Applied Exercise Science

The Applied Exercise Science (AES) program is a student-centered, innovative, comprehensive program designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for excellence in the fields of exercise science, sport performance, and health and wellness. The curriculum encourages life-long learning through classroom, laboratory, internship, and research experience. Graduates will become highly effective, compassionate allied health care professionals capable of working with varied populations.

The Applied Exercise Science (AES) major is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform pre-participatory screening, fitness testing, exercise prescription, and exercise leadership for healthy, health-compromised populations, and athletic performance enhancement. The primary goals of the AES major are to prepare students:

• For graduate/professional school admissions in various applied health programs including physical therapy, physician assistant, accelerated nursing, chiropractic medicine, osteopathic medicine, exercise physiology, and strength and conditioning.
• For entry-level employment as an exercise science professional in various careers including cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, cardiovascular diagnostic testing, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, corporate fitness, and personal training.
• To successfully challenge accredited national certification examinations.

Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.

*Internship experience

The senior-level culminating experience may be either EXS 499 taken as a six (6)-credit field experience internship (taken in the summer, fall, or spring) or a combination of two (2) EXS 499 three (3)-credit field experience internships totaling six (6) credits. Each student is required to complete a minimum of two hundred and seventy (270) hours (forty-five (45) hours/credit) under the direct supervision of an approved clinical internship site supervisor. To be eligible to complete the internship, the student must be senior-level status with a minimum of ninety (90) earned credits, in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater, and compliant with all academic and technical standards. Failure to achieve these academic standards may delay graduation.

**EXS, ATC, BIO, CHE, or PHY Electives

An elective course substitution is allowed per permission of the Exercise and Sports Performance Department Chair.

Students are subject to two (2) sets of academic guidelines, the first to meet minimum qualifications for ongoing enrollment at the University of New England and the other to meet specific Applied Exercise Science program requirements. 

1. In keeping with the guidelines of the University of New England, students in the Bachelor of Science in Applied Exercise Science major must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) as described in the Academic Policies and Regulations page of the catalog.
2. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C in the following courses: MAT 120, BIO 105, BIO 106, BIO 208, BIO 209, BIO 309, NUTR 220. Failure to achieve a minimum grade of a C will result in program-level probation, and may affect academic progression and delay graduation.
3. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C in each EXS and ATC prefix course.
4. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C- in the following courses: CHE 110 and PHY 110. Failure to achieve a minimum grade of a C- will result in program-level probation, and may affect academic progression and delay graduation.
5. Failure to achieve a minimum grade of a C or C- in any of the above-outlined courses requires the student to repeat the course.
6. A student may enroll in any of the courses listed above a maximum of two (2) times. Enrollment consists of earning a letter grade. Withdrawing (W) from a course is not considered officially enrolled.
7. Failure to achieve a minimum of a C or C- a second time the course is taken will result in dismissal from the major.
8. Once in course work in the junior year, students must maintain a minimum cumulative semester-end grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. Failure to do so will result in program-level probation and may affect academic progression and delay graduation.
9. Students whose cumulative semester-end GPA falls below the 2.5 threshold for two (2) consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the program.

Upon successful completion of the AES program students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge in the exercise sciences including anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, kinesiology and biomechanics, ECG interpretation, exercise testing, and prescription, motor learning, and nutrition.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and clinical proficiency in the following content areas for both apparently healthy and chronic disease populations: pre-participation screening/health risk appraisal and stratification; fitness assessment and evaluation; the design of individually tailored exercise prescription; and appropriate exercise techniques.
• Recognize the importance of interprofessional collaboration in the delivery of safe, high-quality care within the health care system/exercise science field.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written formats.
• Recognize the importance of ethically-grounded care for diverse clients, patients and/or athletes.
• Successfully challenge accredited national certification examinations from the American College of Sports Medicine and/or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years. Other restrictions apply.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

The following criteria must be met for admission to the AES program:

• A high school diploma or the equivalent with a better-than-average achievement record in a college preparatory program including chemistry (must include laboratory), biology (must include laboratory), mathematics (two (2) mathematics courses — algebra required, geometry preferred), English (three (3) years required — four (4) years preferred).
• Academic transcripts must reflect an overall high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.5, in addition to a GPA of 2.5 in all science and math courses.
• The Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) is optional.
• A health record must be submitted which indicates specific findings regarding the applicant's complete physical exam.
• Complete the Common Application.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

The University of New England’s Applied Exercise Science (AES) major received accreditation in January 2019 from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor of the health sciences professions. In collaboration with its Committee on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits more than twenty-one hundred (2,100) individual education programs in thirty (30) health science occupations. CAAHEP accredited programs are assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that they meet the standards and guidelines of each profession.

The AES major has received endorsement since its inception in 2006 from the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP). The NSCA ERP recognizes and distinguishes schools with standardized, approved strength and conditioning curricula in undergraduate settings designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications.