This degree prepares students for the job market in areas such as clinical exercise physiology as well as for entry into graduate programs in the exercise sciences or professional programs in the health professions.
The biological sciences encompass numerous cutting-edge disciplines. Each offers a multitude of exciting career paths. One of the most exciting is the growing field of exercise science. By studying exercise science at Northern Arizona University, you can prepare for a career in clinical exercise physiology, working in areas such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, or for admission to graduate or professional school in areas such as medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant, or other health care fields. You'll receive plenty of personal attention from faculty in the classroom, in research laboratories, and in our Biology Advisement Center. Numerous undergraduate research opportunities involve you in the process and application of science. And you can take advantage of our location on the Colorado Plateau, which offers a high quality of life with many excellent destinations for field projects and recreation.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 125 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Research | Optional |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology consists of core studies in areas such as chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, and general biology, as well as more advanced courses specific to the study of physiology and movement during exercise. Students will develop an understanding of human physiology, human movement, and the biological and chemical responses of the body to acute and chronic (training) exercise in the core Exercise Science courses; Introduction to Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology and its lab, Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology, Exercise Testing and Prescription and its lab, and in their senior capstone. With the help of advisors, students choose approved Exercise Science electives, which cover a wide range of disciplinary areas and are selected based on the individual student’s career or graduate school goals. These include courses in psychology, microbiology, genetics, pathology, cell and molecular biology, amongst many others.
Research opportunities are available for students in individual faculty’s research labs, as well as in NAU’s research centers and institutes, such as the Center for Bioengineering Innovation (CBI). Exercise Science students also have the option of completing an internship in sports performance or cardiac rehabilitation if they are considering a career in clinical exercise physiology.
Students graduating with an Exercise Science degree will be well prepared for careers in clinical exercise physiology, for admission into graduate programs in exercise science and for admission into professional programs such as physical therapy, physician’s assistant, occupational therapy, athletic training, and medicine.
Student Learning Outcomes
This major requires 80 - 87 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 80 - 87 units:
Exercise Physiology Coursework (38 units)
Physical Science Requirements (30 - 31 units)
Exercise Physiology Electives (12 - 18 units)
All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a Grade of "C" or better.
You must attain a Grade of "C" or better in the following:
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and start a Master of Science in Athletic Training at NAU.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
This major requires 83 - 95 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 83 - 95 units:
Exercise Physiology Coursework (41 units)
Physical Science Requirements (30 - 31 units)
Exercise Physiology Electives (4 - 16 units)
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.