As an exercise science major with a pre-occupational therapy concentration at Grace, you’ll explore the relationship between the human body and physical activity, as well as best practices in instructing, training, and coaching others. After completing the degree, you’ll be prepared for graduate training in pre-occupational therapy programs or a post-undergraduate career in fields such as occupational or physical therapy, medicine, training and coaching, and education.
At Grace College, the exercise science program is founded on the truth that God designed the human body for movement and activity. In our study, we honor the Creator and steward the body God has given us to use, move, and manage during this lifetime.
The program’s foundational courses provide an overview of the exercise science field, featuring classes such as Kinesiology, Strength and Conditioning, and Fitness Assessment. Our pre-occupational therapy concentration includes the prerequisites needed for occupational therapy school, such as courses in General Biology I & II, Introduction to Psychology, Health Psychology, and Advanced Anatomy and Physiology I & II — giving you a strong foundation before you apply to competitive occupational therapy programs.
At Grace, we stress experiential learning. That’s why you’ll experience engaging and hands-on courses that include lab components and interactive exercises. By the end of the program, you’ll have experienced fitness and wellness tests firsthand before you recommend them to clients or patients.
A distinguishing characteristic of Grace’s exercise science program is that each student is required to complete field learning. You may intern at a fitness, wellness, or rehabilitation center in your hometown. Or, you may work at Grace’s very own Center for Movement and Wellbeing, a center dedicated to fostering the movement, health, and wellbeing of Kosciusko County through research, education, and collaboration.
Upon graduating with an exercise science pre-occupational therapy degree, you’ll have a variety of options. You may enter graduate training through occupational therapy programs at the master’s or doctoral level, opening the door to a career as a licensed occupational therapist. You may also enter the career field immediately, working in professions such as athletic training, coaching, health education, or any career that calls for an understanding of the human body’s movement.
