College of Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Physiology
Studying sport and exercise physiology at DeSales gives you the knowledge and skills to work in a variety of settings—from coaching sports teams to helping patients in rehabilitation centers. The Sport and Exercise Physiology major is flexible, allowing you to tailor the program to your goals. You’ll learn how to assess physical performance, design training programs, and understand the science behind exercise.
Program Details
- Official Degree Name
- Bachelor of Science
- Format
-
In Class-Day
- Credit Hours
- 124
- Program Start
- Fall Semester
- Application Deadline
- Apply Anytime
- Average Time to Degree
- 4 Years
Why Get Your Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports and Exercise Physiology?
If you’re fascinated by how the human body responds to physical activity and want to help others optimize health and performance, this major is for you. At DeSales, we stand out by focusing on the whole person. This means you’ll be taught to understand the science and how to connect with and motivate individuals on their wellness journey.
Program Highlights
Multiple Pathways to Success
- This major opens many doors, whether working directly with athletes, helping patients in clinical settings, or pursuing further education. Start a career in exercise testing and prescription, cardiac rehabilitation, or strength and conditioning. Prepare for graduate school in fields like physical therapy, occupational therapy, or apply to medical school. The versatile skills you gain will offer you many options.
Professional Development Opportunities
- In the sport and exercise physiology program, you’ll have the chance to work with professionals in the field. You’ll also gain real-world experience that will make you a strong candidate for future jobs or graduate programs. Enhance your resume, specialize your path and help you build a network of contacts in the industry
Leadership and Character Development
- Being a leader in the sports and health fields requires more than technical skills—it requires strong character and the ability to inspire others. At DeSales, our program focuses on developing both leadership abilities and ethical decision-making, which will serve you well in any career path you choose.
What Will You Study?
All sport and exercise physiology students must complete an internship requirement. This ensures students gain practical experience with diverse clients, from clinical populations to trained athletes.
This curriculum is designed to give you a deep understanding of how the body works and how to apply this knowledge to improve health and performance.
Courses you may take include:
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Fitness Assessment
- Kinesiology
- Nutrition
- Sports Science
Meet the Faculty
Justin DeStasio '25
Sport and Exercise Physiology
The professors genuinely want you to succeed and are always available for extra help or guidance throughout your four years. I am very excited to use my degree to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy and am very grateful for the opportunities and support the Sport and Exercise Physiology program has provided during my undergraduate experience.
Outcomes & Careers
In addition to challenging courses, you will gain valuable experience through a required internship. This experience is essential to your learning and offers an opportunity to enhance your skills and make connections in the field.
DeSales’ Career Development Center will help you find an internship that's right for you. The staff will also help prepare you for the job market upon graduation (or sooner).
Students who graduate from DeSales with a bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise physiology can:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of functional anatomy, applied physiology, and qualitative and quantitative movement sciences. They can apply this knowledge to various health, fitness, sport, and daily movement activities.
- Access, generate, and critically evaluate scholarly research and be able to communicate scientific information in written and oral form to diverse audiences.
- Assess a client’s current fitness, nutrition, and health behaviors. Consistent with the principles of evidence-based practice, assist the client in developing a more active and healthier lifestyle.
- Demonstrate a Christian understanding of the human person in the Salesian tradition by ethical and professional interaction with patients, clients, and colleagues that respects their personal dignity and sacred nature.
- Demonstrate a commitment to professional activity and lifelong learning by active student participation in professional meetings, seminars, grand rounds, and extra-curricular learning opportunities.
Admission Checklist
- Completed application
- High school transcript
- Entrance essay
- Optional SAT score submission
Program Highlights
Program FAQs
The Sport and Exercise Physiology program is seeking accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE). Accreditation by CASCE means that DeSales has shown itself to be a distinguished higher education strength and conditioning program with academic rigor and practical excellence through a peer-reviewed accreditation process.
There are profession-specific tracks within the major that create clear pathways to guide our students’ academic progression, allowing them to adapt their degrees to suit their professional goals easily.
These tracks include Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Orthotics and Prosthetics, Pre-Athletic Training, and Strength and Conditioning. There is also a general track suitable for students interested in Clinical Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic, and other career fields.
The Sport and Exercise Physiology program has three dynamic and innovative laboratory spaces dedicated to studying the human body’s response to exercise. Our facility has state-of-the-art technology that allows students to learn hands-on by performing testing typically performed by professional exercise physiologists in places like the Olympic Training Centers.
- Our sport and exercise physiology lab contains treadmills and metabolic carts, Velotron and Monark cycle ergometers, a GE Ultrasound, and full 12-lead EMG devices.
- Our human movement lab contains a power rack with dumbbells, barbells and weights, an EMG system, force plates, and a variety of other strength, power, and muscle-specific assessment tools.
- Our body composition lab contains an underwater weighing tank.
Since these labs are primarily a teaching and research facility, the lab has also provided physiological testing for competitive local athletes for the past two decades, free of charge. With faculty supervision, students can complete physiological assessments, including body composition, aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, electrolyte hydration and evaluation, and lactate profiles. The athletes and their coaches use this information to help fine tune their training.
DeSales is constantly communicating with various secondary institutions with technical programs. We currently have agreements with Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, Lehigh County Career and Technical Institute, and Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School. Students graduating from these schools may qualify for up to 6 free college credits.
Physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Most DPT programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree before admission. The Pre-Physical Therapy track in the Sport and Exercise Physiology major helps students meet the requirements for admission to a DPT program. Additionally, we have an agreement with the DeSales DPT program guaranteeing acceptance for up to six of our students.
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