2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Science
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway))
Associate degree
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
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Chief Executive Officer
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Sports Medicine Doctor
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
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
Transfer major map
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Science
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: 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 | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend New Student Orientation.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Kinesiology & Health Sciences Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Exercise Science through the Virginia Wizard.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the VCU Kinesiology & Health Sciences department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to exercise science: American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association.
- Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Kinesiology & Health Sciences department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct 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.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Science
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 161 | PreCalculus I | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
| Humanities elective | Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Science with Lab | BIO 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) | BIOL 205 +PHIS/Z 206 | 4 | Major |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 162 | PreCalculus II | MATH 151 | 3 | Major |
| Health/PE elective | VCU equivalent | 2 | Elective | |
| History elective | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Science with Lab | BIO 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) | BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 | 4 | Major |
| CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| Science with Lab | BIO 101 General Biology I | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | Major |
| History elective | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Approved elective | MTH 245 Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major |
| Approved elective | PSY 230 Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
| Science with Lab | CHM 111 General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | Major |
| Social Science | PSY 200 Principles of Psychology | PSYC 101 | 3 | Major |
| Humanities | Select 1: ENG 200-level literature; PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Approved elective | PHY 201 General College Physics I | PHYS 201 | 4 | Major |
| Approved elective | Approved elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective |
| Tidewater credits transferred to VCU | 60 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
| HPEX 300 | Healthcare Delivery in the U.S. | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 310 | Fitness and Health | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 395 | Clinical Experience I | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 495 | Clinical Experience II (fulfills senior capstone) | 6 | Major |
| HPEX 350 | Nutrition | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 371 | Psychology of Physical Activity | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 374 | Musculoskeletal Structure and Movement | 4 | Major |
| HPEX 375 + HPEZ 375 | Physiology of Exercise and Laboratory | 4 | Major |
| HPEX 380 | Resistance Training for Health and Performance | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 440 | Chronic Disease and Exercise Management | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 441 | Assessment and Exercise Intervention in Health and Disease | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 470 | Exercise Programming and Leadership | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 475 | Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 3 | Major |
| HPEX 480 | Professional Certification Seminar | 1 | Major |
| Approved electives (check with VCU advisor) | 6 to 15 | Major | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||