College for Women | Henrietta Schmoll School of Health
The St. Kate’s exercise and sport science (EXSS) degree, offered on our St. Paul, MN campus, explores human performance, including health and wellness, strength and conditioning, exercise adherence across the lifespan, and athletic ability.
Program Details
Take 32 credits per year to finish your EXSS degree in four years.
Learn in the Field and in Modern Research Labs
Our two state-of-the-art research labs — Food Science and Women’s Health Integrative Research (WHIR) — allow students and faculty to explore ways of moving, fueling our bodies, and honing our athletic skills.
St. Kate's exercise and sport science majors have access to a tremendous range of fieldwork sites. You'll work with your advisor to develop fieldwork experiences that meet your career goals, including fitness centers, corporate health, personal training, and physical therapy rehabilitation centers.
Through the exercise and sport science program, you'll have the opportunity to work as a personal trainer, including conducting fitness assessments and exercise testing, and prescribing an exercise regime for participating faculty and staff members.
Take advantage of our dual-degree tracks to fast-track your way to a graduate degree and a successful career! We offer dual degree programs combining an exercise science bachelor's degree with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy, or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Entry-Level).
With an exercise and sport science degree from St. Kate's, you'll be provided an excellent base of skills and experience perfect for pursuing graduate studies in a variety of healthcare disciplines, such as exercise physiology, kinesiology and biomechanics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician's assistant studies, public health, medicine, chiropractic studies, and athletic training.
With the St. Kate's EXSS degree, you will also be well prepared to pursue careers like:
- strength and conditioning coach
- wellness coach
- exercise physiologist
- personal trainer
- health and wellness promotion
- cardiac rehabilitation
Accreditation
St. Catherine University has the only accredited exercise and sport science program in Minnesota. St. Kate’s exercise and sport science program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Outcomes
During the 2017-2018 academic year, the exercise and sport science program at St. Catherine University reported
- an 87% passing rate for students sitting for a national certification exam
- an 85% placement in discipline-specific jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation
- a 97% satisfaction rate with employers and internship supervisors