General Information About Exercise Science & Health Promotion

The Department of Exercise Science & Health Promotion is headquartered on the Boca Campus and offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate emphasis in exercise science and health promotion. The programs are designed to prepare students for careers in clinical, corporate, commercial and/or community physical fitness and wellness education. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) have reviewed our undergraduate curriculum and have provided National endorsment of the ESHP program. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the American College of Sports Medicine certification examination in the specialty area of Health/Fitness Instructor (HFI), the National Strength and Conditioning Association exam for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), or the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Exam for Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Exercise science deals with the study of the immediate and long term effects of physical activity on the human body. Health promotion encompasses all of the components involved in the total well-being of an individual, exploring the social, spiritual, biological, emotional, physical, and environmental aspects of optimal health.Exercise Science and Health Promotion (ESHP) is a curriculum which covers a wide spectrum of issues involving human physiology and its proper physical and psychological maintenance. Additionally, the curriculum addresses various disease states and their responses to healthy life-style changes. The FAU ESHP program offers a wide variety of course work with an excellent foundation for all aspects of exercise science and health promotion.

So you want to be an Exercise Science and Health Promotion Major?

Due to the increasing costs of all associated areas of health care, we are experiencing a trend of increased personal involvement in matters of individual health. People are assuming more responsibility for their health and are relying less on traditional medical interventions. This new public awareness, and attention to various health issues, is increasing the demand for services and information in the areas of health promotion. Even within the medical community, the need for cost containment has resulted in the surge of the "Allied Health Professions" and the expansion of the "Para-medical" field. The concept of prevention is now a very hot topic and is receiving growing attention from the medical and research communities. More people are participating in regular physical activity and becoming increasingly aware of their nutritional habits, all in an effort to delay or prevent the onset of many of the chronic diseases plaguing our industrialized society. Even large corporation are now acknowledging the wisdom of prevention and this is reflected by the number of "Corporate Wellness Centers."

The world's love affair with sports also adds to the demand for ESHP professionals. Athletic performance is now a multimillion dollar commodity and athletes of all levels are looking to improve, maintain, and in the case of rehab, regain their level of play as soon as possible.

All of these reasons, and many more, make the ESHP graduate an "economically viable" asset to any group or organization.

The diversity of the ESHP professionals facilitates the opportunity for employment in a vast array of work settings. The following are just a few examples of places where the ESHP graduate may be found:

• HOSPITALS employ ESHP professionals in cardiac rehabilitation, community wellness programs, weight management, orthopedics, physical therapy, and research.
• COMPANIES need exercise specialists for their employee wellness programs. Sporting goods corporations need exercise research professionals for the development and testing of their products. Biomedical and pharmaceutical companies also hire ESHP professionals for sales and management positions.
• EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS need physical educators and trainers. Elementary and secondary schools employ health educators. Higher level institutions employ ESHP professionals as exercise research scientists and sports psychologists. Many ESHP graduates also seek admission into medical schools.
• HEALTH CLUBS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS employ fitness trainers, youth program directors, physical therapists, nutritionists, athletic trainers, and specialized activity instructors.
• VOLUNTARY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS such as the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association employ ESHP graduates.
• GOVERNMENT AGENCIES such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health departments seek ESHP professionals.
• SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS such as Olympic training centers, and professional sports teams hire highly trained ESHP professionals for coaching, program development, management, research and a variety of other services.
• PERSONAL CONSULTING is a growing field for the ESHP professional and can range from personal "one-on-one" training to full-service fitness consulting.

Click here for information on what you can do with your ESHP Degree: Employment Opportunities

PREPARING FOR YOUR ESHP CAREER

Decisions on a career are always difficult to make. The following guidelines will help to make your ESHP career a reality:

1. Assess your interests: Do you enjoy physical activity? Are you interested in how the human body works? Could you commit yourself to the study of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics?

2. Goals: What would you like to be? A physical therapist or a personal trainer? A scientist or a health promoter? It's not too early to start collecting information about your life's work. Ask your guidance counselor for help in contacting professional organizations to invite ESHP professionals to your school's career fairs.

3. Education: You must have the necessary educational preparation required to enter a ESHP career. You can begin by asking your health and science teachers and guidance counselors for advice on the most appropriate courses to prepare you for college work in ESHP.

4. Work/Volunteer: Look for a possible job position or volunteer in a fitness facility, on a school athletic team, a hospital, or in a physician's office. These activities will supply you with insight into career possibilities within the ESHP field.

5. Be Well-Informed: Determine which colleges or universities offer programs in the ESHP field. Colleges and universities are anxious to attract you as a potential student and will gladly answer any questions that will help you make a wise decision.

Exercise Physiology: This is the study of what happens to the body when one exercises. Many positions require certification. COURSE WORK: human anatomy, biology, chemistry, nutrition, motor learning, human physiology, exercise physiology, fitness assessment, exercise testing.

Health Promotion: Students in this program will be prepared for careers such as worksite health promotion, community health, and school health. COURSE WORK: perspectives of health and wellness, health promotion, nutrition in health and exercise, stress management, substance abuse, weight management.