Program Overview

Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional)

The Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in exercise science and prepare them for a career as a physician assistant.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program are:

• Professional Competence: To utilize knowledge, skills, and abilities to evaluate health behavior and risk factors; develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based exercise and wellness programs, and employ behavioral strategies to motivate individuals to adopt and maintain positive lifestyle behaviors.
• Professional Interaction and Communication: To interact and communicate effectively by presenting information in oral and written formats, collaborating with professionals and peers, expressing ideas clearly, and giving and receiving feedback.
• Professional Behavior and Involvement: To model professional behaviors (including preparedness, engagement, and appearance), and demonstrate professional involvement across the major.
• Ethical Reasoning: To make well-informed and unbiased decisions to enhance the well-being of others.
• Critical Thinking: To demonstrate clear and accurate reasoning to make decisions and solve problems.

Options

Students in the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program have two options:

• Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2: Earn a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in five years rather than six. In the first three years, students complete their major courses and prerequisites for the SRU PA program. At the end of their second year, students apply for admission into the SRU PA program. If accepted, their first year in the SRU PA program meets the remaining requirements for their undergraduate degree. If not accepted, students continue to complete their undergraduate degree and can reapply to the program.
• Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU Traditional): Complete the requirements for their major and the prerequisites for the SRU PA program and apply to the SRU PA program in their senior year.

Academic Policies for Students in the Exercise Science Major

The academic policies for students in the Exercise Science major are as follows:

1. Policy for earning acceptable grades in the Exercise Science program:

• A student must earn a grade of "C" or better in ALL Required Basic Courses (EXER 100's, EXER 200's, EXER 300's) and Required Upper Level Courses (EXER 400's, EXER 410's, EXER 424, EXER 450).
• A student must earn a grade of "C" or better in ALL Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements (BIOL 216/BIOL 217 or BIOL 209/BIOL 309, STAT 152, PHYS 201).
• The Exercise Science curriculum is structured with pre-requisites. A student must earn a "C" or better in the pre-requisite course to be able to take the next course.

2. SRU has a Repeat of Courses Policy:

• Students may attempt to improve their grade point average by repeating courses. The most recent grade earned is used in calculating the GPA even if the earlier grade was higher.
• If a passed course is repeated and failed (or NC), the student will lose both the grade points and credits previously earned.

3. Policy for changing to the Exercise Science major:

• A Slippery Rock University student wishing to change their major to Exercise Science MUST have an overall GPA of 2.00.
• A transfer student who enters from another University must have an overall GPA of 2.00.

4. Additional costs associated with the Exercise Science major:

• Lab fees will be collected for exercise science classes with a lab component.
• A student in the Exercise Science major is required to maintain current CPR/AED, First Aid, and Student Professional Liability Insurance while enrolled in EXER 412 and EXER 450 at their own cost.

Curriculum Guide

The curriculum guide for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program is as follows:

GPA Requirement - Exercise Science

• Overall GPA: 2.00 or higher
• Major GPA (includes Major Requirements and College-Wide Requirements): 2.00 or higher

Course List

The course list for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program is as follows:

• Rock Studies 2 Requirements: 44 hours
• Other Basic Requirements: 0-3 hours
• Major Requirements: 57 hours
• Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements: 15 hours
• Additional Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses: 28 hours
• Electives: 0 hours

Rock Studies 2 Requirements

The Rock Studies 2 requirements for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program are as follows:

• The Rock:
  • SUBJ 139: Foundations of Academic Discovery 1
  • ENGL 102: Critical Writing
  • ENGL 104: Critical Reading
  • STAT 152: Elementary Statistics I
• Integrated Inquiry:
  • Select one of the following: COMM 200, PHIL 110, POLI 235
• Thematic Thread:
  • Select 12 credits from the following categories: Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry, Humanities Inquiry, Social Science Inquiry, Natural Sciences Inquiry

Major Requirements

The major requirements for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program are as follows:

• Required Basic Courses:
  • EXER 100: Introduction to Exercise Science: Careers and Content
  • EXER 101: Applied Anatomy/Lab
  • EXER 201: Exercise Physiology with Lab
  • EXER 202: Biomechanics with Lab
  • EXER 300: Research Methods in Exercise Science
  • EXER 301: Aerobic Exercise Leadership
  • EXER 302: Exercise Leadership: Resistance Training
• Required Upper Level Courses:
  • EXER 400: Wellness Coaching and Program Management
  • EXER 401: Fitness Assessment
  • EXER 402: Exercise Prescription
  • EXER 403: Advanced Exercise Physiology
  • EXER 410: Clinical Exercise Physiology
  • EXER 411: Exercise Science: Special Populations and Conditions
  • EXER 412: Exercise Science: Senior Synthesis
  • EXER 424: Nutrition and Exercise
  • EXER 450: Exercise Science Internship

Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements

The natural science and math college-wide requirements for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program are as follows:

• BIOL 209: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIOL 309: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• PHYS 201: Elements of Physics I with Lab
• STAT 152: Elementary Statistics I

Additional Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses

The additional physician assistant prerequisite courses for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program are as follows:

• BIOL 114: Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab
• BIOL 250: Genetics with Lab
• BIOL 210: Medical Microbiology with Lab
• CHEM 107: General Chemistry I
• CHEM 111: General Chemistry I Lab
• CHEM 108: General Chemistry II
• CHEM 112: General Chemistry II Lab
• CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
• EXER 250: Medical Terminology
• PSYC 105: Introduction to Psychology

Four-Year Plan

The four-year plan for the Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional) program is as follows:

First Year

• Fall:
  • EXER 100: Introduction to Exercise Science: Careers and Content
  • PHYS 201: Elements of Physics I with Lab
  • PSYC 105: Introduction to Psychology
  • SUBJ 139: Foundations of Academic Discovery 1
  • Rock Studies 2 Requirements
• Spring:
  • EXER 101: Applied Anatomy/Lab
  • STAT 152: Elementary Statistics I
  • Rock Studies 2 Requirements
  • Select one of the following: BIOL 114, Rock Studies 2 Requirements

Second Year

• Fall:
  • EXER 201: Exercise Physiology with Lab
  • EXER 202: Biomechanics with Lab
  • BIOL 209: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Select one of the following: BIOL 114, CHEM 107, CHEM 111
• Spring:
  • EXER 300: Research Methods in Exercise Science
  • EXER 301: Aerobic Exercise Leadership
  • EXER 302: Exercise Leadership: Resistance Training
  • BIOL 309: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • CHEM 108: General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry II Lab

Third Year

• Fall:
  • EXER 400: Wellness Coaching and Program Management
  • EXER 401: Fitness Assessment
  • EXER 402: Exercise Prescription
  • BIOL 250: Genetics with Lab
  • CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
• Spring:
  • EXER 403: Advanced Exercise Physiology
  • EXER 410: Clinical Exercise Physiology
  • EXER 411: Exercise Science: Special Populations and Conditions
  • BIOL 210: Medical Microbiology with Lab
  • Rock Studies 2 Requirements

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • EXER 412: Exercise Science: Senior Synthesis
  • EXER 424: Nutrition and Exercise
  • Rock Studies 2 Requirements
• Spring:
  • EXER 450: Exercise Science Internship