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

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Clinical Exercise Science Program Image

77 credits (no minor required)

2.8 GPA required.

C grade or better required in major courses.

Exercise Science - Clinical Exercise Science Major Map

Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences

A student choosing to major in Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences may choose from the following:

Clinical Exercise Science
Exercise Science
Strength and Conditioning
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 patients having chronic conditions (such as cardiac, pulmonary) in a clinical setting should choose Clinical Exercise Science.
Students interested in exercise and health programming in a variety of settings such as fitness centers, worksite settings, or older adult programs should choose Exercise Science.
Students interested in working with athletic populations in strength and conditioning for performance enhancement should choose the Strength and Conditioning option.
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.

Core Requirements (41 credits)

Health, Exercise, and Rehabilitative Sciences (30 credits)

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

Note

HERS 560 may count as HERS 460 for students accepted into MSAT and PAMS programs.
HERS 568 may count as HERS 468 for students accepted into the MSAT program.

Biology (8 credits)

BIOL 211 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
BIOL 212 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)

Statistics (3 credits)

Choose one:

STAT 110 - Fundamentals of Statistics (3 credits)
STAT 210 - Statistics (3 credits)

Clinical Exercise Science

Clinically focused exercise physiology
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Reducing risk factors and providing rehabilitation in clinic or hospital settings for patients with chronic conditions
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: ACSM, ASEP, AACVPR

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

Required Courses (36 credits)

Health, Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences (32 credits)

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

Nursing (4 credits)

NURS 361 - Pharmacology for Non-Nursing Majors (1 credit)
NURS 392 - Cardiac Risk Prevention (3 credits)

Suggested Electives

BIOL 171 - Medical Terminology A (1 credit)
BIOL 172 - Medical Terminology B (1 credit)
CMST 425 - Health Communication: Unpacking the Complexities of Care (3 credits)
HERS 348 - Health Coaching: From Theory to Practice (2 credits)
HERS 389 - Strength and Conditioning Principles and Programming (3 credits)
PSY 420 - Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
SOC 333 - Sociology of Health and Illness (3 credits)

Legend

◎ = Oral Intensive

◆ = Math/Critical Analysis Intensive

△ = Writing Intensive

✽ = Physical Development and Wellness Graduation Requirement