At a glance: Exercise Physiology
At a glance: Exercise Physiology
Did you know? Ohio Northern's exercise physiology program is one of only 18 undergraduate colleges in the country, and the only traditional undergraduate school in the Midwest, to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Exercise Physiology Features:
Feel the Burn
Exercise physiology is a combination of basic and applied sciences. Exercise physiologists are involved in the healthcare network by establishing exercise, fitness, and rehabilitative prescriptions, standards, and priorities. Exercise physiologists work in health promotion, fitness facilities, colleges and universities, clinical rehabilitation facilities, and sport and athletic conditioning programs. Visit the department's web site.
Degrees offered
Exercise physiology majors earn a bachelor of science degree and choose either the Clinical/Research or Corporate Fitness/Personal Training concentration. A minor is also available.
Distinctive Features and Objectives
- Accredited by the Committee on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP)
- Nationally recognized certification exams hosted on-campus (i.e. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam)
- On-campus faculty and staff fitness programming
- Practical, real-world experience gained by completing a 400-hour self-selected internship
- Involvement in campus and community health promotion programming
- Modern exercise physiology testing equipment
- Exercise testing of ONU athletic teams
- Small class sizes (15-20 students)
- Small student-to-faculty ratio
- High graduate school and job placement rates
- Choice of two unique exercise physiology major options: clinical/research or personal training/corporate fitness
Facilities
- 2,300-square-foot exercise physiology lab
- Modern exercise physiology testing equipment
- PAR-Q Trueone 2400 Metabolic Cart
- BOD POD Body Composition Analyzer
- Dartfish Motion Analysis System
- Force Plate Transducer
- Cybex Isokinetic Dynamometer
- Max-1 Treadmill
- ECG machines
- Monarch Leg Ergometers
- Cholesterol analyzer
- Body composition analyzers
- Renovated fitness facilities
- Modern physiological and exercise testing equipment
- Renovated classrooms and departmental office
Student Organizations
HPSS Majors Club, Pre-PT Majors Club
Program Outcomes
Assess aerobic capacity, muscular endurance and strength, power and flexibility of sedentary and trained individuals
Assess individual exercise capacities of sedentary and trained individuals
Implement exercise prescriptions to improve the exercise capacities of sedentary and trained individuals
Be proficient at exercise programming of sedentary and trained individuals
Implement health promotion programs for sedentary individuals
Act as a resource for community and campus wellness programming
Promote campus and community exercise programming
Prepare students for clinical and professional certifications
Prepare students for their chosen career professions
Perform common exercise physiology assessments of sedentary and trained individuals
Placement
Exercise specialists in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs
Exercise technologists in cardiology clinics
Managers and exercise leaders in corporate wellness programs
Researchers and supervisors in sports medicine and adult fitness programs
Supervisors of specialized health, fitness, wellness or lifestyle programs
Strength coaches for college, university and professional sports programs
Personal trainers and fitness instructors in health and fitness centers and YMCAs
Fitness instructors and supervisors at the state, regional and national levels in sports and athletic programs
Graduate Schools
Graduates have been accepted to a variety of graduate programs, including exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, nursing, kinesiology, biomechanics, adult fitness, sports psychology and chiropractic, at: The Ohio State University, Medical University of Ohio, University of Toledo, Ohio University, Bowling Green State University, University of Cincinnati, Ball State University, Western Michigan University, Boston University, Ithaca College, East Tennessee State University, Wheeling Jesuit University, Marshall University, Emory & Henry College, University of North Carolina, Cleveland Chiropractic College
Career Opportunities
Exercise physiology and related healthcare occupations are expected to make up 7 of the 20 fastest growing occupations (the largest proportion of any occupational group). Employment opportunities in fitness, healthcare and health-related industries are projected to increase 25-30% over the next decade, with more than 3 out of every 10 new jobs created in healthcare. Fitness and recreation sports centers will provide many new jobs as these establishments become more common and continue to need trained professionals to care for their clients. Employment growth will be driven by increasing demand for healthcare by an aging population and longer life expectancies.
In the spotlight
ONU is one of only 14 undergraduate exercise science programs in the nation, and the only program in Ohio, to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). ONU is one of the few traditional undergraduate institutions without a graduate program in exercise physiology to receive this honor.
The ONU exercise physiology program is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Education Recognition Program. ONU has hosted two national certification exams, and the student success rate on the Certification Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification exam is 83 percent.
Over the last five years, 91 percent of the ONU exercise physiology graduates who applied to graduate school were accepted within three months of graduation. In fact, 85 percent of ONU’s exercise physiology graduates have attended graduate school after completing their degrees.
Exercise physiology became a major in 2002, and the number of students enrolled in the program has nearly tripled in the last five years. Demand for qualified exercise physiologists is expected to increase in the future. Employment opportunities in health care, fitness and health-related industries are projected to increase 25-30 percent over the next decade (much faster than average). Health care and related occupations are expected to make up seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations, the largest proportion of any occupational group.
