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Exercise Science Program in Pennsylvania

Are you interested in becoming a fitness instructor, personal trainer or another career path in the broad health field?

Study Exercise Science at a Christian University

The exercise science concentration within the applied health science major is for you if you desire a career in the broad health field. The courses you'll take within this concentration focus on systems biology and integrating physiology as it is applied to health. This concentration will prepare you for careers in fields such as corporate fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, personal training, athletic coaching and other wellness-related positions. If you are interested in occupational therapy, health promotion, sport psychology or kinesiology research, this is the most appropriate applied health science concentration. You can also tailor the exercise science concentration to prepare for graduate work.

Pre-Occupational Therapy and Pre-Physical Therapy students

The Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science has an excellent pathway to prepare you for an occupational therapy or physical therapy graduate program through our applied health science major with an exercise science concentration. Within this concentration, you will be able to take courses in areas such as exercise physiology and health promotion. The flexibility of this degree gives you the opportunity to minor in psychology (recommended) or other degrees. There are several required and recommended courses for OT and PT graduate programs, all of which Messiah University offers. Your advisor will be able to help you select the appropriate courses. 

Messiah also offers an Early Assurance Program in Occupational Therapy and an Early Assurance Program in Physical Therapy. These programs allows both high school seniors and Messiah University juniors (who fulfill the program’s admissions requirements) to obtain guaranteed acceptance regarding admission into Messiah's MOT or DPT program.

Programs related to Exercise science

Health and Physical Education

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In the Exercise Science program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.

Course options for Exercise Science:

Applied Health Science (B.S.) Exercise Science Concentration

Exercise Science careers and outcomes

Where our grads work

Graduates of the Exercise Science program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.

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96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.

Our Alumni

Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.

MEET ALUMNI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning

Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.

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