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Clinical Exercise Physiology, MS

Clinical Exercise Physiology, MS

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Clinical Exercise Physiology, MS

ALLIED HEALTH, ASU Health - Clinical, Chronic disease management, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Physical Activity, Physiology, Prevention, Rehabilitation, Research, approved for STEM-OPT extension, cardiac rehabilitation, fitness

Six out of 10 Americans live with a chronic disease. Help others and boost your career as a clinical exercise physiologist. Learn to work with patients to prevent, improve and manage chronic disease and improve health through strategic movement.

Program description
Degree awarded: MS  Clinical Exercise Physiology

In the Master of Science program in clinical exercise physiology, students learn how to use primary and secondary prevention strategies to improve, maintain or abate declines in fitness and health in populations of various age groups.

Students learn to collaborate with medical professionals to guide exercise and rehabilitation programs for at-risk clients and those with chronic diseases. The program offers personalized mentorship and hands-on experience with expert faculty in research and clinical settings.

Students obtain the knowledge, clinical experience and skills needed to successfully complete the examination for the registered clinical exercise physiologist certification offered by the American College of Sports Medicine, https://www.acsm.org/.

This program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine, https://www.caahep.org/.

STEM-OPT for international students on F-1 visas

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.

At a glance
  • STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Accelerated program options

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:

Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Julia Fields
602-496-3300
chs@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
Charles Hale
602-496-0862
chsgrad@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-3300
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Cecile Sende
602-496-3300
chs@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
Charles Hale
602-496-0862
chsgrad@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-3300

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.

Degree requirements

31 credit hours and a written comprehensive exam, or
31 credit hours, a thesis and a written comprehensive exam

Required Core (21 credit hours)
BST 501 Biostatistics for Research and Practice (3)
EXW 535 Advanced Exercise Assessment and Prescription (3)
EXW 542 Health Promotion (3)
EXW 560 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (3)
EXW 565 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physiology (3)
EXW 568 Management and Treatment of Chronic Disease for the Clinical Exercise Physiologist (3)
KIN 547 ECG Interpretation (3)

Seminar (1 credit hour)
EXW 591 Seminar: Clinical Exercise Physiology (1)

Other Requirement (3 or 9 credit hours)
EXW 515 Advanced Exercise Physiology (3) and EXW 584 Internship (6) or
NTR 500 Research Methods (3)

Culminating Experience (0 or 6 credit hours)
written comprehensive exam (0) or
EXW 599 Thesis (6)

Additional Curriculum Information
This program has a thesis option and a nonthesis option. Students in the thesis option must take NTR 500 Research Methods before EXW 599 Thesis. Students who select the nonthesis option must complete a clinical internship of six credit hours of EXW 584 Internship and take three credit hours of EXW 515 Advanced Exercise Physiology.

All students must pass a written comprehensive exam. Thesis students must also pass an oral defense.

Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Health Solutions.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. resume or curriculum vitae
  4. letter of intent
  5. three references (academic or professional)
  6. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Applicants who do not have credit for basic courses from their undergraduate degree must complete the courses before beginning the application process or before beginning graduate coursework. The corresponding ASU course is in parentheses:

  • Exercise Prescription (EXW 425)
  • Exercise Testing with Laboratory (EXW 420)
  • Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology (KIN 334)
  • Human Nutrition (NTR 241)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology with laboratories (BIO 201 and BIO 202)
  • Physiological Foundations of Movement Exercise Physiology (KIN 340)
  • Psychology (PSY 101)
  • Statistics (STP 226 or similar)

The letter of intent should be 600 words or less and address the applicant's area of professional or scholarly interest, career and professional goals, and relevant background, experience and training.

Contact information of three references is required. References are contacted via email to respond to a series of questions about the applicant. At least two references must be academic (such as prior instructors) with at least one from the applicant's major. The third reference may be from an academic or related professional source.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Application deadlines
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C In Person 02/15 Priority
Program learning outcomes

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:

  • Synthesize the current literature and guidelines on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, progression, risk factors, key clinical findings, and treatments of chronic diseases.
  • Create exercise training interventions for patients with chronic disease.
  • Analyze patient status changes through continuous monitoring of exercise interventions while incorporating behavior modification models that support active patient engagement.
Career opportunities

Clinical exercise physiology, in which exercise is used to help clients manage or reduce their risk of chronic disease, is an exciting and growing profession in the health care realm. It has recently been organized on the national level and is now recognized by the federal government and defined as an occupation.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the national association that establishes guidelines and recommendations for exercise testing and prescription as well as evaluation of research for both healthy populations and those with chronic disease. Graduates are prepared to sit for ACSM certification, the organization's most prestigious credential for clinical professionals.

This unique and vital profession will grow as certifications and licensures support the value of clinical exercise physiology. Career opportunities are available in:

  • hospital-based clinical research facilities
  • hospitals
  • outpatient clinics
  • physician offices
  • university and research laboratories
  • worksite wellness centers
Professional licensure

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.

Contact information

College of Health Solutions | HLTHN 401AA
CHSGrad@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.

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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