Exercise Science, B.S.

School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences

Program Overview

As an exercise science student, you’ll choose between two tracks—fitness professional and pre-health professions—and choose from a plethora of courses in every conceivable aspect of health and nutrition in order to pursue a career in health and wellness. The fitness professional track provides a background in exercise testing, exercise training, athletic training, and strength and conditioning. The pre-health profession track prepares students for advanced programs in health-aligned professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, nursing, and physician assistant with a basic knowledge of kinesiology.

Exercise Science, B.S.

Where You'll Go

There are many career paths in exercise science. Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in exercise science are prepared for a broad variety of careers in strength and conditioning coaching, athletic coaching, corporate fitness, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, sports nutrition, and biomechanics, to name a few. They find work in commercial fitness, in private practice, with professional sports teams, at community centers and nonprofit organizations, in wellness companies, and in the entertainment industry. They also continue their education into graduate pre-professional health programs.

Major Details

The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2023-2024 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.

Major Requirements (49–61 Credits)

A minimum of 24 credits in advanced courses must be completed in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Brooklyn College with a grade of C or higher in each course.

The department chairperson or designee may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of the program.

The degree offers two tracks:

  • Fitness Professional
  • Pre-Health Professions

Undergraduate Handbook (pdf)

Recommendation

Students who are pursuing a BS with a concentration in pre-health professions and are planning to continue into graduate pre-professional health programs (e.g., medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant) should consult with their intended graduate program in deciding which science courses to choose. Students may also want to consult their major advisor and the Brooklyn College pre-health advisement office.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Goals

  • Students will acquire competency in a core body of knowledge in basic science.
  • Students will acquire competency in a core body of knowledge in exercise physiology and related areas of study.
  • Students will acquire practical competencies in the assessment of physical fitness/wellness.
  • Students will acquire practical competencies in developing programs to improve physical fitness/wellness.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of the body 3281 3285 3290
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological effects of acute and chronic exercise 4200 7059
  • Students will acquire practical competencies in Exercise Testing and Prescription, Risk Assessment and Exercise 4412 4510 4520 7260 7267 7290

Practical Competencies (Skills)

  • Students will be able to perform assessments of physical fitness 4402 4510 4520 7250 7267 7260 7267 7290
  • Students will be able to design appropriate exercise recommendations 4402 4510 4520 7250 7267 7260 7267 7290
  • Students will be able to assess the risks of exercise and make appropriate modifications and recommendations based on this assessment 4402 4510 4520 7250 7267 7260 7267 7290
  • Students will be able to determine and design management strategies for fitness facilities 4400

Contact

Patricia Cai

ppcai@brooklyn.cuny.edu
718.951.6713
433 West Quad

Tracy Wong, Associate Professor

tracy.wong@brooklyn.cuny.edu
718.951.5000 x6287
4135 Ingersoll Hall

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, please visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments

Tracks

Fitness Professional (57-62 Credits)

All of the following: Health and Nutrition Sciences 230223033000300532904200W426044004402450045104520 (38 credits).

One of the following:

  • Health and Nutrition Sciences 1200 (3 credits) or
  • Health and Nutrition Sciences 2210 (4 credits)

One of the following:

  • Health and Nutrition Sciences 3300 (3 credits) or
  • Mathematics 2501 (3 credits) or
  • Psychology 3400 (4 credits)

Select one option for General Chemistry 1:

Pre-Health Professions (61-63 Credits)

All of the following: Health and Nutrition Sciences 1200 or 2210230223033000300532954200W, (23-24 credits)

Select a minimum of 3 courses from the following: Health and Nutrition Sciences 3290426044004402450045104520 (9-21 credits).

Biology 1001 and 1002 (9 credits).

Select one option for General Chemistry 1:

Additional credits from the following courses to total a minimum of 64 credits:

  • Biology 3003 and 3004 (5 credits)
  • Chemistry 2200 and 2201 (5 credits)
  • Chemistry 3511 and 3512 (5 credits)
  • Chemistry 3521 and 3522 (5 credits)
  • Select 1 option for General Physics 1: Physics 1100 (5 credits), or Physics 1111 and 1112 (6 credits)
  • Physics 2110 (5 credits)
  • Psychology 1000 (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following statistics courses: Health Nutrition Sciences 3300 (3 credits), or Mathematics 2501 (3 credits), or Psychology 3400 (4 credits)

Internships and Employers

Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the exercise science B.S. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:

  • Alliance Health System
  • Healthpro Heritage, LLC
  • Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Montclair State University
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • NJ Spine and Wellness
  • NYC Health + Hospitals
  • NYU Langone Orthopedic Center
  • StretchLab
  • U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

Learn More

Brooklyn. All in.

Brooklyn. All in.