MS in Exercise Science

Students in the exercise science master's program will be prepared to obtain certification as a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist or Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine and/or certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist or a Certified Special Population Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Conduct comprehensive health and fitness assessments using theories and frameworks.
• Apply scientific principles and evidence-based recommendations into the prescription, implementation, and evaluation of exercise and fitness programs.
• Create lifestyle modification and health promotion plans for individuals and groups.
• Incorporate effective communication and motivational strategies to support clients or patients as they adopt, perform, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Implement role behaviors consistent with the scope of practice of exercise sciences.
• Manage human, fiscal, and physical resources of health fitness facilities and programs.

Graduate of Loyola's master's program in Exercise Science will engage in interprofessional, collaborative practice to promote the health and wellness of individuals, groups, and communities.

All students must enroll in the 4 courses listed below

• EXCM 401 Applied Physiology of Exercise (4 total credits)
• EXCM 450 Nutrition, Health, and Performance (3 credits)
• EXCM 475 Exercise Applications in Special Population (3 credits)
• EXCM 482 Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science (3 credits)

All students must enroll in the 4 courses listed below to successfully complete concentration

• EXCM 444 Strength Training and Conditioning (3 credits)
• EXCM 424 Motor Learning and Performance (3 credits)
• EXCM 480 Advanced Exercise Assessment & Programming (3 credits)
• EXCM 485 Applied Biomechanics (4 credits)

All students must enroll in the 4 courses listed below to successfully complete concentration

• EXCM 478 EKG Interpretation (3 credits)
• EXCM 435 Health Promotion Theories and Frameworks (3 credits)
• EXCM 458 Cardiac and Pulmonary Disease and Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• EXCM 468 Application of Advanced Clinical Testing and Prescription (4 credits)

General track must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours (15 of which are EXCM courses) from below.

Concentrations must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours (3 of which are EXCM courses) from below.                                                                                                            

• EXCM 424 Motor Learning and Performance (3 credits)
• EXCM 435 Health Promotion Theories and Frameworks (3 credits) 
• EXCM 444 Strength Training and Conditioning (3 credits)
• EXCM 478 EKG Interpretation (3 credits)
• MHA 405 U.S. Health Systems Management (3 credits) 
• MPBH 413 Obesity, Physical Activity and Nutritional Epidemiology (3 credits) 
• EXCM 454 Applied Sports Science (3 credits)
• EXCM 458 Cardiac and Pulmonary Disease and Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• EXCM 468 Application of Advanced Clinical Testing and Prescription (3 credits)
• EXCM 475 Exercise Applications in Special Population (3 credits)
• EXCM 480 Advanced Exercise Assessment & Programming (3 credits)
• EXCM 485 Applied Biomechanics (3 credits)   

All students must complete a 200-hour internship 

• EXCM 495 Advanced Exercise Science Internship (4 credits)

• 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.

Fall

• General Biology I & Lab (4 credits)
• Human Anatomy (with lab and discussion) (4 credits)
• CORE: Societal & Cultural Tier I (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• UNIV 101 (1 credit)

Spring

• College Writing Seminar (3 credits)
• General Biology II & Lab (4 credits)
• Human Physiology (with lab and discussion) (4 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)

Fall

• General Psychology (3 credits, fulfills Tier II Societal & Cultural CORE)
• General Chemistry A & Lab (4 credits)
• Introduction to Exercise (with lab) (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)

Spring

• Physiology of Exercise (with lab) (4 credits)
• General Chemistry B & Lab (4 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits, fulfills Quantitative Knowledge CORE)
• CORE (3 credits)

Fall

• Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)
• College Physics I and Lab (4 credits)
• Intro to Clinical Exercise Testing & Prescription (with lab) (3 credits)
• Apply to MSES Program

Spring

• Special Populations (2 credits)
• Advanced Physiology (3 credits)
• College Physics II and Lab (4 credits)
• Prescription II (3 credits)
• CORE (3 credits)

Fall

• Program Design (2 credits)
• Movement Anatomy (3 credits)
• Sports Nutrition (3 credits)
• Therapeutic Exercise (3 credits)
• Graduate Health Promotion Theories and Frameworks (3 credits)
• Graduate Nutrition, Health, and Performance (3 credits)

Spring

• Clinical Internship & Patient Management (6 credits)
• Kinesiology & Sports Biomechanics (with lab) (4 credits)
• Psychology of Health and Exercise (3 credits)
• Graduate Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science (3 credits)

Advanced Specialty Coursework/Internship Experience/Culminating Experience

Fall

• Applied Physiology of Exercise (lecture and lab; 3+1, 4 total credits)
• Motor Learning and Performance (3 credits)
• Strength Training and Conditioning (3 credits)
• Health Promotion and Wellness Theories and Frameworks (3 credits) (If not already completed)
• Nutrition, Health, and Performance (3 credits) (If not already completed)

Spring

• Application of Advanced Clinical Testing and Prescription (lecture and lab; 3+1, 4 total credits)
• Advanced Exercise Assessment and Programming (3 credits)
• Cardiac and Pulmonary Disease and Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• Exercise Applications for Special Populations (3 credits)
• Research Methods and Evidence in Exercise Science (3 credits) (If not already completed)

Summer

• Special Topics in Exercise Science (2 credits)
• Advanced Exercise Science Internship (4 credits)

Applicants with clearly identified career goals consistent with the anticipated training in the MSES program are encouraged to apply:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Successful completion (grade C or better) of one semester of an anatomy and physiology course
• The student’s grade point average and course work content from previous professional preparation will be used to determine qualifications for entrance into the program. The GRE is not required
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• A letter of intent, or statement of purpose, describing why you wish to apply for the MSES degree and your future career plans
• Two letters of recommendation from professionals (supervisors, faculty and/or advisors) who are familiar with your work. These recommendations should be one page in length, detail the reasons why the recommender thinks you would be a good fit for the program, and explain why (based on experiences with you) the recommender believes you will be successful in a MSES program.

AUGUST 10: Fall semester application deadline
NOVEMBER 15: Spring semester application deadline
MARCH 15: Summer semester application deadline

To be eligible for admission to the BS/MSES program, you must complete the following:

• A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher
• One semester of an anatomy and physiology course (grade C or better)
• A minimum of 60 credit hours of the Bachelor of Science requirements
• A letter of intent, or statement of purpose, describing why you wish to apply for the MSES degree and your future career plans
• Two letters of recommendation from professionals (supervisors, faculty or advisors) who are familiar with your work; these recommendations should be one page in length, detail the reasons why the recommender thinks you would be a good fit for your program of choice, and explain why (based on experiences with you) the reference believes you will be successful in a MSES program
• Meet with Exercise Science Graduate Program Director to discuss successful progression through the program, including course requirements

To remain in the program, students must achieve a B or better in graduate level coursework completed at the undergraduate level.

Applications must be submitted during the Fall semester of the applicant's Junior Year by December 1.

• The broad exercise science field provides students with multiple potential career avenues to explore. MSES graduates may find employment in these areas:
  • Sports or Athletic Performance, including as strength and conditioning coaches or performance enhancement specialists
  • Corporate or Community Health and Fitness, including fitness program directors, health coaches, wellness coordinators, exercise/fitness instructors, or personal trainers
  • Hospitals, Health care Facilities or Universities, including exercise physiologists, exercise specialists, research assistants, or fitness director/coordinators

Our priority is to provide you with the highest quality academic experience, and this includes a range of activities and programs both in and out of the classroom. To take full advantage of these opportunities and to do well with the rigorous curriculum, it may be challenging to balance a part-time job. However, many students work part-time, so it is possible. What works for someone else may not work for you. Know your limits and manage your time wisely.

MSES students pursue a wide range of potential internships, including cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, non-invasive cardiology, strength and conditioning, pre-professional physical therapy, corporate fitness, and personal training. Internship settings include colleges and universities, sports organizations, hospitals/clinics, private, commercial and community health and fitness facilities, municipalities, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.

The MSES program is located at Loyola’s Lakeshore Campus. Multiple laboratory spaces, including the MSES Human Performance Laboratory located in the newly constructed Alfie Norville Practice facility, are well-equipped. Students will be exposed to state-of-the-art equipment in both classroom and laboratory settings, in addition to when they are conducting research independently or with faculty in the lab. MSES students will have access to equipmment including an electrocardiogram, heart rate monitors, laboratory treadmills, cycle ergometers, Olympic lifting platforms, resistance training equipment portable metabolic carts, force plates, electromyography, and body composition devices in these labs.

Loyola's Master of Science in Exercise Science curriculum is designed to provide students both the laboratory and real-world experiences needed to complete certification examinations offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), NSCA-Certified Personal Trainers (NSCA-CPT), Tactical Strength and Conditioning-Facilitator (TSAC-F), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP), Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM-CPT), Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) or Certified Group Exercise Instructor (ACSM-GEI).

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the MSES.

Contact Dr. Anthony Deldin, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science.