As an exercise science major at Grace, you’ll explore the relationship between the human body and physical activity, as well as best practices in coaching, training, and instructing others. After completing the degree, you’ll be prepared for graduate training or a post-undergraduate career in fields such as physical or occupational 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 Principles of Coaching. A fitness and nutrition concentration provides the best of both worlds, pairing fitness research, assessments, and trends with nutritional strategies for health and wellness. The fitness and nutrition concentration also emphasizes coaching and training.
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 or wellness 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 fitness and nutrition degree, you’ll have a variety of options. You may enter graduate training for fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic medicine. Or you might work in professions such as athletic training, coaching, health education, or any career that calls for an understanding of the human body’s movement.
M.S., L.A.T., F.M.S.
Director, Center for Movement and Well-Being; Director, Exercise Science Program, Assistant Professor Exercise Science
A fitness & nutrition concentration in exercise science focuses on understanding the numerous parts of the human body and applying different nutritional or exercise strategies to encourage healthy lifestyles. Read this Q +A with Professor Megan Neuhart to discover more about this concentration.
For a fitness & nutrition concentration, you’ll take a combination of exercise science, nutrition, science, and psychology courses. This includes classes such as Introduction to Exercise Science, Nutrition, Anatomy and Physiology, Health Psychology, and more.
The combination of fitness and nutrition into one major opens up more opportunities for students who love exercise science. After graduation, you could pursue a variety of careers. This could include working as a fitness instructor at your own gym, teaching classes as a personal trainer, or providing nutrition coaching.
As an exercise science major with a focus in fitness and nutrition, you’ll take two Anatomy and Physiology lab courses to prepare you for your future career.
You’ll also have access to the Gordon Health and Wellness Center, a facility on campus that promotes fitness. Furthermore, you can grow your knowledge of fitness by exploring our state-of-the-art exercise science labs or working at the Center for Movement & Wellbeing. Whether you’re interested in hitting the gym with a friend, running on the indoor track, or participating in Zumba dancing, you can continue to develop your love of exercise science.
Grace College offers the Center for Movement & Wellbeing, a program where student interns and faculty encourage wellness and movement. As you grow your love for fitness and nutrition, you can gain hands-on experience by helping others take their next steps toward health.
If you’re passionate about health or fitness, explore our Grace Powerlifting and Health Science clubs.
Evidence-based fitness and nutrition research are an important part of Grace’s exercise program. You’ll learn how to apply this knowledge with effective strategies to best meet the needs of your clients.
To fulfill internship requirements, you can find many available opportunities in the local area. Explore our local YMCA and discover nearby fitness centers or studios, or consider working for Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw Community Schools. Seek out an internship at the Center for Movement and Wellbeing, a wellness program at Grace.
As an exercise science major, it’s important to not only be passionate about nutrition or fitness, but also be a relational and effective communicator. While on the job, you will interact with a variety of people and understand how to incorporate flexibility as well as creativity into problems. Finally, in a possible position as a coach, you’ll need to understand leadership and how to teach others about the importance of fitness and nutrition.
Observation hours completed throughout the degree
of Exercise Science Students choose to go on to Graduate School
Of classes include real-life application
Our faculty and staff are expertly skilled in their fields and they care about your goals, future, and well being.
School of Science and Engineering FacultyAt the heart of a Grace education are academically challenging courses that are specifically designed to foster a thirst for character, competence, and service within the hearts and minds of our students.
Learn More about our Values“Grace has prepared me for this next step through being involved as an athlete and a coach, as well as the emphasis they put on education and making sure each student has what they need to succeed.”
Allison Vroon
Grace College Student
