Exercise Science

The Exercise Science Major provides a scientific core that allows the student to gain an understanding of human anatomy and physiology and how exercise impacts the body. Students who are interested in a career at the baccalaureate level as an exercise professional may choose the Health-Fitness Concentration that provides the knowledge and the learning of practical and applied skills related to pre-participation health screenings, conducting and interpreting physical fitness assessments, developing exercise prescriptions, conducting exercise, and applying behavioral and motivational strategies for participants. Students who are interested in post-graduate educational opportunities may choose the Pre-Professional Concentration that provides the coursework and academic preparation necessary for graduate study in applied kinesiology and clinical/research programs in exercise science and allied health programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training.

If you have an interest in human health and a passion for exercise and want to help people achieve fitness through exercise, you might enjoy pursuing the major in Exercise Science.

Typical employment settings include: 

• Exercise and Fitness Centers
• Hospital Wellness/Fitness
• Corporate Fitness
• Exercise/Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Personal Training
• Athlete Strength and Conditioning
• Graduate study in Exercise or Sport Physiology
• Graduate study in Allied Health
• Exercise Science Facilities

The Health, Kinesiology, and Sport Classrooms and Computer Lab are equipped with Smart Board® technology, projectors, and PCs with internet access.

The Human Performance Laboratory is the primary research and student clinical-learning setting for exercise physiology. This laboratory contains the necessary equipment to perform all the classical physiological measurements during exercise including a Sensor Medics metabolic cart for cardiopulmonary/ECG exercise testing, treadmills and several cycle ergometers for aerobic exercise testing, a Biodex™ Isokinetic Dynamometer and a Biodex™ Balance Assessment System, an AMTI™ force plate designed to measure forces and moments used in research and clinical studies looking at balance, gait, and sports performance. The lab is equipped with a state-of-the-art Hologic™ dual x-ray absorptiometer (DXA) for estimating body composition and bone density and Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) measurements for the measurement of body composition and total body water. 

The Department Weight-Room contains resistance exercise testing and training devices to test muscular strength and endurance with single-and multi-joint exercises and the Gymnasiums are available for class and lab instruction that provide students the opportunity to work with the latest exercise-related tests and equipment.
The Molecular and Biochemistry Exercise Research Laboratory is equipped with a number of biochemistry analyzers that can assay muscle tissue and various substrates, hormones, and gene expression (e.g., microplate reader, electrophoresis, real-time PCR, etc.). This lab has the capacity to conduct a vast array of biochemical and molecular biology techniques used in exercise physiology and nutrition research.

Dr. Neil Schwarz (251) 460-6877 neilschwarz@southalabama.edu
Dr. Ryan Colquhoun (251) 461-1615 rcolquhoun@southalabama.edu
Dr. Geoffrey Hudson (251) 461-1620 ghudson@southalabama.edu
Dr. Matthew Stratton matthewstratton@southalabama.edu  (251) 341-3849