Exercise Science Program Highlights
At Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Exercise Science students gain practical experience through labs, internships, and hands-on training designed to prepare them for careers in health, fitness, and rehabilitation. Students work in the Human Performance Laboratory using professional equipment for body composition analysis, metabolic testing, health-related fitness testing, injury assessment, and rehabilitation principles. The program also provides opportunities for practicums and internships in real-world settings, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to human performance, wellness, and exercise science careers.
Faith is woven throughout the Exercise Science program at MVNU. Students are encouraged to examine health, wellness, and human performance through a Christian worldview while growing spiritually alongside their academic studies. Courses and discussions incorporate prayer, scripture, ethical decision-making, and service-minded leadership, helping students develop both professional skills and Christ-centered character. The program emphasizes educating the whole person while preparing students to live out their faith in healthcare, fitness, and wellness professions.
Our travel and study-afar programs let you grow in your faith while experiencing new cultures. Through serving in communities across the U.S. or abroad, you’ll deepen your compassion, explore your callings, and gain meaningful experience for your résumé.
Why Choose MVNU
The Exercise Science program at MVNU offers a broad and flexible curriculum focused on human movement, exercise physiology, wellness, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. Students can choose concentrations that align with their career goals, including pre-professional pathways for graduate study or human performance and wellness careers. Expect small class sizes, supportive faculty with industry certifications and experience, challenging coursework, and preparation for careers such as physical or occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology, personal training, and strength and conditioning specialists. Graduates are equipped to enter the workforce directly or continue into advanced professional programs.
Concentrations
- Human Performance and Wellness
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Professional (Exercise Physiologist, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training)
Human Performance and Wellness — Designed for students interested in fitness, coaching, strength and conditioning, and wellness leadership. Students gain hands-on experience in exercise testing, personal training, community wellness, and performance enhancement while preparing for careers in fitness centers, corporate wellness, and health promotion. This concentration is ideal for students who plan to enter the workforce after completing their bachelor’s degree or pursue advanced study in Exercise Science through MS or MS-PhD pathways.
Pre-Physical Therapy — Ideal for students planning to pursue graduate study in physical therapy. This concentration provides a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, chemistry, and exercise science while helping students prepare for the academic and clinical expectations of PT school.
Pre-Professional — Built for students interested in advanced study in fields such as occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology, sports medicine, and other allied health professions. Students complete rigorous science coursework and gain practical experiences that prepare them for graduate and professional programs.
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Exercise Physiology — A science‑driven route for students who want to become exercise physiologists — blending anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, metabolism, and human performance with hands‑on lab work and real‑world experience. Through MVNU’s Exercise Science program, you’ll learn to assess fitness, analyze physiological responses to exercise, design evidence‑based training programs, and support clients across clinical, wellness, and performance settings. This pathway prepares you to step directly into roles in cardiac rehab, strength and conditioning, corporate wellness, fitness coaching, and human performance labs.
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Personal Trainer /Strength and conditioning specialist — A practical, coaching‑focused pathway for students who want to become certified personal trainers — blending exercise science, movement technique, and real‑world training experience. MVNU even offers a dedicated personal training course with the option to take the NCSF certification exam upon completion. You’ll learn to assess fitness, design individualized programs, and motivate clients across a wide range of fitness, wellness, and performance settings.
Course Descriptions
Browse the course descriptions to explore your program’s classes.
Financial Aid & Costs
Discover the financial aid opportunities available to help make an MVNU education affordable.
Student Support
The Center for Student Success helps you build skills and succeed academically.
Meet Our Exercise Science Faculty
It is vital to us that our students learn from the best. Along with master’s or doctoral degrees, faculty have current licensures in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. Many continue to practice the trades for which they are licensed.
Hands-On Learning in the Human Performance Laboratory
Gain real-world experience using professional equipment for exercise testing, fitness assessment, and performance evaluation while building the practical skills needed for careers in health, wellness, and human performance.
The Human Performance Laboratory at MVNU gives Exercise Science students valuable hands-on experience in clinical examination, exercise testing, fitness assessment, and exercise prescription. The lab is used as part of a clinical experience to observe real patient evaluations, assessments, and design of treatment methods for various disorders. These practical experiences help students build confidence and develop the real-world skills needed for careers in rehabilitation, wellness, and human performance. Our lab is also equipped with advanced fitness testing equipment such as Air displacement Plethysmography and a CPET ergometer to learn how to perform a comprehensive health-related fitness assessment.
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What Can You Do With An Exercise Science Degree?
An Exercise Science degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University opens the door to diverse career opportunities in health, fitness, rehabilitation, and sports performance.
- Physical or occupational therapy professional
- Exercise physiologist
- Athletic trainer
- Strength and conditioning specialist or personal trainer
MVNU graduates have pursued careers in athletic training, physical therapy, wellness coaching, sports performance, rehabilitation, and fitness leadership, serving individuals, schools, healthcare organizations, and community programs.
The solid foundation of coursework and preparation our program offers will allow you to also seek other opportunities to diversify your career path. You will be able to take further credentialing examinations such as the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) through the NSCA or prepare for the ACSM Exercise Physiologist Certification (ACSM-EP).
Did you know MVNU offers online degree programs? After graduating with your undergraduate degree, you can continue your education with a 100% online master’s program.
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