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Academics Sport And Exercise Science

Sport and Exercise Science

The Wisconsin Lutheran College sport and exercise science major combines a robust interdisciplinary education in the health sciences and liberal arts with diverse hands-on experience in a wide range of laboratory, clinical, and field venues. Successful completion of this major prepares graduates for lives of servant leadership in a wide range of professions.

Academics

  • WLC sport and exercise science majors are able to take advantage of small, active, and participatory lab experiences. These labs provide hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities. In addition, students are required to participate in an undergraduate research project, culminating in a poster presentation. The combination of experiential learning, strong academics, and undergraduate research successfully prepares WLC sport and exercise science majors for a variety of fields, careers, and graduate studies opportunities.

    Students desiring graduate school may consider a variety of careers and graduate school programs. Alumni have sought master’s degrees in athletic training, kinesiology, and occupational therapy, as well as doctorate degrees in chiropractic and physical therapy. Other graduate programs are available in human performance and health and wellness. Students will work individually with their academic advisor to develop an academic and career path that is the best fit for them.

    Students may also want to consider dual-degree programs for athletic training, chiropractic, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

    If students are not interested in graduate school, careers in personal training, strength and conditioning, and other related occupations in the field are options; several alumni have found success in these fields. 

    What Makes the Program Distinctive?

    WLC’s sport and exercise science program is broad-based and flexible. Students are able to develop close relationships with faculty, allowing for adaptation of individual programs to meet career aspirations. The inclusion of biology, chemistry, psychology, and communication courses prepares students for careers in a variety of fields, something other programs lack by solely preparing students for limited opportunities in specific professions.  

  • ACCREDITATION

    Wisconsin Lutheran College's Exercise Science program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES).

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    Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
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    DUAL-DEGREE OPPORTUNITIES

    3+2 DUAL-DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ATHLETIC TRAINING (M.S.A.T.) DEGREE
    Our partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) provides students with an opportunity to obtain both a bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from WLC and a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training from UWM in just five years rather than the typical six, saving students tuition expenses and allowing them to enter the workforce sooner!

    3+3.3 DUAL-DEGREE DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC (D.C.) DEGREE
    Our partnership with Palmer College of Chiropractic provides students with an opportunity to obtain both a bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from WLC and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College in just six and one-third years. 

    3+2 DUAL-DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (M.S.O.T.) DEGREE
    Our partnership with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, gives students an opportunity to obtain both a Bachelor of Science degree in sport and exercise science from WLC and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from WashU in just five years!

    3+3 DUAL-DEGREE DOCTORATE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY (D.P.T.) DEGREE
    Our partnership with Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, IL, allows students to obtain a bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from WLC and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from RFU in just six years instead of the usual seven or eight.

    ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH

    Experiential Learning

    Sport and exercise science majors benefit from hands-on learning. Throughout their courses, students participate in various experiential learning exercises, including isokinetic tests, VO2max tests, anatomical analysis of motion, and stimulated muscle contraction of frogs.

    Undergraduate Research

    The Wisconsin Lutheran College sport and exercise science program requires students to conduct an undergraduate research project, culminating in a poster presentation. This capstone experience enhances knowledge in the area of sport and exercise science, as well as leads to further insights and data for the advancement of the discipline.

     

    BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

    Internship Opportunities

    Wisconsin Lutheran College encourages students to consider experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. Taking advantage of WLC's proximity to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, several students have completed internships at Froedtert's Sports Medicine Center in physical therapy, athletic training, and with the Center's Performance Enhancement Program (PEP). Other students have interned in physical therapy at the Aurora Sports Medicine Institute and in occupational therapy at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Center for Independence, and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Two students developed exercises and activities for physical delay for a school in Kenya as part of their internship.

     

    GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREERS

    Graduate School

    Our sport and exercise science program properly prepares you for success in graduate school. Alumni are pursuing master's degrees in athletic training, nursing, clinical physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, and occupational therapy. Alumni are also pursing doctorate degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic, and physician assistant studies.

    Program alumni have sought Master's degrees in Athletic Training at Texas Tech (TX), University of Findlay (OH), Manchester University (IN), UW-Milwaukee; Master's in Kinesiology at UW-LaCrosse and University of Minnesota; and Master's of Occupational Therapy at Concordia University (WI), Midwestern University (IL), and Mt. Mary University (WI). Doctorate degrees are also an option, and alumni have completed degrees at Palmer School of Chiropractic (IA, CA, FL) as well as the Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Carroll University (WI), Concordia University (WI), Clarke College (IA), and UW-Milwaukee.

    Careers

    Sport and exercise science career opportunities are growing. While many careers require a master's degree or certification in a specific area, WLC prepares students to excel in a variety of graduate programs or careers. 

    Students may choose to work as athletic trainers, cardiac rehabilitation technicians, community health and fitness instructors, personal trainers, corporate wellness instructors, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and strength and conditioning specialists or coaches. 

    Our graduates can be found working as: 

    • Athletic trainers in high schools, hospitals, and NCAA Division I and Division III college,
    • Strength and conditioning coaches for NCAA Division I basketball and a MLB minor league team,
    • Certified personal trainers at area athletic and fitness clubs,
    • Occupational therapists and physical therapists in clinical settings,
    • Cryotherapists, 
    • Clinical research assistants, and more!

    ADVISING INFORMATION

    Learn more about course offerings, sample programs, and entrance requirements for this major:

    SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE ADVISING PAGE

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