Health and Exercise Science students advocate for physical activity as a vital component to health and well-being. Students examine the foundations of human physiology, functional movement science, mental health, exercise prescription, and injury and disease prevention.

Within a biopsychosocial model of health, students experience real-time research and conduct field assessment opportunities associated with the clinical practices of athletic training, fitness instruction, strength and conditioning, and rehabilitation. Students graduate with a professional portfolio of skills and abilities for admission to graduate school or employment in health, fitness, wellness, and sports industries.

FEATURED COURSES

In this program, you have the opportunity to work with a member of the Graduate School Planning Advisors who will help design a course of study that is suited to your career goals.

  • Athletic Conditioning and Performance
  • Exercise Programming for Special Populations
  • Health, Physical Activity, and Aging
  • Human Nutrition
  • Principles of Human Performance
  • Physiological Adaptations and Management of Stress

What's Happening in Health - Dr. BC and 2 MSJ Students

Program Concentrations

  Clinical Exercise Science

Please follow this link for a list of courses and more information: Clinical Exercise Curriculum Guide

This concentration prepares students for entry-level careers in clinical exercise settings. In addition, students have the opportunity to prepare for graduate programs in a health-related field. Common careers include cardiac rehabilitation specialist, clinical exercise physiologist, or exercise specialist in a medical fitness facility. Common graduate programs: athletic training, chiropractic, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or physician assistant studies.

  Sport Performance and Active Aging

Please follow this link for a list of courses and more information: Sport Performance and Active Aging Curriculum Guide

This concentration prepares students to design and implement exercise programs across the lifespan. Common career industries: Community and corporate fitness, group exercise instruction, personal training, strength and conditioning, sport coaching, or wellness coaching. Common graduate programs: Athletic training, exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, and public health.

  Health Promotion

Please follow this link to for a list of courses and more information: Health Promotion Curriculum Guide

This concentration prepares students to promote protective and negative health behaviors and risk factors, the social determinants of health, and interventions to promote well-being across the lifespan. Common career industries: Healthcare facilities, nonprofit or public health organizations, corporate fitness, or geriatric settings. Common graduate programs: health education, public health, behavioral and mental health specialists, social work, healthcare administration, and health-related law and policy.
  3+2 Master of Athletic Training

Please follow this link for a list of courses and more information: 3+2 Master of Science in Athletic Training

This concentration combines sports, medicine, health, disease and injury prevention, health behavior change, and exercise prescription allowing students to earn both degrees in 5 years. Students complete the first three years of the curriculum at Mount St. Joseph University in order to apply for a combined degree program with universities offering a CAATE accredited graduate degree in athletic training. Application and admission to the graduate program is required to declare this concentration.

Project Description:

"The ESIH department conducted a collaborative project this semester that paired a member of the MSJ community (faculty or staff) with students enrolled in ESC 323: Principles of Health Assessment and Exercise Prescription. The purpose of the project was to incorporate an experiential learning assignment into the course for the students, as well as provide exercise programming services to members of the Mount community." (Dr. Nicole Nolan, MSJ Assistant Professor, Exercise Science and Integrative Health)
Client Group: Mary Brigham (Associate Director of the Learning Center) with student exercise professionals Jacob B. and Jack T.
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Mary: "I was amazed at the amount of progress that I made in five weeks! My Exercise Science students came up with a plan that worked well for my schedule, and each time we met they had something new for me to learn in the weight room. I have more energy and my numbers improved all the way around! This experience was even better than I had hoped for!"

Jack: "Being able to practice and apply the skills learned in class to help members of the MSJ community was an incredibly valuable experience."
Client Group: Dr. Karen Holtgrefe (Associate Professor and PT) with student exercise professionals Ella B. and Kelsey G.
ESC-323_S223_ExRx-Project_Karen-H._Kelsey-G._Ella-B_1-RM.jpg
Karen: "Since the Knowlton Fitness center has opened I wanted to go and work out. The ESIH exercise opportunity was just what I needed. Ella and Kelsey really listened to my goals and created a fabulous program and supported me through the 5 weeks. I already made significant improvements and am looking forward to continuing on my own."

Kelsey: "I found it really motivating to watch our client’s confidence grow not only in us as exercise professionals, but in herself as well."

Ella: "I really enjoyed being able to establish a relationship with the client. I learned how to remain professional but have fun at the same time."
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I had my co-op at Oxford Physical Therapy. I really enjoyed being there. It made me realize that physical therapy is truly what I want to do. The people and patients were so welcoming and nice. I will miss the people that I met and the connections that I had with the physical therapists there. My advice for freshmen is to never give up and always do your best. Classes will be hard and will push you to the limits but I promise you it is all worth it. Makayla Carroll Oxford Physical Therapy Centers

Where can I work with a BS in Health and Exercise Science?

  Careers and Co-ops

Careers and Co-op Placement:

Common career paths: Athletic programs, student wellness centers, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, military, and tactical medical services, performing arts, worksite wellness and occupational health settings, family medicine, and orthopedic physician practices, and the fitness industry.

 

Our students and alumni have pursued opportunites at the following organizations:

Clinical Exercise Science Sport Performance and Active Aging:
  • Bayley Fitness & Wellness (Delhi)
  • Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Physical Therapy
  • Cincinnati Recreation Commission – Therapeutic Recreation (Bond Hill)
  • Cincinnati Sports Club (5-mile Road)
  • Delhi Township Fire Department (Delhi)
  • Drake Rehabilitation Hospital – University of Cincinnati
  • Mount St. Joseph University Athletics – Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation and Balance Centers (formerly Howell Rehab)
  • Special Olympics of Hamilton County
  • BLOC Ministries Sports Performance (Price Hill)
  • Cincinnati Kettlebell
  • Cincinnati Recreation Commission – Therapeutic Recreation (Bond Hill)
  • Elder High School (Price Hill)
  • Griffin Elite Sports and Wellness (Erlanger, KY)
  • Mercy HealthPlex (Queen City)
  • Mount St. Joseph University Athletics – Strength and Conditioning
  • ProForce Sports Performance
     
Health Promotion Health and Exercise Science – 3+2 Master of Athletic Training
  • BeConcerned (Covington, KY)
  • Wesley Chapel Mission Center (Over the Rhine)
  • Cheviot Elementary School (Westwood)
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Infectious Disease
  • City Gospel Mission (WestEnd)
  • CTI – Clinical Research Center (Cincinnati)
  • EarthConnection (Delhi)
  • Findley Market (OTR)
  • The Health Collaborative (Avondale)
  • Price Hill Will (Price Hill)
  • Our Daily bread (OTR)
  • The Recovery Center (Avondale)
  • St. Francis Seraph (OTR)
  • Thomas More University – Student Life (KY)
  • Working in Neighborhoods (South Comminville)
  • Xavier University 

 

  Graduate School Admission

Graduate School Admissions

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy – Mount St. Joseph University, Bellarmine University
  • Master of Science in Athletic Training – Xavier University
  • Master of Occupational Therapy – Walsh University
  • Master of Public Health – University of Cincinnati School of Medicine

Click below to view a virtual tour of the Centennial Field House.

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Twitter: @DrBCtheAT and @MSJ_MSJ_ExSciHealth

Facebook: facebook.com/MSJ.Exercise.IntegrativeHealth

Instagram: @drbctheat and @msj.exercise.integrativehealth

Climb Higher Series | Health and Exercise Science - Hear directly from our faculty about course offerings, program-specific details, and professional development opportunities. 

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News and Updates

Stay up to date with the most recent health and exercise science program news and events; visit the Department of Exercise Science and Integrative Health  page. 

Picture yourself here! Schedule a visit for a tour of campus, opportunities to meet with faculty, and the chance to imagine yourself at MSJ.

Scholarships, loans, grants? What’s the difference? How do I apply? By visiting our Scholarships, Grants, and Loans webpage, you’ll find out.