Exercise Science (MS)
Take the next step towards a career in rehabilitation, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, or clinical exercise physiology.
While a bachelor's degree in exercise science is sufficient to get an entry-level position, continuing education in exercise science is a must to advance in the field. At Loyola, you can earn a master's degree in exercise science and graduate better prepared to start your career in rehabilitation, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, or clinical exercise physiology.
Picture yourself helping people make positive lifestyle choices for their health, whether it's serving injured athletes, those living with primary disabilities, or the general public. A Masters Degree in Exercise Science affords you access to professionally accredited certifications, jobs with top-level employers, and a career that sets you above the rest if continuing to a terminal degree (e.g. Doctor of Physical Therapy, Ph.D., Physicians Assistant, etc.).
The Exercise Science (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
During your first year in this two-year program, you will build a foundation in exercise science-related fields through classroom instruction and lab-based activities. In your second year, you will complete advanced specialty coursework as well as two 200-hour field experiences and a comprehensive final examination.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Exercise Science (MS) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
MSES Curriculum (35 credits)
Pre-Requisites: Anatomy with Lab (4 credits); Physiology with Lab (4 credits)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Coursework | ||
| EXCM 401 | Applied Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXCM 450 | Nutrition, Health and Performance | 3 |
| EXCM 475 | Exercise Applications in Special Populations | 3 |
| EXCM 482 | Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science | 3 |
| EXCM 485 | Applied Biomechanics | 4 |
| EXCM 487 | Movement Anatomy in Exercise | 3 |
| Tracks | 9 | |
General track must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours from courses listed below. | ||
Concentrations in Strength and Conditioning and Human Performance or Clinical Exercise Science must complete 9 credit hours of track-specific curricula from the courses listed below. | ||
| Internship Course | ||
| EXCM 495 | Field Experience I | 3 |
| EXCM 496 | Field Experience II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Tracks
General track must complete 9 credit hours from the courses listed below. Tracks in Strength and Conditioning and Human Performance or Clinical Exercise Science must complete 9 credit hours of track-specific curricula from the courses listed below.
General Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MS EXCM General Track-Specific Curricula | 9 | |
| Must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours from below: | ||
| Strength Training and Conditioning | ||
| Applied Sports Science | ||
| Cardiac and Pulmonary Disease and Rehabilitation | ||
| Application of Advanced Clinical Exercise Testing & Prescription | ||
| EKG Interpretation | ||
| Advanced Exercise Assessment and Programming | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Strength and Conditioning and Human Performance Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MS EXCM Strength and Conditioning and Human Performance Track-Specific Curricula | ||
| EXCM 444 | Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| EXCM 454 | Applied Sports Science | 3 |
| EXCM 480 | Advanced Exercise Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Clinical Exercise Science Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MS EXCM Clinical Exercise Track-Specific Curricula | ||
| EXCM 458 | Cardiac and Pulmonary Disease and Rehabilitation | 3 |
| EXCM 468 | Application of Advanced Clinical Exercise Testing & Prescription | 3 |
| EXCM 478 | EKG Interpretation | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive exam is required for all students. Please contact your Graduate Program Director or visit the EXCM Graduate Student Sakai page for more information.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their Graduate Program Director for assistance with course selection.
Traditional Master's Program
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| EXCM 401 | Applied Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXCM 450 | Nutrition, Health and Performance | 3 |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| EXCM 475 | Exercise Applications in Special Populations | 3 |
| EXCM 485 | Applied Biomechanics | 4 |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| EXCM 487 | Movement Anatomy in Exercise | 3 |
| EXCM 495 | Field Experience I | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EXCM 482 | Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science | 3 |
| EXCM 496 | Field Experience II | 3 |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 15 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
A student may select from the following: EXCM 444, EXCM 450, EXCM 468, EXCM 475, EXCM 478, EXCM 482, or EXCM 487.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| EXCM 450 | Nutrition, Health and Performance | 3 |
| EXCM 475 | Exercise Applications in Special Populations | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EXCM 482 | Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science | 3 |
| EXCM 487 | Movement Anatomy in Exercise | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Fall | ||
| EXCM 401 | Applied Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| EXCM 495 | Field Experience I | 3 |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| EXCM 485 | Applied Biomechanics | 4 |
| EXCM 496 | Field Experience II | 3 |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Track Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Conduct evidence-based health and fitness assessments
- Design individualized exercise programs to promote health, performance, and chronic disease management
- Develop lifestyle interventions that support health promotion, behavior change, and disease prevention across diverse populations.
- Demonstrate effective communication and coaching strategies.
- Evaluate scientific literature to critically analyze evidence-based findings to guide decision-making and problem-solving.