Exercise Sports Studies (BS)

Overview

Take your passion for sports and fitness to the next level as you prepare for a career in healthcare, the fitness industry, or an advanced healthcare profession. Industry experts estimate the size of the global sports industry at $1.5 trillion dollars worldwide — making sports one of the largest industries in the world.

If you're interested in a career in sports, fitness, or healthcare, D'Youville's Exercise and Sports Studies program offers three pathways to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports studies designed to prepare you for a career in these rapidly-growing industries.

Why Choose D'Youville?

  • D'Youville's growing NCAA Division-II athletic programs for men and women provide sports participation and learning opportunities as a student in the Exercise & Sports Studies program. 
  • Our nationally recognized Center for Research on Physical Activity, Sport, & Health will provide you with the kind of research experience that's respected and sought-after by employers and graduate programs.
  • By combining classroom instruction with internship experiences, our program will prepare you to enter a professional role in the sports/fitness and wellness industry as soon as you graduate.
  • D'Youville's commitment to a liberal education means that you'll learn how to solve problems, think critically, work well with others, and communicate effectively. All skills that today's employers are looking for.

What you'll learn:

  • Students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree can choose from two tracks
  • Exercise Studies Track: Students in this track learn the health and fitness aspects of the exercise sciences, ideal for preparing for a career in the fitness industry as a professional offering training and guidance in a variety of settings
  • Sports Studies Track: If you're interested in sports management, the business of fitness, or coaching, this track provides you with a solid foundation by teaching you the social, psychological, business, and management aspects of these industries

Internship Experiences Integrated into Our Curriculum

If you're interested in beginning your professional career immediately after graduation, the numerous internship opportunities available to ESS students will allow you to apply what you learn in the classroom into practice through hands-on, real-world experiences. It will provide you with the valuable on-the-job experience employers are looking for while allowing you to investigate a wide range of career experiences and build the kinds of professional contacts that often prove invaluable after graduation.

Because we understand the importance of putting theory into practice, we've structured the ESS program to integrate internship experiences into the curriculum, allowing you to put what you learn in the classroom into practice immediately.

Through your internship experiences, you'll:

  • Have the opportunity to explore various employment and career settings in order to discover what's right for your personal and professional goals and interests.
  • Grow your resume through real-world experiences in professional settings.
  • Develop networking skills and professional contacts in the exercise and sports sciences fields.

Explore Courses in Exercise and Sports Studies

  • Learn the basics of immediate and temporary care for sports-related injuries and illnesses. Explore safety concerns around exercise facilities and equipment and how to manage risk. Learn about issues for professional certification, medical liability, and other legal issues.

  • Explore the theoretical background and practical applications needed to competently assess physical fitness and the markers of athletic performance. Learn to develop effective exercise programs based on an individual's goals and objectives.

  • Discover the basic principles of strength training and conditioning for physical fitness and athletic development. Learn how to strengthen major muscle groups; how to develop speed, agility, and endurance; and how to obtain and maintain a high level of fitness through a quality exercise program.

Admission Requirements

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville.

First Time in College Freshman Requirements
  • Submitted application for admission
  • Official high school transcripts
    • An overall weighted GPA of 80 with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math, history, english, and science.
Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria
  • Submitted application for admission
    • Applications are free of charge and can be found on our apply webpage.
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
  • Cumulative GPA of 2

Build Upon Your Bachelor's Degree

BACHELOR’S DEGREE (BS) + DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT) COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM

If you're interested in a career as a professional physical therapist, our sequential degree program allows you to enter D'Youville as a freshman and graduate in six years with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Studies and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

As a student in the sequential degree program you'll be eligible for direct entry into the three-year professional graduate DPT program after you receive your bachelor's degree. Simply maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and a B or better overall and a 3.2 GPA in all the DPT prerequisite courses and you're in!

BACHELOR’S DEGREE (BS) + DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC (DC) COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM

Students interested in chiropractic can enroll in the sequential-degree program, Exercise and Sports Studies (BS) + Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). Entering first time in college students complete a BS in ESS under the administration of the ESS department. Students choosing the chiropractic track intimately study the basic sciences (chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology) in addition to the exercise sciences in preparation for the chiropractic graduate program. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and a B or better in all the chiropractic prerequisite courses to qualify.

Careers In Exercise and Sports Studies

Researchers and healthcare professionals are increasingly emphasizing the importance of fitness in supporting both physical and mental health. As a result, opportunities for graduates in Exercise & Sports Studies are on the rise. A degree from D'Youville in Exercise & Sports Studies will prepare you to begin a career in any of these settings (and more!).

See All Your Career Possibilities
  • Professional Athletics
  • College/University Strength & Conditioning
  • High School
  • Health & Fitness Industry
  • Personal Training
  • Corporate Fitness
  • Sports Medicine Clinic
  • Exercise Physiology/Research
  • Community Organizations (YMCA, etc..)
  • Military
  • Hospital/Medical Facility
  • Sports Marketing/Promotion/Management
  • Athletic Administration
  • Hospitals/Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Sports Psychology
  • Sports Sociology
  • Sports Journalism
  • Coaching

As the industry grows, being able to prove your expertise through professional certifications is becoming more important than ever. Students completing the Exercise Studies or Health Professions tracks of the ESS program will be prepared for the credentialing examinations administered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Our multidisciplinary approach prepares you to qualify for these important credentials and prepares you to pursue advanced graduate degrees in a number of fields including exercise physiology or health and human performance.

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