Exercise Science Major
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About the Major
Exercise science critically examines the ways in which movement, exercise and physical activity are inherent to and improve the human condition. The department’s mission is to develop well-rounded and informed students, expanding their knowledge base by exploring how the body moves and responds to exercise across various populations.
Jobs in Exercise Science
- Health care professional
- Clinical researcher
- Dietician
- Exercise physiologist
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Physical therapist aide
Past Elon Exercise Science Internships
- Emory Healthcare System
- PIVOT Nutrition
- Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital
- OrthoCarolina
- Duke Sports Medicine Clinic
Related Majors
Exercise science professors enriched student’s Elon experience
Hailey Jurgens always had an interest in preventative medicine and knew she wanted to major in exercise science. But it wasn’t until meeting with Elon’s Department of Exercise Science during admitted-students weekend that she committed to the university.
The connection she felt with the department’s professors would only grow as she completed her four years at Elon, graduating in 2022.
“Both of my mentors greatly enhanced my Elon experience,” Jurgens said of professors Titch Madzima and Svetlana Nepocatych. “Not only have they helped me get to where I am today with experiences like research, internships, Elon alumni connections and connections within the field of exercise science, they have supported me on a personal level.”
The relationships we make in college shape our perspectives on the world and we are so lucky to be at a university like Elon that prides itself on community.
Jurgens was given the opportunity to be Nepocatych’s exercise physiology lab teaching assistant for two semesters and worked with the professor as a teaching and learning assistant for the Exercise Testing and Prescription course.
“By becoming her TA and TLA, I learned how to study better, apply different concepts, and explain topics in different ways,” Jurgens said. “(She) also helped me find my passion for public health and helped me navigate the world of dietetics.”
After graduation, Jurgens entered the master’s program in nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Jurgens’ two Elon mentors not only brought out her passion for public health, but they also guided her in her undergraduate research experience, in which she studied the effects of tart cherry juice on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Her research led to several conference presentations, including at the 2022 Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Conference.
With such influential mentoring experiences, it’s no wonder that Jurgens’ advice to new students centers on relationships.
“I would recommend future Elon students get to know their professors and form mentor-mentee relationships,” she said. “If there is a professor you really liked having in class, go grab a cup of coffee. The relationships we make in college shape our perspectives on the world, and we are so lucky to be at a university like Elon that prides itself on community.”
Did You Know?
- Elon’s exercise science curriculum begins with fostering a solid understanding of anatomy, chemistry, and physiology. Students then apply theories learned to courses in biomechanics, bioenergetics, exercise/sport psychology, neuromotor control and physiology of exercise.
- Exercise science majors work in Elon’s Koury Athletic Center, which houses a full complement of health, training, exercise and sports facilities. The Exercise Science Laboratory features instrumentation to assess body composition, aerobic fitness, muscle strength and endurance, balance, gait, blood and saliva biomarkers and sports performance.
- One of the hallmarks of an Elon education is hands-on learning. Through practicum experiences, internships and undergraduate research opportunities, students put the exercise science discipline’s skills, approaches and theories to test in real-world situations.