Exercise Science Program

Move Forward with Exercise Science

Fredonia’s Exercise Science program offers a dynamic blend of courses and hands-on experiences to prepare students for careers in health, fitness, and wellness. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, students gain a deep understanding of human physiology. With access to cutting-edge equipment in our Exercise Science Suite, you'll learn to test musculoskeletal performance, analyze cardiovascular systems, and apply your knowledge in real-world settings.

What You’ll Gain

Foundational Knowledge – A solid grounding in biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology.
Practical Skills – Experience with $300,000 worth of state-of-the-art equipment to assess body composition and musculoskeletal performance.
Research Opportunities – Senior capstone project options in research, internships, or specialized courses, focusing on problem-solving and communication.
Career Preparation – Skills for careers in physical therapy, sports medicine, health education, cardiac rehabilitation, and more.
Graduate-Ready – Preparation for advanced studies in physical therapy, physician assistant, athletic training, and exercise physiology programs.

Career Opportunities for Exercise Science

Athletic Director
Biomechanist/Ergonomist
Exercise Physiologist
Health and Fitness Trainer
Physical Therapist

Athletic Trainer
Chiropractor
Health Education Specialist
Occupational Therapist
Wellness Program Director

What does a 4-year degree look like?

First Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 100	Studying for Success	1
BIOL 131	Introductory Ecology and Evolution	3
BIOL 132	Introductory Ecology and Evolution Lab	1
CHEM 115	General Chemistry I	3
CHEM 125	General Chemistry I Lab	1
FF	Course	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 133	Intro Cell & Molecular Biology	3
BIOL 134	Intro Cell & Molecular Biology Lab	1
CHEM 116	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 126	General Chemistry II Lab	1
STAT 250	Statistics for Scientists	3
FF	Course	3

	TOTAL	14

Second Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 250	Intro. to Applied Human Physiology	1
BIOL 245	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
PHYS 121	College Physics I	3
PHYS 123	College Physics I Lab	1
PSY 129	Introduction to Psychology	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 220	Principles of Human Nutrition	3
BIOL 246	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
PHYS 122	College Physics II	3
PHYS 124	College Physics II Lab	1
FF	Course	3

	TOTAL	14

Third Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 300	Exercise Physiology Lecture & Lab	4
PSY xxx	Second Psychology Course	3
FF	Course	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 302	Exercise Prescription	3
EXSC 350	Kinesiology	3
FF	Course	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	TOTAL	15

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 425	Biomechanics	3
	Upper-Level Elective	3
	Upper-Level Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	3

	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
	EXSC 491, 492 or 493 Capstone	3
	Upper-Level Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	3
	General Elective	1
	TOTAL	16

GRAND TOTAL: 120

This Sample Degree Map is based on the requirements published in the University Catalog.

First Year - JCC

Fall Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
BIO 1570	BIOL 133/134 Intro Cell & Molecular Biol w/lab	4
CHE 1550	CHEM 115/125 General Chemistry I w/lab	4
MAT 1590 or Higher	SUNY Gen Ed/Fredonia Foundations	4
ENG 1510	ENGL 099 Non-Major Elective	3
INT 1555	LART 099 Non-Major Elective	2
	TOTAL	17

Spring Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
BIO 1580	BIOL 131/132 Ecology & Evolution w/lab	4
CHE 1560	CHEM 116/126 General Chemistry I w/lab	4
ENG 1530	ENGL 100 Craft of Writing	3
MAT 1600	MATH 105 Precalculus	4
	TOTAL	15

Second Year - JCC

Fall Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
Prog Core Elect - BIOL 2510*	BIOL 245 Human Anat/Phys I*	4
Program Core Elective	Choose course from the prog core elect listing at JCC	4
Prog Core Elect - PHY 1610	PHYS 121/123 College Physics I & Lab	4
Social Sciences Elective - PSY 129	SUNY Gen Ed/Fredonia Foundations	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
Prog Core Elect - BIOL 2520*	BIOL 246 Human Anat/Phys II*	4
Prog Core Elect - MAT 1540	STAT 200 Statistical Methods (in place of STAT 250)*	3
Elective	SUNY Gen Ed/Fredonia Foundations	3
Elective	SUNY Gen Ed/Fredonia Foundations	3
	TOTAL	13

Third Year - Fredonia

Fall Semester

Course Fredonia	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
EXSC 250	Intro Applied Human Physiology	1
EXSC 300	Exercise Physiology w/lab	4
EXSC/BIOL Elective	Upper Level EXSC/BIOL Elective	3
Elective	PSY Elective	3
Elective	Upper Level Elective (Non EXSC)	3
	TOTAL	14

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 302	Exercise Prescription	3
EXSC 350	Kinesiology	3
PHYS 122/124	Colege Physics II w/lab	4
BIOL 220	Principles of Human Nutrition	3
Elective	Elective (Non EXSC)	3
	TOTAL	16

Fourth Year - Fredonia

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EXSC 425	Biomechanics	3
EXSC 491/492/493	Capstone (Research, Internship or Course)	3
Elective	Upper Level EXSC/BIOL Elective	3
Elective	Upper Level EXSC/BIOL Elective	3
Elective	Elective (Non EXSC)	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
Elective	Upper Level EXSC/BIOL Elect	3
Elective	Upper Level Elective (Non EXSC)	3
Elective	Upper Level Elective (Non EXSC)	3
Elective	Elective (Non EXSC)	3
Elective	Elective (Non EXSC)	3
	TOTAL	15

GRAND TOTAL: 120

*MAT 1540 Statistics (STAT 200) can be taken in place of STAT 250 Statistics for Scientists. Students will need a physics sequence which can be completed at Fredonia or JCC if scheduling permits: PHY 1610/1620 General Physics I/II (PHYS 121/123 & 122/124) OR PHY 1710/1720 Analytical Physics I/II (PHYS 230/232 & 231/233)

*PHED 2520 (EXSC 315) will transfer as an upper level major elective course.

*BIOL 2510/2520 (BIOL 245/246) will transfer as upper level major elective courses.

*Students may want to consider adding a minor to their major and should begin courses towards the minor at JCC. A list of minors is in the University Catalog.

This Sample Transfer Path is based on the requirements published in the University Catalog.

Transfer Policy:
SUNY General Education/Fredonia Foundations: Students who earned an AA/AS SUNY Degree in 2015 or later, or completed the SUNY Gen Ed requirement prior to transferring, will have satisfied Fredonia Foundations, our local general education requirement. Students who earned any other SUNY Degree may need to complete additional Fredonia Foundation courses at Fredonia. Such students should consult with their current advisor regarding the SUNY Gen Ed requirement and applicable courses. All SUNY General Education courses will be verified by the General Education Transcript Addendum, GETA, which is sent with the SUNY transcript.

Transfer Credit Policy:
Please refer to our Transfer Credit Policy in the College Catalog for current information.

What are all the required and elective courses offered to obtain this degree?

View Full Curriculum

EXSC 300 Exercise Physiology

The purpose of this course is to examine human physiology and the responses that occur during both acute and chronic exercise. An understanding of how the body responds to this stress is an imperative for the athletic trainer, health professional (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Doctor of Chiropractic) or exercise physiologist

EXSC 425 Biomechanics

The course stresses the quantitative nature of biomechanics that integrates anatomy, physics, mathematics, and physiology for the study of human movement. The course will cover the foundations of human movement, functional anatomy, and mechanical analysis of human motion.

EXSC 350 Kinesiology

The purpose of the course is to acquaint the student with functional anatomy and the biomechanics of human movement and performance. The focus will be on the physiology of skeletal muscle, muscular arrangements around the major joints of the body, and the properties of muscular force production. There will also be an examination of the skeletal muscle adaptation to various forms of stimuli.

It's Different Here

Cutting-Edge Tech

With more than $300,000 invested in tech and gear, students train on the modern equipment they'll see in the field.

Proven Results

Fredonia's Exercise Science students regularly gain acceptance to excellent professional and graduate schools.

Small Classes

Upper-division courses typically have less than 20 students. This allows for a great deal of student-faculty interaction.

Medical equipment on table. Exercise Science degrees can allow graduates to find their fit in a massive, growing industry.

Health Education Specialist

Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.

Median Salary: $62,860 per year
Job Outlook 2022-2032: 7% growth
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Therapist working with patient on table. The Fredonia Exercise Science degree program leads to a variety of exciting careers.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.

Median Salary: $58,740 per year
Job Outlook 2023-2033: 19% growth
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Therapist working with patient. Exercise Science program graduates develop skills that lead to rewarding careers helping others.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.

Median Salary: $96,370 per year
Job Outlook 2023-2033: 11% growth
Typical Entry-Level Education: Master's degree

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Science Center at Fredonia provides an incredible scientific resource for Exercise Science program students.

Cutting-Edge Facilities

$60 Million Science Center

Experience hands-on learning with $5 million of cutting-edge equipment in our Science Center. As a Biology or Chemistry student, you'll use professional-grade tools in both teaching and research labs.