromechanics
• Allied Healthcare Organization and Administration
• Applied Physiology or Advanced Strength and Conditioning
• Professional Development and Cultural Competence in Practice

View exercise physiology curriculum.

Students will choose their intended concentration to prepare for their desired career path. BW’s exercise physiology program offers you the option to choose from two concentrations, applied physiology or strength and conditioning, to meet your academic needs and align with distinct accreditation standards.

Applied Physiology

The applied physiology concentration prepares competent entry-level exercise physiologists with the knowledge and skills to perform exercise testing and programming for healthy individuals or those managing chronic disease.

Strength and Conditioning

The strength and conditioning concentration prepares competent strength and conditioning specialists and sport scientists to apply scientific knowledge to develop safe and effective training and programming with the goal of improving human performance.

The exercise physiology program has two concentrations that align with standards and competencies as determined by their respective accrediting agencies, including:

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE)

Each concentration also prepares students to sit for the following certifications:

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for Clinical Exercise Physiologist Certification for the applied exercise physiology concentration.
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential or Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) credential for the strength and conditioning concentration.

Related fields include kinesiology, exercise science, human performance, athletic training, etc. The following prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last seven years at a regionally accredited university in the United States. Candidates must have earned a C or better in prerequisites to meet program eligibility.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab
• Exercise physiology course

Candidates with a degree in an unrelated field or who do not meet the prerequisites must have the following experience:

• Significant work experience in related field will be reviewed from your submitted resume (e.g. NCCA Certified Personal Trainer, athletic coaching experience, cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation specialist, BSN prepared nursing professional).
• Successful completion (passing scores) of the online Exercise Science Basics Modules at BW. The modules will be offered the summer before your start term.

Coursework Still in Progress

Candidates may apply and have their applications reviewed by the admission committee while they are still in the process of completing their prerequisites or initial undergraduate degree. In some cases, candidates may be conditionally admitted pending successful completion of outstanding coursework. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the start of the program.

Anatomy and Physiology Courses

Not all schools offer anatomy and physiology as a combined two-course sequence with labs. One semester of human anatomy with lab and one semester of human physiology with lab may be substituted for the two combined anatomy and physiology courses with labs.
Courses in comparative anatomy, mammalian anatomy and physiology and/or vertebrate anatomy will not meet the prerequisite requirement of human anatomy and physiology.

Transfer Credit

No previous coursework will transfer to replace courses in the BW Master of Science Exercise Physiology program. There will be no advanced standing permitted in this program.

Applications are now being accepted for the fall 2023 cohort, which begins in August. While applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, candidates who apply by February 15, 2023 will receive priority application review and interview preference.

Admission to the exercise physiology program is selective. Selection is based on several factors, including academic performance (GPA), recommendations, prerequisite completion, personal statement, life/work experience and an interview with the admission committee. Competitive candidates will have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).

To be considered for admission, official transcripts must be received from all universities you have attended. Official transcripts should be sent to the BW Office of Admission directly from the institution.

• Electronic transcripts should be sent to admit@bw.edu
• Paper copies should be sent to:

Admission Office
Baldwin Wallace University
275 Eastland Road
Berea, OH 44017

Please note, the admission office will work with current BW students or graduates to retain official BW transcripts. If official transcripts from other institutions were already submitted to BW for prior coursework, the admission office may be able to utilize those during the admission process.

Using the recommendation form within the application for admission, please provide three professional recommendations. One recommendation must be from a professor to speak to academic ability and another recommendation must be from a professional supervisor. The third recommendation could be from an academic advisor, internship supervisor, faculty, etc.

The individual making the recommendation should be familiar with your achievements and goals in terms of leadership, motivation, and potential for growth. Recommendations will not be accepted from any member of your immediate family, a spouse or partner or close friend, even if they work in the field.

As part of the selection process, please submit a current resume. If you are currently employed, be sure that your resume includes your current title, general position responsibilities and the division or department in which you are employed. The resume may be submitted as an attachment to the online application, or you may submit it separately to the BW admission office at graduate@bw.edu.

Applicants to BW's Master of Science in Exercise Physiology are required to submit a career statement as part of the application process. This essay serves as a writing sample and helps the admission committee become acquainted with you.

Once all application materials are received by the admission office, strong candidates will be contacted to meet with the admission committee for an interview.

Currently, international candidates are not eligible for admission to the M.S. in exercise physiology program.

When applying for admission to the M.S. in Exercise Physiology program, candidates are asked whether they have ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony that was not expunged or sealed. Candidates with a criminal record that has not been expunged or sealed are not eligible for enrollment in the exercise physiology program at Baldwin Wallace University.

All students who enroll in the program are required to complete both a civilian and a federal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation (BCI&I). Forms and details will be provided to all students who qualify for admission to the program.

Although students with an expunged record may be eligible for enrollment and practicum placement in BW’s exercise physiology program, an expunged or sealed record may impact a student’s eligibility to qualify for a professional credential following completion of the program.

• $731 per credit hour, no fees.
• Program is 37 credits using a three-semester master’s sequence (12 + 12 + 13).
• BW offers a graduate alumni award of $1,000 per term, which is equal to $650 per credit hour.

Baldwin Wallace University offers incoming graduate students the opportunity to build new skills, increase content development and impact the BW community through graduate assistantship opportunities while completing their degree. These positions require 10 hours of work per week and tuition discounts vary by position. Learn more about graduate assistantship options.

For students receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer, BW's tuition reimbursement payment plan allows you to pay your tuition at the end of the semester when your tuition benefit is available. TRPP extends your payment due date until 30 days after the end of the term. Students participating in TRPP will incur a finance charge, set at a reasonable level not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by law, and approximately half the rate of the University's standard finance charge. Currently the TRPP finance charge is 8% APR. Download the TRPP forms.

You can cover the entire cost of the exercise physiology program, including books and miscellaneous non-program costs, with Federal Direct Student Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. To qualify for these loans, you must complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. BW provides directions for completing the FAFSA.

Federal Direct Student Loan

Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loans (FDSL) are available to students who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Eligibility is not based on financial need. For this two-year program, students may potentially be eligible for $41,000, or $20,500 per year, in FDSL, depending on the student’s current aggregate loan debt that includes loans already used for courses at the graduate level. FDSL eligibility is unsubsidized for graduate students, meaning that interest accrues during in-school, grace period and deferment. Interest accruing during these periods may be paid or capitalized. The current interest rate for the unsubsidized FDSL is 5.31% with an origination fee of 1.068%. There are several repayment options, with repayment beginning six months after the student has graduated or is no longer enrolled in the program, and the repayment period is up to 10 years.

Grad Plus Loans and Private Educational Loans

Students may qualify for the Grad Plus Loan or Private Education Loans to help cover any remaining living expenses and miscellaneous non-program costs after the FDSL (up to the federal cost of attendance). The FAFSA is required for the Plus loan; however it is not a requirement for Private Education Loans. Both loans require credit history check. Graduate Plus Loans carry a fixed interest rate, and repayments begin as soon as the last disbursement of the loan is made, but they can be deferred until after graduation. The current interest rate for the unsubsidized FDSL is 6.31% with an origination fee of 4.272%. There will be a loan origination fee that is deducted from the amount you borrow, so allow for this when determining the total Grad Plus Loan you will need. Private Education Loans interest rates vary from lender to lender, so it is important to shop around for the lender. BW provides resources to help get you started.

Baldwin Wallace offers a monthly payment plan that allows students to pay their tuition in monthly installments. There is a $30 service charge per semester, but otherwise no finance charges unless monthly payments are late. This allows you to divide your tuition into 5 monthly payments throughout the semester. To talk with a representative who works with BW students on this payment plan, call (800) 551-2773.

Students may opt to use a combination of financing options. For example, if your employer's tuition benefits only cover partial tuition, or you only wanted to pay $200 a month using the monthly payment plan, you could cover the remainder with graduate school loans.

Initial bills for each new semester will be mailed to the student in July, December and April. The student has 30 days to pay his or her bill, after which time a finance charge will be added to any unpaid portion of the bill. Finance charges are not assessed to students enrolled in good standing in a payment plan.

Jaimy Dyer
Program Director, 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
M.S., Syracuse University

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

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

(440) 826-8012, (440) 826-3830 (fax), graduate@bw.edu

Lauryn Rosinski
Admission Counselor
(440) 826-2915, lrosinsk@bw.edu