Exercise Science

Degree Offered Master of Science in Exercise Science

Program Overview

The mission of the Exercise Science Graduate Program is to promote fitness, wellness, and optimal human performance through teaching, research, and service in the exercise sciences. The Program seeks to advance the exercise science disciplines through discovery and dispersion of health and exercise-related knowledge. A critical aspect of these efforts is to provide students with the knowledge and skills for advanced study of careers in the exercise science-related fields, and to develop graduates who are self-reflective professionals and lifelong learners.

Students pursuing the M.S. in Exercise Science choose either a thesis or non-thesis option in one of two degree concentrations: Fitness and Wellness (FW), or Human Performance (HP). The diverse two-track curriculum can provide the students with multiple career opportunities as well as prepare students for doctoral work in one of the specific exercise science disciplines, particularly if the thesis option is selected.

Admission Requirements

Note: The Department of Science will admit students to the Graduate
Program in Exercise Science on an annual basis in FALL semesters only.

1. Students must fulfill requirements for admission to the Graduate College at Northeastern Illinois University. Application packets can be obtained from the Graduate College. When filling out the application packet, the student should be sure to:
   

   • specify on the application the degree concentration for which he/she is applying (M.S. in Exercise Science-FW or M.S. in Exercise Science-HP).
     

   • note in the goals/objectives section whether or not he/she would be willing to enter into the other degree concentration if there are no openings in his/her preferred degree concentration.
     

   • note in the goals/objectives section if he/she is interested in receiving a graduate assistantship. If so, he/she should be sure to detail his/her assistantship interests (i.e., teaching undergraduate activity courses, teaching undergraduate exercise science laboratories, assisting faculty teaching, assisting faculty research, and/or campus recreation fitness/wellness).

2. Satisfactory completion of at least the following, or equivalent, undergraduate coursework is required (approximately 21 credit hours):

   Fitness and Wellness Concentration
   

   • general biology (BIOL-102)

   • general chemistry (CHEM-211)

   • general psychology (PSYC-200)

   • human anatomy (HPER-PEMT-305)

   • exercise physiology (HPER-ESCR-204)

   • fitness concepts (HPER-PEMT-205)

   • health/wellness concepts (HPER-HLED-107)

   Human Performance Concentration
   

   • general biology (BIOL-102)
     

   • general chemistry (CHEM-211)
     

   • general psychology (PSYC-200)
     

   • human anatomy (HPER-PEMT-305)
     

   • exercise physiology (HPER-ESCR-204)
     

   • biomechanics (HPER-PEMT-302)
     

   • motor learning (HPER-PEMA-293)

3. Two letters of recommendation.

4. An educational background and/or employment experience in fitness, wellness, human performance, or the exercise sciences is preferred.

5. GRE scores.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the master's degree, students must:

1. Satisfactory completion of concentration-specific coursework (see next section).

2. Satisfactory completion of option-specific culminating requirement:

Thesis Option
Thesis option students will be required to satisfactorily prepare a written presentation of their thesis research, and orally present and defend their thesis research prior to earning the degree.

Non-Thesis Option
Non-thesis option students are required to satisfactorily complete written comprehensive examinations over critical areas of their coursework prior to earning the degree.

Courses: (Graduate courses required for masters degree)

Fitness and Wellness Concentration (FW)
Core Coursework (9 courses = 27 credit hours):
HPER-EXSC-401: Exercise Physiology I
HPER-EXSC-402: Exercise Physiology II
HPER-EXSC-403: Research Methods & Statistical Analyses
HPER-EXSC-404: Exercise Testing & Prescription
HPER-EXSC-405: Applied Nutrition for Health & Performance
HPER-EXSC-411: Behavioral Aspects of Health & Wellness
HPER-EXSC-412: Current Topics in Fitness & Wellness

Plus one of the following two courses:
HPER-EXSC-413: Program Development/Management in the Fitness Industry
HPER-EXSC-414: Program Development/Management in Health Promotion

Plus one of the following two courses:
HPER-EXSC-415: Exercise Management Chronic Diseases and Disabilities
HPER-EXSC-416: Practices in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Elective Coursework (2-3 courses = 9 credit hours):
HPER-EXSC-413: Program Development/Management in the Fitness Industry*
HPER-EXSC-414: Program Development/Management in Health Promotion*
HPER-EXSC-415: Exercise Management Chronic Diseases and Disabilities*
HPER-EXSC-416: Practices in Cardiac Rehabilitation*
HPER-EXSC-417: Human Sexuality
HPER-EXSC-430: Internship†
HPER-EXSC-431: Independent Study/Research
HPER-EXSC-432: Thesis Research (6 credit hours)‡
HPER-EXSC-433: Performance-Related Injury Management
HPER-EXSC-434: Physiology of Aging & Physical Activity
COUN-424: Stress Management
or other courses as approved by the EXSC advisor.

*Course is an approved elective only if it was not taken in the student’s core coursework.
†As determined by the EXSC advisor, some students might be required to take this course in their elective coursework (i.e., some students may be required to perform an internship).
‡Course is reserved for THESIS OPTION students only. Thesis option students are required to take this course in their elective coursework. This course is a 6 credit hour course (i.e., twice the credit hours of the other courses).

Human Performance Concentration (HP)
Core Coursework (9 courses = 27 credit hours):
HPER-EXSC-401: Exercise Physiology I
HPER-EXSC-402: Exercise Physiology II
HPER-EXSC-403: Research Methods & Statistical Analyses
HPER-EXSC-404: Exercise Testing & Prescription
HPER-EXSC-405: Applied Nutrition for Health & Performance
HPER-EXSC-421: Motor Control & Learning
HPER-EXSC-422: Biomechanics
HPER-EXSC-423: Psychology of Human Performance
HPER-EXSC-424: Current Topics in Human Performance

Elective Coursework (2-3 courses = 9 credit hours):
HPER-EXSC-425 : Exercise & Environmental Physiology
HPER-EXSC-426: Growth, Maturation & Performance
HPER-EXSC-427: Competitive Performance in the Disabled
HPER-EXSC-428: Female-Specific Performance Issues
HPER-EXSC-430: Internship†
HPER-EXSC-431: Independent Study/Research
HPER-EXSC-432: Thesis Research (6 credit hours)‡
HPER-EXSC-433: Performance-Related Injury Management
HPER-EXSC-434: Physiology of Aging & Physical Activity
or other courses as approved by the EXSC advisor.

†As determined by the EXSC advisor, some students might be required to take this course in their elective coursework (i.e., some students may be required to perform an internship).
‡Course is reserved for THESIS OPTION students only. Thesis option students are required to take this course in their elective coursework. This course is a 6 credit hour course (i.e., twice the credit hours of the other courses).

Advisor

Coordinator

Students interested in this program are encouraged to visit the program's website for more information:

Exercise Science Graduate Program Website