At A Glance

In the Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS) program, students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to become leaders in the fields of health education, human performance, and physical education.

Major

  • Exercise and Sport Science

Concentrations

  • Health and Human Performance
  • Physical Education

Certifications

  • Physical Education (preK-12)
  • Health Education (preK-12)
  • Adaptive Physical Education (preK-12)
  • Coaching Athletics (preK-12)

Minor

  • School Health Education

View Degree Requirements

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The exercise and sport science degree at Carthage

Students develop an understanding of the history and philosophy of exercise and sport programs while learning how to best teach, motivate, evaluate, and organize sports and fitness activities and programs.

Students majoring in exercise and sport science must select either a health and human performance concentration or a physical education concentration. Students can also pursue a minor in school health education and certification in physical education, adaptive physical education, or athletic coaching.

In addition, the Exercise and Sport Science Department offers the courses that all Carthage students must take to meet the physical education requirements.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.jpg" alt="Kendric Cornelius ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,723,786/36279_Kendric-Cornelius-23.rev.1668094236.jpg 3x" data-max-w="723" data-max-h="786" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “So many of my classmates are looking to be trainers, PE teachers, coaches, etc. The thought of having a career where you are overall enjoying being active and encouraging others to do the same is something I love to live for.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2152-kendric-cornelius">Kendric Cornelius</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.JPG" alt="Amber Moser" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/77/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/207,0,1208,999/39168_IMG_4852.rev.1708373907.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1001" data-max-h="999" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because I wanted that small school feel, so I could form good relationships with my professors.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1929-">Amber Moser</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Courses You’ll Take

Take courses in health and wellness education, coaching, nutrition, strength training, psychology, kinesiology, and physiology. Here’s a sampling:

  • Applied Principles of Strength Training
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Sport and Recreation Management
  • Nutrition for Health and Performance 
  • Theory and Practice of Coaching

 

Exercise and Sports Science Major concentrations

Physical Education Licensure

Those seeking a teaching license in physical education or adaptive physical education (preschool through 12th grade) complete the EXSS major, the secondary education minor, and other select courses. Additional coursework can lead to certification in health education or athletic coaching.

Health and Human Performance

This concentration appeals to aspiring health care professionals, community health educators, as well as fitness and athletic coaches. Students can pair this with another area of study (such as pre-health, business administration, or communication) to develop the skills they need in the field.

 

beyond the classroom

Students majoring in EXSS often teach group fitness classes at Carthage or assist with strength and conditioning for its 28 varsity sports teams. EXSS faculty have led J-Term study tours to Costa Rica and Wisconsin’s Door County.

See opportunities for EXSS students

 

where exercise and sport science majors go

Carthage alumni have become independent personal trainers, taught and coached in a variety of settings, or worked for other employers such as:

  • School districts in Wisconsin and Illinois
  • Department of Defense
  • Milwaukee Fire Department
  • Orthopedic Associates
  • Athletico Physical Therapy
  • Hospice Care Center
  • Abbott Laboratories

Others have gone on to graduate programs in educational leadership, strength and conditioning, and exercise and nutrition sciences.

Learn more about Carthage EXSS alumni