Exercise Science B.S.
The bachelor's degree in Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico provides students with an in-depth understanding of how exercise and physical activity influences health, fitness, sport performance and disease prevention; it also prepares them to work in allied health and strength & conditioning professions. The undergraduate curriculum includes coursework in the theoretical and applied aspects of exercise science including: Exercise Physiology, Sports Physiology, Motor Control, EKG interpretation, Fitness Assessment/Prescription, Exercise Testing, Exercise and Disease Prevention. Undergraduate Exercise Science students are prepared for continued graduate education in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Medicine, and Athletic Training. Some alumni function professionally as Exercise Physiologists in health/fitness facilities, personal training clubs, cardiac rehabilitation centers, and corporate health promotion programs.
Careers without additional education after earning a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science
- Physical Therapy assistant/technician
- Occupational Therapy assistant/aide
- Exercise Physiologist
- Personal trainer
A degree in exercise sciences can prepare students for the following graduate-level programs
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Athletic Training
- Physician Assistant
- Nursing
- Medicine
You should also know...
- The program holds ERP recognition by the NSCA
- Eligible to take 6 hours of graduate credit in senior year
- Exercise Science Graduate Club offers benefits, including the opportunity to be involved in research.
- Many students do conference presentations at regional and national professional meetings.
- Many students author peer-reviewed research manuscripts
- Our graduates comprise about one-third of students entering the UNM Doctor of Physical Therapy program annually.
Program Requirements & Application
The bachelor's degree in Exercise Science is a professional program that requires a secondary admission process once a student is enrolled at UNM.
- Admission GPA into the Exercise Science Program is 3.2 or higher, completion of ≥26 hours of UNM course work and successful completion of BIOL 2210/2210L
- Transfer students must COMPLETE a full semester at UNM with a 3.2 or higher GPA before being admitted to the Exercise Science program
Program Information
Students interested in this program can contact the COEHS Advisement center.
Curriculum for B.S. in Exercise Science
All students being admitted to the Exercise Science program starting Summer 2021 will now be following this updated program.
For the 120-hour degree, the Exercise Science program requires a 3.2 GPA, completion of BIOL 2210/2210L and current certification in First Aid, CPR and AED (obtained from HLED 1113 at UNM or an outside organization) for admission into the undergraduate program. Students must meet with Dr. Kravitz as part of the admission process. Students are required to complete PREREQs for all Exercise Science classes. Find a CPR/First Aid class from the American Heart Association.
Special Note: A grade of 'B-' or better is required for all PEP, PRPE and PHED courses in the program. A grade of 'C' or better (not C-) is required for each General Education course towards the 120-hour degree.
Students on Previous Exercise Science curriculum, please refer to your advisement Plan of Study worksheet.
| Course | Title (Make sure you take the correct prereqs!) | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1140 | Biology for Health Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 1140L | Biology for Health Sciences Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1215 | General Chemistry I for STEM Majors | 3 |
| CHEM 1215L | General Chemistry I for STEM Majors Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1225 | General Chemistry II for STEM Majors | 3 |
| CHEM 1225L | General Chemistry II for STEM Majors Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGL 1110, 1110Y, 1110Z | Composition I, Composition I: Stretch II, or Enhanced Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 1120 | Composition II | 3 |
| MATH 1220 | College Algebra | 3 |
| NUTR 2110 | Human Nutrition Prerequisites/Corequisites: BIOL 1140 or BIOL 2110C or CHEM 1120C or (CHEM 1215 and CHEM 1215L) | 3 |
| PRPE 2180 Fall/Spr | Introduction to Exercise Science | 3 |
| PRPE 2150 Fall/Spr | Motor Learning and Performance | 3 |
| PSYC 1110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Course | Title (Make sure you take the correct prereqs!) | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Prerequisites/Corequisites: (BIOL 1140/1140L or BIOL 2110C) and (CHEM 1120C or CHEM 1215) | 3 |
| BIOL 2210L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 2210 | 1 |
| BIOL 2225 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Prerequisite: BIOL 2210 | 3 |
| BIOL 2225L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 2225 | 1 |
| CHEM 2120 Spr | Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Prerequisites: CHEM 1120C or CHEM 1225. Note: Students can also take at CNM in Fall, Spring and Summer | 4 |
| COMM 1130 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH 1350 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PEP 326L Fall/Spr/Su | Fundamentals of Exercise Physiology Prerequisites: BIOL 2210/2210L | 3 |
| PRPE 2155 Fall/Spr | Tests and Measurements Prerequisite: MATH 1350 | 3 |
| PRPE 2165 Fall/Spr | Kinesiology Prerequisites: BIOL 2210/2210L | 3 |
| UNM General Ed.Req. | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Course | Title (Make sure you take the correct prereqs!) | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 344 Fall/Su | Energy Nutrients in Human Nutrition Prerequisites: NUTR 2110 and (CHEM 2120 or CHEM **301) **Available for graduate credit except for graduate majors in the department | 3 |
| PEP 486 Spr | Ergogenic Aids for Sport Performance Prerequisites: CHEM2120 and PEP326L and Admission into the Exercise Science Program | 3 |
| PEP 305 Spr | Teaching Exercise Prerequisites: PEP 326L, PRPE 2165 and Admission into the Exercise Science Program | 3 |
| PEP 470 Fall/Spr | Designs for Fitness Prerequisites: PEP 326L, PRPE 2165, PRPE 2155 and Admission into the Exercise Science Program | 4 |
| PEP 475 Fall | EKG Interpretation Prerequisites: PEP 326L and Admission into the Exercise Science Program | 3 |
| PEP 476 Spr | Exercise Testing and Interpretation Prerequisites: PEP 470, PEP 475 and Admission into the Exercise Science Program Special Note: Dr. Gibson requires (10% of grade) students to have current CPR/AED. She gives students until midterm to produce a copy of their valid CPR/AED cert. | 3 |
| PHED 1310 or 2310 | PHED 1310 Swim I or PHED 2310 Swim II | 2 |
| PHYS 1115 or 1230 | Survey of Physics or Algebra-Based Physics I; Math pre req. Students pursuing clinical degrees will need to also take the PHYS 1230L | 3 |
| UNM General Ed. Req | Secondary Language | 3 |
| UNM General Ed. Req | Humanities | 3 |
| Course | Title (Make sure you take the correct prereqs!) | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| Elective | = or >300-level elective (See below for Elective options) | 3 |
| Elective | = or >300-level elective (See below for Elective options) | 3 |
| PEP498 Fall/Spr | Exercise Science Senior Seminar For Exercise Science Students Only in LAST SEMESTER OF COURSE WORK: NOTE: The reason PEP 498 is recommended the last semester is because all students must do an in-depth scientific presentation for Exercise Science Faculty and selected graduate students (using their attained knowledge from Upper Division Exercise Science Courses) for completion of ES Senior Seminar. Class meets Wed (See schedule for current time) | 1 |
| PEP 469 Fall | Management Concepts in Sports and Fitness Settings Must be admitted to the Exercise Science program | 3 |
| PEP 471 Fall/Spring | Exercise and Disease Prevention Prerequisites: PRPE 2165, PEP 326L and must be admitted to the Exercise Science program | 3 |
| PEP 478 Fall/Spr | Sports Physiology Prerequisites: PRPE 2165 and PEP 326L and must be admitted to the Exercise Science program | 3 |
| PEP 495 Fall/Spr/Su | Practicum Restriction: Permission of instructor | 3 |
| PEP 495 Fall/Spr/Su | Practicum Restriction: Permission of instructor | 3 |
| PHED 1510 or 2510 | PHED 1510 Training or PHED 2510 Training II | 1 |
| PHED 1430 or 1830 | Pilates or Running | 1 |
| UNM General Ed. Req | Arts and Design | 3 |
Must be 300 level or higher and at least a 3hr class (two classes=6 hours).
Here are SOME (not all) OPTIONS. Not all courses are offered each semester so always check the schedule of classes for current semester offerings.
PEP 467 Physical Disabilities and Causes (also offered as SPCD 467)
PEP 479 Organization and Administration of Physical Education
PEP 495 Practicum^^
PEP 480 Principles of Coaching
PSY 331 Psychology of Personality++
PSY 332 Abnormal Behavior ***
PSY 342 Evolution and Human Behavior)))
PSY 454 Positive Psychology ***
PSY 360 Human Learning and Memory##
PSY 364 Psychology of Perception##
FCS 310 Friends and Intimate Relationships
FCS 315 Adolescent Development in the Family
FCS 416 Adult Development in the Family
CJ 314 Intercultural Communication {see UNM catalog for Math prereq)
CJ 318 Language, Thought and Behavior {see UNM catalog for Math prereq)
CJ 320 Conflict Management and Mediation {see UNM catalog for Math prereq)
CJ 323 Nonverbal Communication
CJ 327 Persuasive Communication {see UNM catalog for Math prereq)
CJ 333 Professional Communication
CJ 332 Business and Professional Speaking
CJ 450 Health Communication
EDPY 303 Human Growth and Development
HED 333 Emotional Health and Interpersonal Relationships
HED 362 Introduction to Health Behavior Theory
HED 371 Introduction to Public and Community Health
HED 473 Health Issues in Death and Dying
HED 383 Principles of Epidemiology
HED 451 Prevention Strategies in Community Health
HED 477 Stress Management
HED 482 Social Determinants and Multicultural Health
HED 487 Physical Activity and Aging
HIST 417 History of Modern Medicine
MGMT 300 Operations Management))
MGMT 306 Organizational Behavior and Diversity****
MGMT 310 Legal Issues for Managers****
NUTR 445 Applied Nutrition and Exercise (Prereq is Nutr 345, PEP326L)
SOCI 340 Sociology of Medical Practice
SOCI 346 Health and Social Inequalities I
SOCI 347 Health and Social Inequalities II*****
Legend for SYMBOLS
))Prereq is MATH 1350 and BCIS 1110 and (ENGL 2120 or ENGL 2210)
***Prereq is completion of PSYC 1110
++Prereqs are PSYC 2120 and PSYC 2510
)))Prereq is PSYC 2250
##Prereq is PSYC 2220 or PSYC 2270
^^Permission of Instructor
****Prereqs are (English 2120 or ENGL 2210) and (PSYC 1110 or SOCI 1110)
*****Prereq is SOCI 346
Total Hours for B.S. in Exercise Science: 120
ADVISEMENT NOTES: Once accepted into the College of Education & Health Sciences, students must meet with their Exercise Science advisor (Dr. Kravitz) each semester to remove the Academic Hold for registration.
A student earning below a "B-" in a PEP course may repeat the class. If a student does not receive a "B-" or better on the second attempt the student will be removed from the Exercise Science program.
GRADUATION NOTE: All students must complete a ‘graduation check’ the semester PRIOR to graduation. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
All students going onto graduate programs are encourage to look up the prereqs for these future career paths and complete the classes along †he way to finishing the B.S. Degree in Exercise Science.
