Exercise Science

Major

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Study How the Body Performs, and Build a Career From It

At Goshen College, you won’t just study exercise science—you’ll live it.

Our Exercise Science major explores physical activity, health, and human performance to prepare you for a career as a physical therapist, athletic trainer, strength coach, or fitness professional. By blending classroom learning with real-world practice, you’ll gain the hands-on experience you need to jump straight into a job or excel in graduate school. Throughout it all, small classes and dedicated faculty mentors ensure you’re supported and known by name every step of the way.

  • 91%
    Of classes have fewer than 30 students, so faculty know you by name.
  • 93%
    Of graduates are employed, in grad school, or in service within a year.
  • 297
    Number of NAIA scholar-athletes in last five years

    Made for People Who Love Performance and Health

    If you love sport and movement and you want a career built on understanding the body, this major is for you. The hands-on work starts early. Every student does an internship, and many also join faculty on their research, so you’ll spend time in athletic training rooms and physical therapy clinics, and out in community health programs around Goshen. Those placements often grow out of the college’s connections with local hospitals, sports teams and wellness centers. Back on campus, you’ll work in the Human Performance Lab turning learning into practice.

    In a science major this demanding, that kind of attention counts. Goshen also brings together students from a wide range of backgrounds, including a large international community, so you’ll learn next to people whose experiences don’t look like your own.

    What You’ll Study

    As an exercise science major, you’ll study the body from the inside out — starting with anatomy and physiology, then moving into kinesiology through courses in biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise prescription and fitness testing. You’ll learn how the body responds under exertion, adapts to training and recovers from injury, and you’ll apply it directly with athletes and clients and through a community internship before you graduate. That foundation, plus an optional concentration in personal training, prepares you for a career in athletic training, personal training, wellness education or facility management — or for graduate study in fields like physical therapy. View the complete program requirements in our Catalog.

    Program Requirements
    Two male track athletes embrace in celebration.

    Where an Exercise Science Degree Takes You

    Graduates of the program pursue careers such as:

    • Physical Therapist
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Athletic Trainer
    • Exercise Physiologist
    • Strength and Conditioning Coach
    • Personal Trainer
    • Sports Performance Analyst

    Many students also continue to graduate programs in physical therapy, kinesiology, or other health professions.

    • The Exercise Science degree at Goshen College helped me discover my passion for strength and conditioning while exploring the many career opportunities within the field. Through extensive laboratory work and hands-on experiences, I was able to apply classroom concepts in real-world settings, building the knowledge and confidence needed to begin my professional career.

      Thiago Serejo 26'

      Personal Trainer

    Paying for Goshen

    It’s worth asking about early. All exercise science majors are eligible to apply for Goshen College academic and need-based scholarships, and most students receive financial aid.

    To see your own price after aid, run the net price calculator and talk with a real person in the financial aid office.

    Financial AidScholarshipsnet price calculator

    Common Questions About Exercise Science major

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