Program: Exercise Science [EXSC] - SUNY Cortland

2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 10, 2025

The Kinesiology Department offers the major in exercise science, which is a course of study that prepares students to rigorously apply the scientific method to examine human movement. Exercise science is concerned with physical activity and its effect on the human body.

There are multiple areas of inquiry where exercise scientists focus their attention:

Health-related aspects of physical activity
Sports performance
Transition to allied health professions (e.g. Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training)

In regard to health-related aspects of physical activity, exercise scientists have studied how exercise benefits health. The study of sports performance by exercise scientists involves diverse areas, which can include the growth and development of athletes, nutritional needs of athletes, and movement analysis. The transition to allied health professional allows students to gain a better understanding of human movement and function before pursuing careers that will work with a variety of neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular conditions or disorders.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Gather and synthesize relevant information, evaluate it critically, and communicate it effectively in both oral and written forms
Articulate content knowledge within exercise science
Use technological skills needed to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to human movement
Develop professionally and ethically, and show evidence of diversity within exercise science
Expand experiences in the exercise science area, by preparing for admittance to graduate programs or become employed in professional careers
Offer critical requirements and experiences in exercise science program that are useful and consistent with other under-graduate programs

A. General Education and Liberal Arts: 33-36 credit hours

COM 210 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr. hr.)
Select either:
CPN 100 - Writing Studies I (3 cr. hr.) and
CPN 101 - Writing Studies II (3 cr. hr.)
or
CPN 102 - Writing Studies in the Community I (4 cr. hr.) and
CPN 103 - Writing Studies in the Community II (4 cr. hr.)
GEMA: Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning): 3 credit hours

Select one:
EXS 201 Statistics in Exercise Science
COM 230 Statistical Methods
ECO 221 Economic Statistics
MAT 201 Statistical Methods
PSY 201 Statistical Methods
GESS: Social Sciences: 3 credit hours
PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 cr. hr.)
GEDI: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
EXS 290 - Social Problems and Issues in Sport and Exercise (3 cr. hr.)

B. Required Courses: 27-28 credit hours

BIO 301 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 cr. hr.) and
BIO 302 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 cr. hr.)
CHE 227 - General Chemistry I Lecture (3 cr. hr.) and
CHE 277 - General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 cr. hr.)
CHE 228 - General Chemistry II Lecture (3 cr. hr.) and
CHE 278 - General Chemistry II Laboratory (1 cr. hr.)
Select one:
MAT 121 - Calculus A (3 cr. hr.) or
MAT 135 - Calculus I (4 cr. hr.)
Select either:
PHY 105 - Elementary Mechanics and Heat (4 cr. hr.) and
PHY 106 - Elementary Electricity, Light and Sound (4 cr. hr.)
or
PHY 201 - Principles of Physics I (4 cr. hr.) and
PHY 202 - Principles of Physics II (4 cr. hr.)

C. Exercise Science Theory Required Courses: 27 credit hours

EXS 100 - Introduction to Kinesiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 111 - Computer Applications in Exercise Science (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 250 - Research Skills in Kinesiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 290 - Social Problems and Issues in Sport and Exercise (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 310 - Ethical Issues in Kinesiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 346 - Sport Psychology (3 cr. hr.) or
EXS 367 - Exercise Psychology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 380 - Motor Control and Learning (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 387 - Biomechanics (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 397 - Exercise Physiology (3 cr. hr.)

D. Exercise Science Electives: 12 credit hours

Select 12 credit hours from the following (students in an EXS concentration must take 12 credit hours at the 300 level or above):

EXS 225 - Digital Video for Kinesiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 315 - Anatomical Kinesiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 320 - Patient Assessment (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 325 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 344 - Medical Terminology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 356 - Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 357 - Nutrition and Sport Performance (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 415 - Emergency Management (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 432 - Exercise Prescription (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 435 - Neuromuscular Fitness Assessment and Programming (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 438 - Cardio-Respiratory Fitness Assessment and Programming (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 449 - Advanced Motor Behavior (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 465 - Advanced Exercise Physiology (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 477 - Practicum in Kinesiology (3 or 6 credit hours)
EXS 487 - Advanced Biomechanics (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 489 - Exercise Science Research Methods (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 490 - Independent Research in Exercise Science (3 cr. hr.)
EXS 525 - Seminar in Exercise Science (1 cr. hr.)

E. Free Electives: 16-20 credit hours

Students must complete 16-20 credit hours of free electives if no EXS concentration is chosen.

F. Optional EXS Concentrations

EXS Concentrations (optional): Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply for one concentration during the Fall semester of their junior year. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the major and concentration to continue in the concentration. Students who fail to maintain the 3.0 GPA in both the major and concentration will be removed from the concentration and placed in the general Exercise Science major.

I. Pre-Physical Therapy [EXSC_PPT]: 20 credit hours

The Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration is designed for those students with professional goals in physical therapy. Students choosing to pursue this concentration will be academically prepared for a DPT program. This concentration, within the Exercise Science major, will assist students in educational preparation as well as pre-requisite coursework needed for acceptance into the graduate program of their choice.

In addition to the requirements for the Pre-Physical Therapy concentration below, students must complete all requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science [EXS]

Required courses for concentration:

BIO - 110 - Principles of Biology I
BIO - 111 - Principles of Biology II
BIO - 113 - Principles of Biology II Laboratory
EXS - 300 - Clinical Pathways
EXS - 320 - Patient Assessment
EXS - 344 - Medical Terminology
EXS - 370 - Internship in Exercise Science
PSY - 333 - Developmental Psychology
or
PSY - 421 - Abnormal Psychology

II. Pre-Occupational Therapy [EXSC_POT]: 20 credit hours

The Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration is designed for those students with professional goals in occupational therapy. Students choosing to pursue this concentration will be academically prepared for an OT program. This concentration, within the Exercise Science major, will assist students in the educational preparation as well as pre-requisite coursework needed for acceptance into their graduate program of choice.

In addition to the requirements for the Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration below, students must complete all requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science [EXS]

Required courses for the concentration:

BIO - 111 - Principles of Biology II
BIO - 113 - Principles of Biology II Laboratory
EXS - 300 - Clinical Pathways
EXS - 320 - Patient Assessment
EXS - 344 - Medical Terminology
EXS - 370 - Internship in Exercise Science
PSY - 333 - Developmental Psychology
PSY - 421 - Abnormal Psychology

III. Pre-Athletic Training [EXSC_PAT]: 20 credit hours

The Pre-Athletic Training Concentration is designed for those students with professional goals in athletic training. Students choosing to pursue this concentration will be academically prepared for an entry level Master of Science in Athletic Training. This concentration, within the Exercise Science major, will assist students in the educational preparation as well as pre-requisite coursework needed for acceptance into their graduate program of choice.

In addition to the requirements for the Pre-Athletic Training concentration below, students must complete all requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science [EXS]

Required courses for the concentration:

BIO 111 - Principles of Biology II
BIO 113 - Principles of Biology II Laboratory
EXS 300 - Clinical Pathways
EXS 320 - Patient Assessment
EXS 344 - Medical Terminology
EXS 370 - Internship in Exercise Science
EXS 415 - Emergency Management
EXS 101 - Introduction to Athletic Training or
HLH 203 - Community Health