Exercise Science is a discipline that focuses on both clinical and performance-based understandings of human movement. The Exercise Science option emphasizes a cross-disciplinary understanding of human movement through nondepartmental courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, math, and statistics. These courses then serve as the foundation for understanding human movement from physiological (e.g., exercise physiology), mechanical (e.g., biomechanics), and nutritional perspectives within departmental courses.

Each student is allowed to focus their upper division course work to be congruent with the student's specific professional goals as well as the specific requirements for post-baccalaureate programs. Students must receive a grade of "C" or better in upper division department core courses for graduation.

Each student's course work will culminate in a "capstone experience" course called Exercise Testing and Prescription (HDPE 465) or an approved internship (HDPE 475/HHD476).

The undergraduate option in Exercise Science can prepare students for careers in the health and fitness industry (e.g., those requiring ACSM Health-Fitness Instructors and/or Exercise Test Technologist certifications), corporate wellness programs, exercise rehabilitation programs (cardiac rehabilitation, gait laboratories, sport medicine facilities, older adult programs, etc.), as well as careers in the sport and rehabilitative medicine equipment industries. In addition, students can design programs to be prepared for post-baccalaureate graduate degrees in biomechanics, exercise physiology, nutrition, as well as physical therapy, sports medicine, and physician assistant programs.