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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2018-2019

Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science (HPEX)

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
Exercise Science
Program description
The Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences offers programs that prepare students to pursue careers that utilize exercise interventions for both healthy and diseased populations and/or careers designed for students who wish to enter a health care-related field (that does not require licensure, certification or registry status). The department offers one undergraduate degree program; the Bachelor of Science with either the exercise science concentration or the health science concentration.
Career opportunities
Career paths include exercise physiologist, corporate fitness director, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist, strength and conditioning specialist and wellness director. Additionally, the exercise science concentration prepares students for graduate study in exercise science or athletic training and offers an excellent option for those students who want to obtain the pre-requisites for post-graduate study in physical therapy, occupational therapy and medicine.  
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Exercise Physiologist 
  • Fitness and Wellness Coordinator
  • Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
  • Health Educator
  • Recreation Worker
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Sports Coach or Scout
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 151
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0

Contact information

Department name:
Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Building/room location:
1020 West Grace Street, 500AC Building, Room 111
Phone:
(804) 828-1948
Email:
khs@vcu.edu
http://khs.vcu.edu/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
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Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Complete BIOL/Z 101 or BIOL/Z 151 with a C or better.
  • Attend all supplemental instruction sessions.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations on campus.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers/ job titles in your field of study.
  • Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists to learn about opportunities.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic or career advisor.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Attend a Pre-Professional Health Interest Workshop, if you are considering a pre- professional health program (physical therapy, pre-med, etc.).
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, and time management).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.
  • Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes in your major, and strategies for success in your degree program.
  • Take PHIS 206 and PHIZ 206 and BIOL 205 in your second year (but not in the same semester).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA).
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Join a student organization such as the Exercise Science Club, Jacob’s Chance at VCU, Black Pre-Physical Therapy Association, or Emerging Healthcare Leaders.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café.
  • Join a cultural organization.
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • See your advisor each semester to discuss degree progression and plans for elective coursework.
  • If you are considering graduate or professional school or a post-bacc certificate, make sure you are integrating the prerequisite course requirements into your degree plan appropriately.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Create and complete an HPEX related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Complete a study abroad experience if you planned to. Consider a short-term study abroad over spring break or the summer (including HPEX 391, Global Health in Jamaica).
  • Consider becoming a diversity ambassador with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend an internship interest workshop at least a semester before you plan on taking HPEX 395.
  • Relate your site selection to your future career goals and aspirations.
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Talk to your advisers and faculty about whether graduate school, a “gap year”, or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • Research graduate/professional schools at least one year in advance of application deadlines. Complete admissions exams the summer before your senior year (GRE, MCAT, DAT, etc.).

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Take HPEX 480 in your final semester and take one of the two national certification exams as part of the course.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Take the HPEX 395 and HPEX 495 internship courses.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2018-2019

Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science (HPEX)

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
Exercise Science
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Complete BIOL/Z 101 or BIOL/Z 151 with a C or better.
  • Attend all supplemental instruction sessions.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations on campus.
  • Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers/ job titles in your field of study.
  • Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists to learn about opportunities.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic or career advisor.
  • Attend a Pre-Professional Health Interest Workshop, if you are considering a pre- professional health program (physical therapy, pre-med, etc.).
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, and time management).
Experience Year 2
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.
  • Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes in your major, and strategies for success in your degree program.
  • Take PHIS 206 and PHIZ 206 and BIOL 205 in your second year (but not in the same semester).
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA).
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Join a student organization such as the Exercise Science Club, Jacob’s Chance at VCU, Black Pre-Physical Therapy Association, or Emerging Healthcare Leaders.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café.
  • Join a cultural organization.
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Year 3
  • See your advisor each semester to discuss degree progression and plans for elective coursework.
  • If you are considering graduate or professional school or a post-bacc certificate, make sure you are integrating the prerequisite course requirements into your degree plan appropriately.
  • Create and complete an HPEX related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center.
  • Complete a study abroad experience if you planned to. Consider a short-term study abroad over spring break or the summer (including HPEX 391, Global Health in Jamaica).
  • Consider becoming a diversity ambassador with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
  • Attend an internship interest workshop at least a semester before you plan on taking HPEX 395.
  • Relate your site selection to your future career goals and aspirations.
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
  • Talk to your advisers and faculty about whether graduate school, a “gap year”, or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • Research graduate/professional schools at least one year in advance of application deadlines. Complete admissions exams the summer before your senior year (GRE, MCAT, DAT, etc.).
Excel Year 4
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Take HPEX 480 in your final semester and take one of the two national certification exams as part of the course.
  • Take the HPEX 395 and HPEX 495 internship courses.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.