Clinical Exercise Science ,BS
ASU Health - Clinical, Adaptive Recreation, Exercise Physiologist, Health, Kinesiology, Metabolism, Obesity, Obesity Prevention, Personal Trainer, Physical Activity, Rehabilitation, Sports, Weight Management, approved for STEM-OPT extension, cardiac rehabilitation, fitness
If exercise were a pill, it would be the world's most powerful medicine. Learn how to use exercise to prevent and treat disease in this accredited program that prepares you for a career in exercise physiology or to pursue graduate study in rehabilitation sciences.
In the Bachelor of Science program in clinical exercise science, you develop a detailed understanding of how the human body responds to and benefits from exercise.
This program prepares you for an artificial intelligence-integrated health care future by combining practical training with next-generation technology. You learn to use AI tools to support data analysis and to streamline repetitive tasks while developing the interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities and clinical judgment that technology can't replace.
Hands-on laboratory courses with innovative exercise, metabolic and cardiopulmonary equipment provide you with the skills and experience you need to change lives through exercise.
This program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (https://www.caahep.org) and endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Recent program outcomes include:
In 2025-26, the program had a graduate satisfaction rate of 100% and a graduate positive placement rate (employed within the field, pursuing graduate school, or engaging in military service within 12-months after graduation) of 89%.
In 2024-25, the program had a graduate satisfaction rate of 100% and a graduate positive placement rate of 83%.
In 2023-24, the program had a graduate satisfaction rate of 100% and a graduate positive placement rate of 88%.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- Second language requirement: No
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
- First
required math course:
MAT 117 - College Algebra
or MAT 170 Precalculus - Math
intensity: Moderate
What If: See how your courses can be applied to another major and find out how to change your major.
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Apply mathematical skills related to bioenergetics and exercise intensities.
- Apply the principles guiding evidence-based practice learned through the appraisal of scientific literature.
- Create exercise prescriptions for healthy clients and clients with chronic conditions.
- Apply professional competencies (i.e., job-related skills) commonly required in the fitness industries.
- Apply concepts of basic human anatomy and physiology as they relate to exercise.
With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, clinical exercise science students are able to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships around the world, increasing their professional network.
The College of Health Solutions recommends these programs for students majoring in clinical exercise science.
Graduates enter areas such as exercise physiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training, where human-centered expertise and complex decision-making remain essential and least impacted by automation. They are prepared for a career as an exercise physiologist, a versatile occupation with a faster than average growth rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm).
Graduates may obtain positions as clinical exercise specialists, exercise scientists or weight management consultants in settings such as:
- cardiac rehabilitation facilities
- corporate wellness firms
- health care agencies and medical centers
- hospitals
- lifestyle and weight management consulting firms
- medical fitness centers
- nonprofit disease prevention agencies (e.g., American Heart Association)
- outpatient fitness centers
- university fitness and wellness centers
Specialty areas may include:
- bariatric weight loss (counseling and pre- or postsurgery fitness training)
- cancer rehabilitation
- cardiac rehabilitation
- corporate fitness and worksite wellness
- exercise and weight counseling and management
Graduates are well prepared for admission to graduate programs in clinical exercise physiology, athletic training, obesity prevention and management, rehabilitative fields (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy) and medicine.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
1.1%
|
$76,580
|
|
|
3.0%
|
$74,310
|
|
|
3.3%
|
$61,960
|
|
|
9.5%
|
$59,460
|
|
|
11.9%
|
$47,160
|
|
|
6.5%
|
$69,770
|
|
|
13.8%
|
$100,330
|
|
|
10.9%
|
$102,760
|
|
|
22.0%
|
$68,380
|
|
|
1.4%
|
$46,850
|
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
College of Health Solutions
|
HLTHN 401AA
chs@asu.edu
602-496-3300
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
