HERS - Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences: Clinical Exercise Science (ERCE) - BS Major

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BS Major - Exercise and Rehabilitative Science

72 - 81 S.H. (No Minor Required)

A student choosing to major in Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences may choose Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Exercise Science, or Movement Science. Each of these programs leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The programs in Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences have been designed in accordance with the requirements of the leading national organizations: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Students interested in working with cardiac or pulmonary patients in a clinical setting should choose Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.
Students interested in exercise and health programming in a variety of settings such as fitness centers, worksite settings, or athletic programs should choose Exercise Science.
Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in exercise or rehabilitative sciences (such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic medicine, physician’s assistant, kinesiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology) should choose Movement Science. Additional information on exercise science career opportunities can be found online through the following organizations: American College of Sports and Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and American Society of Exercise Physiologists.

Academic Requirements

For a checklist of the University’s graduation requirements, see the Academic Policies & University Requirements section of this catalog. Specific academic requirements for Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences majors are described within each major.

HERS Core Requirements (41 S.H.)

Health, Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences - HERS (30 S.H.)

✽ HERS 205 - Nutrition for Lifetime Wellness (3 S.H.)
HERS 280 - Foundations of Exercise Science (3 S.H.)
HERS 291 - Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (2 S.H.)
HERS 314 - Anatomical Kinesiology (3 S.H.)
△ HERS 340 - Physiology of Exercise (4 S.H.)
HERS 370 - Mechanical Kinesiology (4 S.H.)
◎ HERS 380 - Laboratory Methods in Exercise Science (2 S.H.)
△ HERS 445 - Medical Aspects of Exercise (3 S.H.)
HERS 460 - Nutrition for the Physically Active (3 S.H.)
◆ HERS 468 - Pathophysiology for the Health Professions (3 S.H.)

Biology - BIOL (8 S.H.)

BIOL 211 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 S.H.)
BIOL 212 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 S.H.)

Statistics - STAT (3 S.H.)

Choose one:

STAT 110 - Fundamentals of Statistics (3 S.H.)
STAT 210 - Statistics (3 S.H.)

Clinical Exercise Science (ERCE)

77 S.H.

Clinically focused exercise physiology
Cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic disease patients
Reducing risk factors and providing rehabilitation in clinic or hospital setting
Future Jobs include: Hospitals or Clinics

This clinically focused exercise physiology major has several career-related tracks. Its primary purpose is to prepare students to care for individuals who suffer from chronic conditions such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic disorders and diseases utilizing a therapeutic program of exercise, risk factor reduction and education in a structured rehabilitation setting. Hospitals and/or clinics are the primary employers. The curriculum is structured around the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) knowledge, skill, and ability learner outcomes; students are encouraged to sit for the ACSM (Certified Clinical Exercise Physiology) certification exam after graduation. Practical clinical experiences in our on-campus Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Program and at Winona Health (Winona, MN) are required. A 600-hour “capstone” clinical internship is also required when all coursework is complete. The internship site locations are national in scope of placement.

Many students who enter this field choose related allied health tracks for employment as a result of their practical and internship experience. Some further their education in a special clinical field (echocardiogram is one example). Our students are also satisfactorily employed in diagnostic cardiopulmonary testing labs, patient education positions, community rehabilitation programs, ECG fields, and other clinical related specialties.

More information can be obtained from www.acsm.org or www.asep.org/ or www.AACVPR.org.

Students interested in majoring in Clinical Exercise Science must apply to the program, participate in a competitive selection process, and adhere to published retention guidelines. Additional information (including program updates, expectations, application process, student handbook and retention guidelines) is available.

Application & Selection Information

Students interested in the Clinical Exercise Science (CES) major should meet with their advisor and enroll in BIOL 211 - Anatomy and Physiology I , and BIOL 212 - Anatomy and Physiology II during their first year at WSU. Students will need to demonstrate commitment to clinical learning experiences.

Student applications to the Clinical Exercise Science Program will be rated using the CES Application Rubric as Exceptional, Above Average, or Meets Minimum, and ranked by the Selection Committee. Students that meet the minimum requirements on their application will be offered an Interview with the Selection Committee. Interview Scores will be added to the Application Scores and students will be admitted based upon available space in the CES. The selection committee determines the number of students selected from each academic class. This number directly correlates with the number of clinical educators and clinical sites available each year.

Completed applications will be due at the end of fall semester of each year.

Application process and requirements are available on the Clinical Exercise Science webpage.

Academic graduation requirements include:

Attain a grade of “C” or better in all major courses.
Attain a 2.80 or better overall and major GPA.

Required Courses (36 S.H.)

Health, Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences - HERS (32 S.H.)

✽ HERS 204 - Personal & Community Health (3 S.H.)
◎ HERS 328 - Behavioral Interventions (3 S.H.)
HERS 344 - Electrocardiography (3 S.H.)
HERS 361 - Practicum in Clinical Exercise Science (1-3 S.H.) (2 S.H. required)
HERS 385 - Senior Seminar: Clinical Exercise Science (3 S.H.)
HERS 402 - Advanced Fitness Programming (3 S.H.)
◆ HERS 403 - Epidemiology (3 S.H.)
HERS 420 - Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription (4 S.H.)
HERS 497 - Internship in Clinical Exercise Science (8-12 S.H.) (8 S.H. required)

Nursing - NURS (4 S.H.)

NURS 361 - Pharmacology for Non-Nursing Majors (1 S.H.)
NURS 392 - Cardiac Risk Prevention (3 S.H.)

Suggested Electives

HERS 389 - Strength and Conditioning Principles and Programming (3 S.H.)
◎ CMST 385 - Health Communication (3 S.H.)
BIOL 171 - Medical Terminology A (1 S.H.)
BIOL 172 - Medical Terminology B (1 S.H.)
PSY 420 - Abnormal Psychology (3 S.H.)
SOC 434 - Sociology of Health and Illness (3 S.H.)

Legend

◎ = Oral Intensive

◆ = Math/Critical Analysis Intensive

△ = Writing Intensive

✽ = Physical Development and Wellness Graduation Requirement