BS in Exercise Science (Health Fitness/Strength Conditioning)

Units required for Major: 60
Total units required for BS: 120

Program Description

Exercise Science program mission is to study the scientific basis of how the human body functions across the lifespan in response to physical activity, exercise and sport. Exercise Science curriculum integrates knowledge from such science disciplines as biology, chemistry, and physiology so that students will gain a deep integrative understanding of human body functions at the mechanical, cellular, organ, and systems levels.

The major in Exercise Science qualifies an individual for career possibilities in cardiac rehabilitation, sports medicine, chiropractic, athletic training, geriatrics, health related fitness programming (fitness and corporate), and further scientific training in graduate school.

The Health Fitness/Strength Conditioning Specialist Concentration is designed for students who are interested in advanced scientific knowledge of how physical activity, exercise and sport alter health and human performance. Many students from this option pursue careers in fitness and corporate wellness, strength conditioning, and further their scientific training in graduate school.

Note: Students graduating with a BS in Exercise Science will not be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. Students who change major may be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement.

Pre-Major Requirements

Freshman or transfer students interested in the BS in Exercise Science are admitted as Pre-Exercise Science Major students.

To change to a BS in Exercise Science, Pre-major students are required to complete the following grade and course requirements and submit a Declaration of Major/Concentration to the Kinesiology Department Office along with transcript copies.

  1. An overall GPA of 2.0.
  2. Completion of the Pre-Major required courses with a “C-“ or better. Only first and second attempts will be considered.

Minimum Grade Requirement

All courses counted for the Exercise Science major must be completed with a "C-" or better.

Program Requirements
Required Lower Division Core Courses (17 Units)
BIO 10Basic Biological Concepts 13
BIO 22Introductory Human Anatomy4
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry I 15
or CHEM 6A Introduction to General Chemistry
CHEM 1BGeneral Chemistry II5
or CHEM 6B Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry
Required Upper Division Core Courses (43 Units)
BIO 131Systemic Physiology4
KINS 151Kinesiology3
KINS 151ABiomechanics3
KINS 152Physiology Of Exercise3
KINS 152AFundamentals of Exercise Programs3
KINS 152SEnergy Production & Sports Performance3
KINS 144Analysis of Weight Training & Muscular Fitness2
KINS 156Care Of Athletic Injuries3
KINS 153Cardiovascular Testing and Exercise Prescription3
KINS 158Motor Learning and Control3
Health Fitness/Strength Conditioning Specialist Concentration13
Total Units60

Health Fitness/Strength Conditioning Specialist Concentration

In prior consultation with an exercise science advisor, a minimal of 13 units from the recommended list of courses below are required in addition to the core courses above:

SELECT A MINIMUM OF 13 UNITS FROM THE FOLLOWING:13
Nutrition And Wellness 1
Nutrition And Metabolism 1
Strength and Conditioning
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Planning, Designing and Managing a Fitness Center
Sport And Aging
Biomechanics II
Exercise Physiology of Women
Prolonged Exercise
Blood Lactate and Exercise
Sport and Exercise Psychology
General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound 1
Introduction to Statistics 1
Total Units13
General Education Requirements1
Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking3
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13-19 Units)
B1 - Physical Science 25
B2 - Life Forms 23
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 25
B4 - Math Concepts 30 - 3
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 40 - 3
Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities3
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area D: The Individual and Society (12 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (0-3 Units)
Area E Course 50 - 3
Total Units46-55

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (9 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI)3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (6 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 20