When exercise meets expertise, anything is possible.
As an exercise and sport science (ESS) major at University of the Cumberlands, you’ll be learning from professors who are committed to helping you achieve your academic and career goals. In this bachelor's degree program, you can tailor your courses to your personal interests while building a strong academic foundation that’ll equip you to help others live their healthiest lives. From pursuing a strength-training career in the multi-billion sports industry to leading fitness classes in community centers, you will be prepared for any fitness job that comes your way.
By the Numbers
Programs & Requirements
* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.
To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science
Through a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science, you will gain a thorough, well-rounded education about all facets of the sport science field, giving you knowledge and professional skills that will help you succeed in almost any career. With your bachelor’s, you’ll also be likely to achieve better – and higher-paying – career opportunities down the line. As they say, “If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.” Learn how to improve your own health while receiving training to help improve the health of those around you.
Course Requirements
HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
HESS 234 First Aid and Safety
HESS 330 Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance
HESS 333 Nutrition
HESS 439 Facilities Development and Management
ESS 131 Introduction to Health Exercise and Sport Science
ESS 232 Physical Education for Middle School and Secondary School
ESS 330 Kinesiology
ESS 337 History and Contemporary Influences on Health, Exercise and Sport
ESS 432 Physical Education for Middle and Secondary Schools
ESS 435 Physiology of Exercise
ESS 437 Tests and Measurements
Elective courses must total 3 hours at the 300 or 400 level.
A Bachelor of Arts requires all the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of four classes (12 hours) in a foreign language.
Choose one foreign language sequence:
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
Minor in Exercise and Sport Science
Even a minor in exercise and sport science will give you valuable fitness knowledge and professional skills that will elevate your job performance and land you better – and higher-paying – careers in the future. Everyone benefits from improving their health. Why not learn the basics of how to do that?
Course Requirements
HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
HESS 234 First Aid and Safety
HESS 330 Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance
ESS 131 Introduction to Health Exercise and Sport Science
ESS 330 Kinesiology
ESS 435 Physiology of Exercise
ESS 437 Tests and Measurements
Three hours (one class) of upper-level ESS or HESS electives
Associate of Applied Science in Exercise and Sport Science
With an Associate of Applied Science in Exercise and Sport Science, your courses will focus on specific industry skills. Taking less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree is an excellent way to start your professional career faster and more cost-effectively while still helping you gain the skills and experience necessary for a career in the field. And for those already working in the field of exercise and sport science, a degree program offers you extra information you may not have known you needed and a degree to prove your fitness knowledge to future employers. No matter your life circumstance, an associate degree could be the perfect step forward for you.
Course Requirements
HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
HESS 330 Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance
ESS 131 Introduction to Health, Exercise and Sport Science
ESS 230 Growth and Movement Development
ESS 330 Kinesiology
ESS 435 Physiology Exercise
Take the Next Step
Mission & Goals
The mission of the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Science (HESS) is to develop competent exercise science majors who integrate content knowledge and practical application skills appropriate to diverse situations.
HESS Careers & Outcomes
*All statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Fitness Trainer: $40,700
Fitness Trainer: $40,700
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.
Coach: $38,970
Coach: $38,970
Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits.
Scout: $38,970
Scout: $38,970
Evaluate athletes as possible recruits.
Postsecondary Instructor: $79,640
Postsecondary Instructor: $79,640
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
Fitness Equipment Sales Manager: $127,490
Fitness Equipment Sales Manager: $127,490
Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams.
Camp Activities Instructor/Director: $29,680
Camp Activities Instructor/Director: $29,680
Design and lead sports-related activities to help keep your camp attendants happy, active, and healthy.
Common Questions
Exercise and sport science is a degree focusing on the study of the human body and how it functions physically. An exercise and sport science degree will prepare you for careers that benefit from skills needed in exercising, personal training, and fitness activities.
As an exercise and sport science major you’ll have a number of jobs awaiting you. Upon successful completion of your sport science degree coursework, you’ll be eligible to take a national certification examination from organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Council of Strength and Fitness (NCSF), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Some of the careers you could then pursue include fitness training, coaching, scouting, postsecondary teaching, and more!
Whether it’s a bachelor’s or an associate, a degree in exercise and sport science will open doors to a number of job opportunities for you. The degree you choose will depend a lot on the specific jobs that interest you, as well as the time you are looking to put into it. An associate degree will be more focused on helping you develop specific industry skills and typically take two years to complete, while a bachelor's degree will cover a greater array of skills and take more time to complete.
Your coursework as an exercise and sport science major will cover a broad range of topics, touching on essentials such as diet and nutrition, human anatomy and physiology, and first aid and safety. Lower-level classes will offer overviews of topics, and higher-level courses will give more depth into specialized areas.
There are a number of minors and other majors at UC that would complement the knowledge and skills you will gain as an exercise and sport science major. A few examples are biology, psychology, coaching, public health, business, applied physics, and human services. But don’t feel tied down to these choices; you have more than 40 other options to choose from!
Faculty Experts in Exercise, and Sport Science
Learn more about the professors you will interact with in the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Science (HESS)
Kandace West

Matthew Hill

Julia Chaney
Request Information
Learn more about all that Cumberlands has to offer.