Requirements and Curriculum

Requirements include a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework, which includes the core curriculum, departmental electives and external electives, along with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum grade of B- in every required course.

On this page:

Prerequisites

A semester each of calculus, anatomy, physiology, exercise science, physics lecture/lab and chemistry lecture/lab.

Core Curriculum

  • ES 502 Neuromuscular and Metabolic Responses to Exercise
  • ES 503 Cardiopulmonary Responses to Exercise
  • ES 539 Research Seminar
  • CHB 550 Public Health and Population Wellbeing
  • STA 527 Introduction to Medical Statistics or CEP 532 Understanding Statistical Research or OS 518 Statistical Methods Oral Science or equivalent
  • NTR 505 Exercise Nutrition

Thesis and Comprehensive Exam Curriculum

In the thesis option, you’ll enroll in ES 597 (6 credits) and engage in an independent research study by developing and defending a thesis.

In the comprehensive exam option, you’ll participate in research and a practicum, ES 592 (3 credits). You will also take ES 596 Individual Guidance Project (2 credits) or ES 676 Selected Readings (2 credits).

Departmental Electives

Select a minimum of three credit hours in formal coursework (exercise science or nutrition) outside of the core curriculum. Courses that do not meet the departmental elective requirements include Research Seminar (ES 539), Directed Readings (ES 589), Thesis (ES 597) and Independent Study (ES 599).

External Electives

You can further personalize your program with courses in related disciplines outside of the department. Your advisor can help you select the best courses based on your specific program of study.

Examples of elective courses taken recently by Exercise Science MS students

Fall semester:

  • ES 528 Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness
  • ES 575 Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury
  • ES 599* Independent Study
  • NTR 503 Nutrition and Health
  • NTR 699 Supervised Teaching
  • PGY 551 Human Physiology I
  • EEH 530 Intro To Health Care Organization

Spring semester:

  • ES 599* Independent Study
  • MGH 632 Health Care Strategy & Operations
  • NTR 600 Pathophysiology Of Nutrition Related Diseases
  • NTR 699 Supervised Teaching
  • PGY 552 Human Physiology II
  • RSC 522 Research Design & Methodology for Clinical Problems
  • EEH 515 Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease
  • EEH 542 Health Policy in the US

*Note that ES 599 does not satisfy the minimum of 3 credit hours that must be taken in formal course work (ES or NTR) within our department.

Informal Degree Requirements

You may need to complete specialty training or certification to participate in certain research studies.