Health and Sport Sciences
At Capital, turn a passion into knowledge and a profession. The coursework in Health and Sport Sciences at Capital is diverse, which gives students a solid foundation in the fundamentals and the flexibility to work with an advisor to tailor the program to specific interests and goals. With a broad curriculum that can be shaped to fit each student’s educational and career goals, Capital prepares students for commercial or community service positions in health and fitness management. The small class sizes set the stage for an optimal learning experience, but students won't be sitting behind a desk for long. Capital embraces high-impact practice proven to improve learning, like internships, clinical experiences, undergraduate research and capstone projects.
What can you do with a degree in this academic area?
- Cardiac Rehab Specialists
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Personal Fitness Trainers
- Industrial Wellness Coaches
- Sports Performance Specialists
Student to Faculty Ratio
Square-foot Health, Education, Recreation and Athletics Complex
Capital Students are Student Athletes
Explore this Program
Each Health and Sport Sciences major has a strong internship or practicum component, ranging from six clinical rotations for athletic training to numerous volunteer hours for students seeking admission to physical therapy programs. Education and health and fitness majors are required to gain professional experience by participating in a practicum. Leveraging Capital’s location in the thriving capital city of Columbus, faculty connect students to practical learning experiences in world class hospitals, research and technology companies, educational institutions, sports teams and more.
Students in Health and Sports Sciences graduate and go on to motivate and inspire student-athletes as coaches, athletic trainers and teachers. They bring healing and restore mobility as physical therapists. They champion healthy lifestyles as recreation program directors, health and fitness club directors, strength coaches and personal trainers. They shape leaders who have integrity on the field and off as athletic directors. They positively impact their discipline by pursuing advanced degrees in exercise physiology, education, physical therapy, sports administration, and community and/or health education.
The Capital Center is a 126,000-square-foot health, education, recreation and athletics complex that houses a 2,200-seat performance area, indoor track, multipurpose forum, classrooms, exercise science lab and fitness center. Technology-equipped classrooms and labs for health, physical education, fitness and science round out the indoor facilities. Outdoor facilities include tennis courts and a variety of athletic fields.
Sample Classes
- Strength and Conditioning
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Biology and Chemistry
- Sports Injury Care and Management
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Exercise Prescription
Quick Links
- Health and Exercise Science Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Exercise Science Courses and Requirements
- Exercise Science (Pre-Athletic Training) Courses and Requirements
- Exercise Science (Pre-Chiropractic Medicine) Courses and Requirements
- Exercise Science (Pre-Occupational Therapy) Courses and Requirements
- Exercise Science (Pre-Physical Therapy) Courses and Requirements
- Exercise Science (Pre-Physician Assistant) Courses and Requirements
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Programs
Exercise Science
Students earning an Exercise Science degree are in high demand and serve to help people live healthier lives. The exercise science program was officially recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in 2004, and since 2017, has been recognized as a gold level campus of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). A solid foundation of classes and training prepares students to sit for several certification exams after graduation. These include: the NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam, ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine® credential and ACSM’s Certified Exercise Physiologist.
Pre-Athletic Training
Capital’s Pre-Athletic Training plan prepares students for a career to increase individual wellness. Graduates are eligible to sit for several certification exams, including the NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam, ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine® credential and ACSM’s Certified Exercise Physiologist. Some graduates enter the workforce immediately after graduation and others choose to pursue graduate school in athletic training, physical therapy, medicine, physician’s assistant, chiropractic’s, nutrition, or occupational therapy.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Capital’s Pre-Physical Therapy plan, as part of the Exercise Science degree, prepares students for a career to improve wellness. Graduates are eligible to sit for several certification exams, including the NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam, ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine® credential and ACSM’s Certified Exercise Physiologist. Some graduates enter the workforce immediately after graduation and others choose to pursue graduate school in athletic training, physical therapy, medicine, physician’s assistant, chiropractic’s, nutrition, or occupational therapy.
“I had amazing faculty members at Capital. They helped me find observation experiences, volunteer opportunities, and jobs that would look best on graduate school applications. Most faculty have an open door policy allowing me to drop in whenever I was near their office to chat about soccer or other courses I was taking. Everyone was so friendly, allowing me to feel like a part of the CapFam.”
-Melissa Spurbeck, Pre-Physical Therapy, Class of 2017
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