MS Exercise Science kinesiology

The field of Exercise Science continues to grow in importance as medical and scientific research emphasize the value of exercise for fitness and good health.

At Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, graduate students study Exercise Science as a multidisciplinary field that involves the active human body. Marshall University’s Exercise Science master’s degree program trains professionals for teams that work to understand and improve the health of those with chronic diseases and conditions through therapeutic rehabilitation and the performance of athletes through strength and conditioning programs.

Graduate students can pursue one of the following concentrations for a master’s in Exercise Science. Full-time students can complete their master’s degree in four semesters and, on a part-time basis, in four to six semesters.

Exercise Science professionals with a master’s degree in the field can go on to positions with a wide range of employers, including:

Marshall University students in the master’s program in Exercise Science are well-prepared to earn premier certifications in the profession:

The Master of Science in Exercise Science programs are led by nationally recognized faculty in the areas of human performance, exercise physiology and diabetes.

The Master of Science degree in Exercise Science is a broad-based program designed to prepare individuals for careers as exercise specialists in the following areas:

Many Exercise Science graduates choose to continue their studies in professional programs in medicine, physical/occupational therapy or physician assistant programs.

Exercise Science graduate students benefit from superior facilities and state-of-the-art equipment for exercise testing and evaluation for human performance and clinical training. MU labs are divided into human performance testing and application, and a physician-referred clinical exercise center and lab. These lab spaces and resources provide unmatched opportunities for training and learning, far outpacing other institutions nationwide that offer graduate programs in Exercise Science.

The Marshall University Exercise Physiology Laboratory (MUEPL) is a 3,000 sq.ft. facility equipped with the latest technology for testing these areas:

Over $300,000 of research equipment is available to graduate Exercise Science students engaging in master’s thesis projects and independent studies. The MUEPL is also vital to convert knowledge into skill for both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Exercise Science at MU by providing access to state-of-the-art equipment for data collection and analysis.

This is one of the few such laboratories in the country that hosts on-site clinical programs to provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on opportunities to work in a clinical setting.

This lab experience enables students to learn to develop exercise prescriptions, take blood pressures, read electrocardiograms, check blood glucose readings, and make appropriate assessments with actual patients within a real-world clinical setting. For example, students work with members of the community, and patients with various chronic diseases and conditions including diabetes, as well as cardiac patients, and overweight and obese patients. Students are able to directly apply their knowledge gained in the classrooms.

The CEPL offers various clinical programs through collaborative relationships with the Department of Exercise Science, Marshall Health, Marshall University School of Medicine, Cabell Huntington Hospital and others. This permits students to obtain valuable health promotion, disease prevention, and hands-on clinical experience with medical profile development, case study analysis, and client/patient management in the cardiac rehabilitation and sports medicine settings.

Long-established programs include:

This is a research laboratory investigating skeletal muscle morphology. The skeletal muscle properties vary depending on genetics, types and number of activities, diseases and drugs. Students have the opportunity to examine a piece of skeletal muscle, which is then sampled, frozen, sliced very thin (6 mm thickness), and stained with chemicals. Under a light microscope, the stained muscle sample is analyzed for:

Students and faculty study healthy human skeletal muscle from volunteer participants, as well as tissue from rats and mice. Currently, the lab is looking into the muscle damage related to cholesterol-lowering medicine (statin) in humans, and the muscle size and type changes by simulated microgravity (for space flight to Mars) using rats.

Campus-wide commitment. Marshall University is the first program in West Virginia to earn gold-level recognition from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for our program, Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC).

This ACSM initiative calls upon universities and colleges to encourage faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:

A graduate degree in Exercise Science enables graduates to pursue challenging, exciting and productive careers.

Exercise science is a diverse field with many areas of emphasis leading to a wide range of job opportunities. The two tracks for the master’s in Exercise Science – Cardiometabolic and Human Performance concentrations — are among the most sought-after occupations in Exercise Science.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 13 percent through 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,500 openings for exercise physiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of these openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force to retire.

The BLS reports that demand for exercise physiologists may rise as healthcare providers emphasize exercise and preventive care to help patients recover from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Employment growth in Exercise Science careers also will focus on exercise to combat obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles for people of all ages, as well as prevent and treat many chronic diseases.

The employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 15 percent through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

As of May 2020, the median annual wage for exercise physiologists was $50,280; $40,510 for fitness trainers and instructors; and $49,860 for athletic trainers.

Current positions held by Exercise Science master’s degree graduates include:

Employers of Exercise Science master’s graduates include:

Additionally, many MU Exercise Science graduates have achieved success within Pfizer, Merck, Aventis, Medtronic and other companies in the pharmaceutical and pacemaker industries.

Marshall University MS in Exercise Science graduates have also become pharmacists, physician assistants and completed medical school to become physicians. Some have become established scientists, while others have assumed significant responsibilities as administrators in the clinical setting.

Students enrolled in Marshall University’s master’s in Exercise Science degrees are able to gain hands-on experiences with exercise physiology and fitness assessment within MU’s state-of-the-art Exercise Physiology Laboratories (MUEPL) and through internship opportunities in applied or clinical exercise physiology.

The School of Kinesiology at Marshall University offers a clinical exercise program via physician referrals where students may intern.

Other clinical options for internships include: local hospitals, physician offices, health department, etc. For the Human Performance areas, opportunities include the Marshall REC, YMCA, private strength and conditioning facilities, etc.

Internship opportunities are available with other employers, including: NOTE: Department should provide 5-6 employer names to appear as a bulleted list.

Marshall’s graduate Exercise Science students have the opportunity to be involved in applied and basic research using the most sophisticated equipment available for laboratory investigations in the field of exercise physiology.

Admission requirements are different for the degree programs. A personal interview may be required. Provisional admission to a program is possible, and will be considered on an individual basis. (See definition of Provisional Admission in this catalog) All students applying to the Exercise Science, M.S. program must have successfully completed an undergraduate course in either exercise physiology or human physiology. Applicants lacking these courses may be provisionally admitted and must complete required undergraduate courses within the first 12 hours of graduate coursework. Students are limited to twelve semester hours of transfer credit from other institutions, and limited to a maximum of nine semester hours taught at the 500 level.

Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.

In addition (submit all materials directly to Graduate Admissions office):

Acceptance into the M.S. Exercise Science program is competitive and not guaranteed.

To continue in the M.S. in Exercise Science program, students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all coursework.