Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy
All Exercise Science majors must earn a “C” or better in all Major Program Core Requirements, all Major Program Additional Requirements and EXSC 175.
All students majoring in Physical Education-Teacher Education, Exercise Science, or Fitness and Wellness must complete all University and Departmental assessment requirements (this includes passing the ESHP Professional Knowledge Inventory test). Assessment will be administered in the EXSC 499 Professional Concerns Seminar and satisfactory performance on each assessment criteria is required to receive a passing grade for the course.
Coursework must include at least 30 credit hours earned at 300-level or above, of which 12 credit hours must be in the major.
See 4-year major guides for recommended order in which to take courses https://www.lander.edu/academics/registrars-office/major-guides.html
General Education Requirements
(For approved courses, see General Education: www.lander.edu/gen-ed.)
1Students following the Pre-Athletic Training (AT), Occupational Therapy (OT) or Physical Therapy (PT) concentration should take PSYC 101, MATH 121, BIOL 111, and BIOL 202. Students not following the Pre-AT/OT/PT concentration may take any general education course that satisfies each of the general education requirements for the University and may take either EXSC 210 or BIOL 202 for the core requirement.
If all of the General Education requirements are met and/or waived, and the credit hours do not add up to at least 30, the General Education requirements are not complete. If below 30, additional General Education courses from any category must be taken until the total hours add up to at least 30 hours.
Major Program Requirements
Major Program Core Requirements
Major Program Additional Requirements
BIOL 215 and BIOL 216 are prerequisites for admission into Level II of the Exercise Science program, along with a minimum cumulative Lander GPA of 2.75.
| Choose one of the following | |
| BIOM 111 | Fnds in Human Evo, Gen & Homeo | 4 |
| BIOL 111 | Fnds in Ecol, Evol & Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 101 | General Biology | 4 |
| | |
| BIOL 215 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 216 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| EXSC 175 | Wellness for Life | 2 |
| EXSC 219 | Historical/Philosophical Prin | 3 |
| EXSC 283 | Intro to Exercise Science | 1 |
| EXSC 490 | Internship I | 3 |
| EXSC 491 | Internship II | 3-12 |
| EXSC 499 | Professional Concerns Seminar | 1 |
| PSYC 251 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
PETE
| 100-Level Sport or Fitness course | 1 |
PETE
| 100-Level Sport or Fitness course | 1 |
Major Program Concentration Requirements
Additional Electives
Browse entire course list here.
Exercise Science Major
The Exercise Science program is designed to prepare students for careers in public, private, hospital, and corporate wellness programs, industrial and cardiac rehabilitation programs as well as fitness and conditioning programs. The student will also be well prepared for graduate study in areas such as cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Curriculum
A Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science consists of 35 hours of general education courses, 65 hours of major program requirements, and 20 hours of additional electives.
Program Goals
The goals of the Lander University Exercise Science Major prepare students to be able to
1. Identify and discuss major factors in the evolution of the field of exercise science from its early historical roots to its present position in exercise related careers;
2. Describe and apply bioscience (anatomical, physiological/biochemical, and biomechanical) concepts and changes occurring in the human organism to physical activity, conditioning, and health-related fitness across the lifespan;
3. Describe and utilize a variety of methods, techniques, and procedures to assess the health related components of fitness and subsequently develop appropriate exercise prescriptions that address physical activity, conditioning, and health-related fitness in diverse populations;
4. Understand the scientific method of conducting research and possess the ability to utilize discipline-based research in order to analyze the validity of health-related consumer information; and
5. Exhibit professional dispositions in the exercise-related community conducive to promoting healthy lifestyles.
Student Eligibility
A student may declare a major in Exercise Science (Level I/pre-professional) upon enrollment in the university. However, Exercise Science majors will not be allowed to enroll in 300- and 400-level (professional) exercise science courses until they have been formally accepted into Level II (professional) of the Exercise Science Program. Students may be admitted into Level II of the Exercise Science Program at Lander University provided the following criteria are met:
1. Submission of a completed Exercise Science Level II Program Application, which can be found on the Department website. Applications must be completed electronically.
2. Successfully complete the baseline knowledge inventory exam.
3. Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework including EXSC 175 (2 credits), EXSC 202 (3 credits), BIOL 215 (4 credits), BIOL 216 (4 credits), and EXSC 219 (3 credits).
4. A minimum cumulative Lander grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
Students applying for admission must submit application materials before the last day of classes in each semester, prior to the semester taking upper-level courses. Those who are denied admission to Level II of the Exercise Science Program may re-submit their application materials upon successful completion of all admission requirements.
Transfer and Second Degree Students
Transfer and second-degree students will be considered for admission to Level II of the Exercise Science Program upon the completion of the above admission criteria. The Exercise Science Program screening committee reserves the right to determine what (if any) coursework from other colleges and universities will be accepted toward satisfaction of these requirements.
Program Requirements
Students who are admitted to Level II of the Exercise Science Program will be subject to ongoing evaluation. To continue in good standing, students must maintain a minimum cumulative Lander GPA of 2.75. A student who fails to maintain any of the above requirements will be given one semester (probationary period) and meet with their academic advisor to establish a plan to improve their GPA to re-establish compliance with the requirement(s) before being withdrawn from the program (suspension). Students withdrawn from the program as a result of suspension will not be allowed to enroll in any upper-level exercise science courses but will be allowed to repeat courses if the following conditions are met:
1. Courses classified as Program Requirements may be repeated only once. A student who fails to complete a EXSC course successfully (“C” or better**) within two attempts may not continue as a major in Exercise Science.
2. A student may not repeat more than a total of two 300- and 400-level ESHP courses.
3. Students should maintain the required GPA (2.75), successfully complete the internship screening documentation and be in good standing to enroll in EXSC 490.
4. Students must sit for an approved nationally accredited certification exam from the Exercise Science industry.
A student can only be on probation once and must meet with their academic advisor to develop an Action Plan to improve their GPA.
In the case that a student is suspended from the program and is then reinstated, a subsequent failure to maintain standards will result in suspension and not another probation.
**EXSC 490 and EXSC 491 (Internships) require a “B” or better to be considered as passing. Students should maintain the required GPA (2.75), successfully complete the internship screening documentation and be in good standing to enroll in EXSC 490.