Dear Prospective Student,
Thank you for your interest in Exercise Science (ES). As you can see from other information contained on this website, our program is varied and allows you to work with a large contingent of individuals once you complete your major.
The ES curriculum is a science-based curriculum, designed to
prepare and equip students for entry-level positions in any of four
health-fitness settings: commercial, community, corporate, or
clinical. Completion of the ES program also will act as a stepping
stone to prepare the exceptional student for graduate education in
exercise physiology/science, cardiac rehabilitation, physical
therapy, sports medicine, biomechanics and other allied health
disciplines.
The ES program includes everything from the study of physical
activity and the associated acute and chronic physiological
responses and adaptations resulting from it, to health-fitness
business management principles found in facilities worldwide.
Majors are encouraged to select a minor in business, psychology or
any other area depending on their interests. Several field
experience courses during the four-year program as well as a
capstone experience involving a semester-long internship required
at the end of the ES program afford students the opportunity to
select an area of specialization in the field at sites available
throughout the country. Graduates consider the internship
requirement as one of the best parts of the program before
graduation. Working with facilities all over the country has
allowed our students to see the availability of employment
positions in this field. Some interns are hired at their internship
site after completing their requirements. Some have gone onto much
higher positions in the company where they are employed, or gain
employment within the community where they complete their
internship. ES graduates from NDSU (approximately 30 to 40 per
year) have been employed in these different settings across the
country, especially in metropolitan areas.
Approximately 30% have continued on to graduate school or medical school, while around 20% have been hired on at their internship site. With an undergraduate degree and no experience, a starting salary averages up to $45,000 per year. However, the starting salary for health-fitness professionals is difficult to predict because of such factors as experience, geographic location, employment setting and market demand. It also can depend on licensure and certification. An advanced degree affords greater opportunity.
In 2003, NDSU's Exercise Science major received endorsement from
the ACSM. In July, 2006, the curriculum received accreditation from
the Commission for Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences in
cooperation with the American College of Sports Medicine. The NDSU
ES program is one of the first seven accredited academic programs
in the country.
Again, welcome to our curriculum. If I can be of any assistance in
your selection of your career, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Donna J. Terbizan, Ph.D, FACSM
Professor and Exercise Science Program Coordinator
701-231-7792