Exercise Physiology

Overview

Exercise physiology programs focus on the physiology of physical activity. Some programs are called kinesiology.

Exercise physiology programs teach people about body mechanics. Students study healthy or impaired responses. They study the effects of injury and illness on the body.

Exercise physiology programs include topics such as:

Muscular and skeletal anatomy
Neurophysiology of motor mechanics
Physiological responses including respiration and blood flow
Fatigue and exhaustion
Muscle and body training
Physiology of specific exercises and activities
Effects of disabilities and disease

Schools

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in exercise physiology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Many universities offer graduate degrees in exercise physiology. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

For this program, schools recommend that you know how to use a computer and the Internet.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Advanced Biology courses
Advanced Chemistry courses
Anatomy and Physiology
Pre-Calculus
Probability and Statistics

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Undergraduate degree in kinesiology or similar field

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This undergraduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Biochemistry
Biology
Cardiopulmonary Systems
Exercise Psychology
Exercise Testing and Evaluation
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Kinesiology
Nutrition
Organic Chemistry
Physical Activity and Health
Physics
Prevention and Treatment of Obesity
Psychomotor Development
Research Methods
Statistics

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate programs that lead to a master's or doctoral degree typically include:

Required courses
Practicum or laboratory rotations
Thesis (master’s degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

Exercise physiologists work with people of all ages and abilities. This includes athletes, older people, and people with physical disabilities.

Most people with a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology go on to graduate school. Many study in the same field or earn a degree in physical therapy, medicine, or physiology.

Many people with graduate degrees in exercise physiology choose to become certified. You must graduate from an approved program, gather a minimum number of hours of work experience, and pass an exam to become a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist.