Exercise & Sport Science program

Undergrad major Teacher license Graduate degree

Join a career path where exercise is medicine

UWL's Exercise and Sport Science Department has an international reputation and a more than 100-year history of preparing professionals for careers in sport management, fitness, physical education, adapted physical education, school health education and more. 

Students are assigned a faculty adviser to assist with academic and career decisions and many gain hands-on experience working alongside leading researchers. Students can focus their major on a variety of emphasis areas: physical, adapted or school health education teaching; sport management; or exercise science. The exercise science emphasis prepares students for careers in fitness, health, and related fields, and they can choose a fitness track or pre-professional track.

A pre-professional track prepares students for graduate fields that use exercise as medicine such as athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation and more. ESS also offers graduate programs in Athletic Training, Clinical Exercise Physiology, and Physical Education Teaching.

What is exercise & sport science?

Exercise and sport science is the study of human movement as it relates to exercise and sport. Study ranges from how the body works at the cellular level to the broad, overarching activities and sports that can become a prescription to promote health and improve performance.

My time here at UWL has been nothing short of amazing. I am happy to call this beautiful city my second home.

Hannah Schwartz

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Exercise and Sport Science jobs

UWL's Exercise and Sport Science Department prepares graduates for diverse careers worldwide related to exercise and sports. Whether your interest is in sport management, teaching, coaching, fitness, medicine, or therapeutic exercise, program faculty are committed to helping you achieve your maximum potential. 

  • Teach: Graduates of the Physical, Adapted, and School Health Education Teaching program are prepared and licensed to teach K-12 physical education, adapted physical education, and school health education in Wisconsin, nationally, and internationally. Supply exceeds the demand for physical education, adapted, and school health teachers, and graduates of the UWL program are highly sought after. 
  • Work in the fitness industry: Students who select the Exercise Science Fitness Track are prepared for employment in the fitness industry including positions in fitness testing/assessment, program design, and instruction in a wide variety of fitness-related areas. Students are also prepared to enter a variety of graduate programs including fitness, health, human performance, and related areas. Internship sites and employers nationwide seek UWL fitness-emphasis majors including U.S. Olympic Training Centers.
  • Find a career in sport management: Students who select the Sport Management emphasis become highly-trained managers who find success in a variety of careers within the sport enterprise. Most graduates are employed in the field, including positions in professional sports, athletic clubs, golf/tennis clubs, fitness centers, marketing directors, sport merchandising, university recreational sports and athletics programs, facility management, swim fitness instruction, and YM/YWCA leadership positions.
  • Work in clinical exercise: The Pre-professional Track is specifically designed for students interested in going on to graduate school for a career that uses the clinical application of exercise or activity (uses exercise as medicine) such as athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation and more.

Positions

  • Activity specialist
  • Aquatics specialist
  • Coach
  • Exercise/fitness specialist
  • Health/fitness club program director
  • Industrial/corporate health promotion
  • Personal trainer
  • Physical education teacher (with teacher certification)
  • School health education teacher (with teacher certification)
  • Sports director (youth or adult)
  • Strength and conditioning specialist
  • Ticket sales and service representative
  • Athletic communications and events coordinator

Further education

Students who select the Exercise Science pre-professional track are prepared to enter graduate programs where exercise is used as medicine or a form of therapy. These areas include physical therapy, athletic training, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and related fields. Students are also prepared for employment in the health and fitness industries. 

ESS also offers graduate programs in Athletic Training, Clinical Exercise Physiology, and Physical Education Teaching. 

What distinguishes UWL's Exercise and Sport Science program?

Strong reputation

Excellent faculty, staff, and facilities have helped UWL's ESS-related programs earn outstanding regional, national, and international reputations in student education and professional preparation.

Internationally-respected faculty

Professors are well-known in the industry and have conducted hundreds of exercise-related studies in collaboration with the American Council on Exercise. UWL professors have consulted with Olympic coaches and frequently serve as sources on exercise and fitness topics in national news.

Students have close connection to faculty

Each student is assigned a faculty adviser to assist with academic and career decision. Also, students will learn from faculty instead of teaching assistants.

Hands-on experiences

The program's highly acclaimed “learn by doing” reputation is enhanced by providing students with hands-on educational experiences in their area of choice. Students have many opportunities to get involved in undergraduate research projects, internships, and other professional activities.

Top facility in the Midwest

UWL has one of the finest physical education, exercise science and sport facilities in the Midwest. Indoor facilities include gymnasiums, gymnastics area, dance studio, wrestling room, strength training centers, racquetball/wallyball courts, and swimming pools, a 200-meter track, 12 volleyball and badminton courts, six tennis courts, an indoor climbing wall, and high ropes elements, well-equipped athletic training room, and anatomy-physiology and human performance laboratories. Outdoor facilities include softball, baseball, soccer, general purpose fields, and the high ropes challenge course, Marsh Quest.

Sport Management program follows national guidelines

The Sport Management emphasis follows guidelines created by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), which was established by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM).

Physical, Adapted, and School Health Education Teaching major engages with children

Students are provided an abundance of opportunities to work with school-aged children with and without disabilities during coursework. Students also have the opportunity to work with K-12 students and teachers in area classrooms and gymnasiums. A concentration in coaching competitive athletics is also available.

Choose your focus area

Students can choose from one of three areas of emphasis within the program, preparing them to meet the challenges of a wide variety of careers. Whether interested in teaching, coaching, fitness, medicine, therapeutic exercise or management, the Exercise and Sport Science Department is committed to helping students achieve their maximum potential.

Nationally-accredited program

UWL's Athletic Training program, a graduate program within the Exercise and Sport Science Department, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Areas of study

Exercise & Sport Science

Exercise and sport science is the study of human movement as it relates to exercise and sport. Study ranges from how the body works at the cellular level to the broad, overarching activities and sports that can become a prescription to promote health and improve performance.

Learn more for Exercise & Sport Science

Exercise Science: Fitness Track Exercise Science Emphasis: Fitness Track

Students who select the exercise science fitness track are prepared for employment in the fitness industry including positions in fitness testing/assessment, program design, and instruction in a wide variety of fitness-related areas. Students are also prepared to enter a variety of graduate programs including fitness, health, human performance, and related areas.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Exercise Science: Fitness Track Catalogfor Exercise Science: Fitness Track

Exercise Science: Pre-Professional Track Exercise Science Emphasis: Pre-Professional Track

The pre-professional track is specifically designed for students interested in going on to graduate school for a career that uses the clinical application of exercise or activity (uses exercise as medicine) such as athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation and more.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Exercise Science: Pre-Professional Track Catalogfor Exercise Science: Pre-Professional Track

Physical, Adapted, & School Health Education (PASHE)

Graduates of the physical, adapted, and school health education teaching program are prepared and licensed to teach K-12 physical education, adapted physical education, and school health education in Wisconsin, nationally, and internationally. Supply exceeds the demand for physical education, adapted, and school health teachers, and graduates of the UWL program are highly sought after.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Physical, Adapted, & School Health Education (PASHE) Catalogfor Physical, Adapted, & School Health Education (PASHE)

Sport Management Emphasis

Sport management is the business side of sport and recreation. The major prepares students for a variety of sport-related careers within professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, community/recreational sports, corporate sports organizations, non-profit organizations, and the fitness industry.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Sport Management Catalogfor Sport Management Learn more for Sport Management

Physical Education Teaching

Graduate degree

Undergrad + graduate dual degree

This dual degree program enables a student to receive both a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science pre-professional major and a Master of Science in athletic training. Students apply for admission to the ESS: exercise science pre-professional major first, and then later, to the athletic training graduate program. Students typically complete the undergraduate requirements in three years followed by 23 months in the athletic training graduate program.

Undergrad major Graduate degree

Sample courses

ESS 212 Teaching Fundamental Movement Skills in Physical Education This is a content course focused on the development of fundamental movement skills and knowledge for students in grades K-5 that are aligned to Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) National Standards and Grade Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education. Teacher candidates will develop common and specialized content knowledge related to the development of fundamental movement skills, movement concepts, and gymnastics. In addition, teacher candidates will recognize and understand academic language and theory related to teaching and learning fundamental movements, educational games, and dance. Students will have opportunities to plan, observe, and teach peers and K-12 learners. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ESS 118 or concurrent enrollment. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 206 Human Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise Science II This course is designed to cover the maintenance of homeostasis through study of the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, digestive, endocrine, and renal systems. Metabolism will also be discussed. It will also cover metabolism and fluid/electrolyte balance. Prerequisite: ESS 205. (Not open for credit for students who have had BIO 313.) Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 207 Human Motor Behavior This course is an investigation into the nature of human motor development, motor control, and motor learning. Topics will be approached from a constraints perspective, focusing on the interaction among the individual, the environment, and the task. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 302 Physiology of Exercise Applied physiology: a study of how normal physiological function (homeostasis) is altered, and subsequently restored, in response to various forms of stress (exercise and training). Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: grade of "C" or better in ESS 206 or BIO 313. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 303 Biomechanics Biomechanics emphasizes the investigation and application of mechanical principles to the study of human motion and the motion of sport objects. Students will learn systematic approaches for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the human body as it engages in motor activities. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: grade of "C" or better in ESS 205 or BIO 312. Recommended: MTH 150, MTH 151, or MTH 207. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 349 Psychology of Coaching Competitive Athletics Aids the prospective coach to better understand the application of psychological concepts to the coaching of sports. Emphasis will be on the methods of improving the performance of athletes through a better understanding of the factors affecting teaching and learning in athletics. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 323 Nutrition and Sport Basic principles of human nutrition and nutritional needs for athletes and/or active populations. Issues discussed include ergogenic aids, carbohydrate loading/manipulation, eating disorders, and protein supplementation. Practical application will include dietary analysis and composition for people in various activities and conditions. Prerequisite: ESS 302 or NUT 200. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 355 Methods of Exercise Leadership This course will cover the methodology of developing, teaching and leading sound exercise workouts for all levels of physiological fitness and for individual needs. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ESS 302, ESS 303; admission to exercise sports science - fitness emphasis. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 373 Media and Public Relations in Sport Management This course is designed to acquaint students with media and public relations practices that are incorporated in sport management. Included in the class are the responsibilities and issues that sport managers face on a daily basis such as PR management, crisis management, interviews and media conferences, legal and ethical dilemmas, and the production of sport media relations tools. The course emphasizes practical application of sport media and PR. Prerequisite: admission to exercise sports science plan - sport management emphasis. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 432 Financial Aspects of Sport This course is designed to study financial management principles including budget development, fundraising, and economic impact for use in the administration of sport and athletic programs. In addition, emphasis will be placed on sources of revenue and expense for sport organizations and their use in sport management. The student will understand why budget and finance in sport is a critical component of all sports related industries. Prerequisite: admission to exercise sports science - sport management emphasis; junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

ESS 439 Teaching and Leadership in Adapted Physical Education This course provides students with practical teaching and supervision opportunities to enhance their skills in planning, implementing, and evaluating adapted physical education programs for children and youth with disabilities. Special education service delivery process is reviewed and implemented. Emphasis is also placed on effective staff collaboration and consultation as well as teacher and program supervision. In addition, all students are required to participate in the UW-La Crosse Motor Development Program conducted on Thursday evenings. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ESS 436; admission to physical, adapted, and school health education. Offered Fall, Spring.

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