Cleveland University Kansas City offers new B.S. in Exercise Science degree

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) has received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science degree. Beginning in January 2021, the new degree will be offered through the university’s College of Health Sciences and is ideal for those who have a desire to gain knowledge about movement and exercise to promote health, improve performance, and prevent disease.

The curriculum design is based on the standards set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine, and will be presented in eight-week courses on a year-round schedule. Classes are designed to delve deep into the subject matter while offering an intensive, accelerated schedule that allows for the completion of the degree in as little as three years. The program allows for online learning, while labs and practical classes will be on-ground, for hands-on procedures, methods, and practices.

Coursework will lead to a greater understanding of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and nutrition. Management principles and strategies are also incorporated, as well as the scientific and psychological concepts that influence physical activity. The curriculum will go beyond research and theory to practical application in the field.

The degree offers instruction on the design and implementation of exercise initiatives for healthy individuals, physical performance, and those with controlled chronic diseases. Students will learn to apply the knowledge and skills required to assess human physiology and motion-related characteristics of individuals from varied populations in professional practice. Students will also learn to appreciate and address the behavioral and cultural influences that affect the adoption and maintenance of a healthy, physically-active lifestyle.

Exercise science also provides a strong academic foundation for individuals interested in dual credentials for other areas of study, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, dietetics, chiropractic, and research, as well as other health and fitness-related professions. After obtaining the bachelor’s degree, some may choose to pursue additional education in one of those fields.

Dr. Chris Todden, dean of the College of Health Sciences at CUKC, said the program will allow  students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the human body and its performance in different situations.

“The field of exercise science is ever-expanding in allied healthcare, supporting both practicing professional exercise scientists and in the foundation of other allied healthcare providing careers,” Todden said. “Unquestionably, the outcomes of several clinical and research advances have placed exercise science in the position to best learn about the human body when stressed by activity and physical demands, and in situations where physical activity is limited. This discipline is growing fast, and students enrolling in the unique program offered at CUKC will find a degree filled with a strong foundation of coursework and clinical education, as well as extraordinary elective course offerings allowing for flexibility and distinction, resulting in numerous professional opportunities and pursuits after graduation.”

All academic degrees at CUKC support its institutional mission to promote health, wellness, and vitality, while educating its students to be the difference in healthcare.

CUKC is a private, nonprofit university located in Overland Park, Kansas. Since 1922, CUKC has been educating leaders in chiropractic and the health sciences. CUKC attracts students who are compelled to be the difference in healthcare, and they find themselves in a world where they are needed more than ever. More at https://www.cleveland.edu/news-archive/.