Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science
| REQUIRED MAJOR HOURS |
57-65 |
| REQUIRED MINOR HOURS |
NONE |
| TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS |
57-65 |
PRESCRIBED COURSES ATTAINABLE IN GEN ED*: BIOL 111, CHEM 111, PHED 145, PSYC 201, MATH 105 or MATH 151
|
| DEGREE REQUIRES A SUMMER INTERNSHIP: 6 HOURS (AT CURRENT SUMMER TUITION RATES) |
*A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in each of the prescribed General Education prerequisites.
Program Requirements
Required Major Hours, Health Fitness Concentration (57 hours)
Required Major Hours, Health Sciences Concentration (64 hours)
Required Major Hours, Pre-professional Concentration (65 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 57-65
Additional Requirements
Exercise Science majors are required to obtain a minimum of 50 service-learning hours at a variety of exercise and/or wellness settings (e.g., University Wellness Center, University Strength and Conditioning Center, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center, private fitness center, allied health clinic, etc.) and maintain an Exercise Science portfolio upon acceptance into the major, to be submitted for graduation no later than four weeks preceding the last day of classes in the semester they intend to graduate. Adult CPR/AED certifications (must have a hands-on training component and must include a skills performance evaluation) must be current at time of internship and graduation. Completion of one of the following national credentialing examinations (as a component of EXSI 444): American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP-C), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), or Certified Special Population Specialist (CSPS). Results must be submitted to the Exercise Science Department Chair.
Additional Requirements for Transfer Majors
None.
Retention
Students who are admitted into the program must maintain a minimum major and overall GPA of 2.7 and earn a “C” or better in all EXSI major courses. Students are not permitted to do their internship unless they have met GPA and grade standards for the Exercise Science major. Failure to maintain the GPA requirement will result in a one-semester probationary period in which the student must remedy any deficiencies. Failure to earn a “C” or better in an EXSI major course will result in a probationary period until the course is re-taken and the minimum grade standard is achieved. If s/he is not able to attain the necessary GPA requirements or grade standards by the end of the probationary period, s/he will be removed from the program. If a student is suspended from the program, s/he is eligible to reapply once s/he has met the Exercise Science standards. Reapplying consists of completing an abbreviated application form and an interview with the Exercise Science department chair.
Changing to Exercise Science Major
Any student changing his/her major to Exercise Science MUST have an overall GPA of 2.7.
Additional Expenses
Students are required to maintain current Adult CPR/AED certifications while enrolled in EXSI 451 (Internship) and when applying to graduate. Students must complete a national credentialing examination through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) OR National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) at their own cost. Students may also be asked to obtain liability insurance and/or complete a drug test and/or criminal background check at their own cost while enrolled in EXSI 310 and EXSI 451. Tuition costs for the required summer-only internship (EXSI 451) are charged at the current summer tuition rates.
Accelerated Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning Program
Accelerated Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning Program
The program allows undergraduate Exercise Science students to begin graduate level coursework in the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (MSSC) program. Students may apply as early as the semester in which they will have earned 60 credit hours (including transfer credit hours accepted by GWU in addition to institutional credit hours). They will be awarded their Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (BS) degree after completing all requirements for that major and transition seamlessly into the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (MS) degree. Up to 12 credit hours of specified graduate level coursework taken as an undergraduate student may be double-counted towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In addition to 60 completed credit hours, applicants to the program must have an overall institutional GPA of at least 3.0 and be fully accepted into the Exercise Science undergraduate major. Acceptance to the undergraduate major includes:
- a completed application form,
- two professional references,
- a 1-2 page statement of professional goals,
- a proposed curriculum plan,
- a GWU unofficial transcript showing previous coursework and courses in progress,
- transcripts from other institutions if applicable, and
- current enrollment and/or completion of the following courses with a grade of C or higher:
Students must earn B or above on all graduate courses to remain enrolled in the program. If this condition is not met, the student may not register for any additional graduate courses. However, graduate credit hours earned at B or above may be counted as combination credit if the student enrolls in the MSSC program after completion of the BS in Exercise Science.
Degree Requirements
Students will apply for graduation to have the BS degree conferred once all requirements for the undergraduate degree have been met. Once all requirements for the BS degree have been met, students will be conferred the degree. To transition into the MSSC degree from the accelerated program, students must demonstrate conferral of the BS EXSI degree from GWU with a 3.0 GPA or better in their graduate-level courses and at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. If GPA requirements are not met, students may still apply for the MSSC program and their application will be reviewed by the MSSC program coordinator for determination of admission.
Accelerated students transitioning into the MSSC program will be required to complete the full 36-hour program curriculum. Students will take 120 hours of undergraduate courses, and 36 hours of graduate coursework, of which twelve hours can be applied to the undergraduate degree.
The following courses meet both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements:
PSYC 520 taken at the graduate level will also count as PSYC 320 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 524 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 224 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 532 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 432 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 535 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 335 at the undergraduate level.
Students not accepted into, or unable to continue with the accelerated program may complete the remaining requirements for the BS degree in Exercise Science in a concentration that is most suitable to their needs (e.g., Health Fitness). These students may apply to the traditional graduate degree program after completion of the BS.
For more information, please see the MSSC program detail.