Program Overview

Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.A.–Fitness Professional

The goal of the fitness professional program is to prepare students to assume roles as leaders in the fitness field and the area of fitness research. The blend of theoretical coursework and practical experience will assist the student in preparing for career opportunities and national fitness certifications.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Exercise and Sport Science program (fitness professional track), students should be able to:

• Apply curriculum learning to pass fitness-related accredited certifications
• Efficiently and independently demonstrate accurate fitness testing methods to create comprehensive fitness programs for healthy and clinical populations
• Explain, correct, and modify exercise techniques to healthy and clinical populations
• Explain general nutritional concepts for specific fitness goals
• Comprehend the basic administrative duties of fitness management
• Critically analyze fitness-related research, blog posts, and other outlets of information

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must:

• earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
• complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
• take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
• earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

Students seeking the major in exercise and sport science–fitness professional (EXSS–FP) must complete the following departmental requirements in addition to required General Education courses:

• Core Requirements:
  • EXSS 155 & EXSS 256: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II H, F (6 hours)
  • EXSS 220: Fitness Management (3 hours)
  • EXSS 360: Sports Nutrition (3 hours)
  • EXSS 376: Physiological Basis of Human Performance (4 hours)
  • EXSS 380: Neuromuscular Control and Learning H (3 hours)
  • or EXSS 385: Biomechanics of Sport
  • EXSS 408: Theory and Application of Strength Training and Conditioning for Fitness Professionals (3 hours)
  • or EXSS 478: Sports Performance Training
  • EXSS 410: Exercise Testing and Prescription (4 hours)
  • EXSS 593: Practicum in Physical Fitness and Wellness (3 hours)
  • Select two courses from the following options: (6 hours)
    • EXSS 593: Practicum in Physical Fitness and Wellness (can be taken for an additional 6 hours, or a total of 9 hours for the core requirements)
    • Additional EXSS elective course(s) excluding first-year seminars
• Additional Requirements:
  • BIOL 101 & 101L: Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory H, F (4 hours)
  • Select one: (4 hours)
    • BIOC 107: Introduction to Biochemistry
    • CHEM 101 & 101L: General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I 1, H, F
  • Total Hours: 43

Special Opportunities in Exercise and Sport Science

Honors in Exercise and Sport Science

The senior honors program provides exercise and sport science majors the opportunity to pursue an independent, two-semester research project. A student must have an overall grade point average of 3.3 or above prior to acceptance into the departmental honors program and must maintain an overall average of 3.3 or above to remain in the program. Students complete EXSS 693H and EXSS 694H. Honors study involves the completion of a substantial piece of original research and the formal oral presentation of the results.

Departmental Involvement

In addition to its academic offerings, the department houses many research laboratories, and the campus recreation program. Both provide experiences outside the classroom. Students may also affiliate with the Carolina Sports Business Club and the Carolina Sport Administration Club.

Experiential Education/High-Impact Experience

The following courses satisfy the experiential education requirement in the Making Connections curriculum and satisfy the high-impact experience requirement in the IDEAs in Action curriculum:

• EXSS 51: First-Year Seminar: Entrepreneurship in Human Performance and Sport (3 hours)
• EXSS 207: Coaching Principles (3 hours)
• EXSS 393: Sports Medicine Clinical (1 hour)
• EXSS 395: Undergraduate Research Course (1-3 hours)
• EXSS 420: Program Planning in Recreation Services (3 hours)
• EXSS 493: Field Experience in Sport Administration (3 hours)
• EXSS 593: Practicum in Physical Fitness and Wellness (1-3 hours)
• EXSS 693H: Senior Honors Thesis (3 hours)
• EXSS 694H: Senior Honors Thesis (3 hours)

Laboratory Teaching Internships and Assistantships

The fitness professional students serve a practicum with local fitness organizations.

Study Abroad

The Department of Exercise and Sport Science offers summer study abroad programs depending on faculty availability. Refer to the department’s website and the study abroad website for more information. For other study abroad experiences the department will gladly work with its majors in advance of the experience to determine appropriate credit.

Undergraduate Awards

The Patrick F. Earey Award, named in honor of a longtime faculty member, is given annually to the outstanding senior major in the department. The award signifies exemplary leadership, academic achievement, and extracurricular involvement by a senior exercise and sport science major.

The Ronald W. Hyatt Scholarship, named in honor of the late Dr. Hyatt, one of Carolina’s “priceless gems” and a faculty member in the department, is a merit-based scholarship awarded annually to an outstanding full-time undergraduate exercise and sport science major with junior status.

Undergraduate Research

Students are encouraged to explore research interests by taking EXSS 395, completing independent research studies, or writing senior honors theses. Please review the EXSS website under the research laboratories tab to determine where your research interest lies. Contacting individual faculty in your area of interest is encouraged, or reach out to Dr. Zachary Yukio Kerr, the EXSS director of undergraduate research.

Department Programs

Majors

• Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.A.–General
• Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.A.–Fitness Professional
• Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.A.–Sport Administration
• Exercise and Sport Science Major, B.S.

Minors

• Coaching Education Minor
• Exercise and Sport Science Minor
• Sports Medicine Minor

Graduate Program

• Exercise and Sport Science, M.A.

Courses

• Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS)
• Lifetime Fitness (LFIT)
• Physical Activities (PHYA)

One lifetime fitness course is a graduation requirement for all students at UNC–Chapel Hill (post-2006 curriculum). Students are encouraged to complete the lifetime fitness requirement during their first year of study. A student may enroll in only one LFIT course and may count only one, one-credit LFIT course toward graduation at Carolina. These courses combine practice in a sport or physical activity with general instruction in lifelong health.