Exercise & Sport Science Major & Minor
Students develop an understanding of the history and philosophy of exercise and sport programs while learning how to best teach, motivate, evaluate, and organize sports and fitness activities and programs.
Students majoring in exercise and sport science must select either a health and human performance concentration or a physical education concentration. Students can also pursue a minor in school health education and certification in physical education, adaptive physical education, or athletic coaching.
In addition, the Exercise and Sport Science Department offers the courses that all Carthage students must take to meet the physical education requirements.
Courses You’ll Take
Take courses in health and wellness education, coaching, nutrition, strength training, psychology, kinesiology, and physiology. Here’s a sampling:
- Applied Principles of Strength Training
- Exercise Physiology
- Sport and Recreation Management
- Nutrition for Health and Performance
- Theory and Practice of Coaching
Exercise and Sports Science Major concentrations
Physical Education Licensure
Those seeking a teaching license in physical education or adaptive physical education (preschool through 12th grade) complete the EXSS major, the secondary education minor, and other select courses. Additional coursework can lead to certification in health education or athletic coaching.
Health and Human Performance
This concentration appeals to aspiring health care professionals, community health educators, as well as fitness and athletic coaches. Students can pair this with another area of study (such as pre-health, business administration, or communication) to develop the skills they need in the field.
beyond the classroom
Students majoring in EXSS often teach group fitness classes at Carthage or assist with strength and conditioning for its 28 varsity sports teams. EXSS faculty have led J-Term study tours to Costa Rica and Wisconsin’s Door County.
See opportunities for EXSS students
where exercise and sport science majors go
Carthage alumni have become independent personal trainers, taught and coached in a variety of settings, or worked for other employers such as:
- School districts in Wisconsin and Illinois
- Department of Defense
- Milwaukee Fire Department
- Orthopedic Associates
- Athletico Physical Therapy
- Hospice Care Center
- Abbott Laboratories
Others have gone on to graduate programs in educational leadership, strength and conditioning, and exercise and nutrition sciences.