Bachelor of Exercise Science Degree

Institutional Accreditation

View information on FGCU institutional accreditation

Program Recognition

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) officially recognizes Florida Gulf Coast University's Exercise Science Program in Strength and Conditioning. 

The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) recognizes and distinguishes schools with standardized, approved strength and conditioning or personal training curricula in undergraduate and graduate settings designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications.

The American College of Sports Medicine, Exercise is Medicine On Campus has recognized Florida Gulf Coast University as an Exercise is Medicine Gold Level Campus.

Admissions Information for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year

If you are not yet an FGCU student, visit the Admissions Office Website

If you are a newly-admitted FGCU student please be sure to sign up for an Eagle View Orientation session. As part of this session you will be meeting with an academic advisor who will assist you in registering for classes for your major.

Admission Deadlines

Visit the Admissions Office Web site for information on admission deadlines of the university.

View Exercise Science Lower Level Coursework Progression Map

Please click the link above for the materials required by the Exercise Science Program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisors to ensure that they are on track to meeting their academic goals. The checklist above should be utilized as a resource only and should not be considered comprehensive.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science provides students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to analyze movement and maximize performance levels of high-level athletes, fitness-oriented persons, and special populations such as children and older adults.  Graduates of the Exercise Science program will also be prepared for graduate programs in the applied sciences, athletic training, physical therapy and occupational therapy.  The Exercise Science program is 120 credit hours in length. Upper division requirements are completed in five semesters with a cohort model entering in the fall semester.

For questions regarding entrance to the University, and lower level general education courses and prerequisites please make an appointment with the Marieb College Office of Academic Advising online

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science has general education and prerequisites in years one and two and core specific classes in years three and four.  

Years 1 and 2

The Coursework Progression Map will help identify the courses needed to meet the state general education requirements while fulfilling the prerequisites for the Exercise Science degree. For the free elective, it is recommended to take DEP 2004 Principles of Development as this will satisfy many graduate school prerequisites. 

Students following this course sequence will satisfy all necessary prerequisites for upper-level Exercise Science coursework. Courses listed in Year 1 and Year 2 are offered every term.

View Exercise Science Lower Level Coursework Progression  Map

Years 3 and 4

The Exercise Science Program utilizes a cohort model in years 3 and 4.  All students start in the fall term and follow the same course progression model. Due to the complexity of the multiple sections each semester, students are registered for their required courses internally.

View Exercise Science Upper Level Coursework Progression Map

Exercise Science Curriculum Matrix

Download the Exercise Science (ES) Upper Level Curriculum Matrix

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**).  For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition).  See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of exercise risk stratification, fundamental kinesiology principles, and exercise physiology principles underlying performance of physical activities and exercise.
2. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with physiological and metabolic responses to exercise, and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals with chronic disease.
3. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of selecting and administering appropriate assessment and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts of the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of wellness and human performance.
5. Display an understanding of the key concepts of Medical Ethics, Standard of Care, Legal Issues, and Professionalism.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through essays, exams, and other projects completed in the following courses: 

1. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of student learning outcome (SLO) number one from above is the midterm and/or final examination taken in the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4311C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4137 Exercise and Sport Physiology and APK4137L Exercise and Sport Physiology Lab.
2. The indirect measure used to gauge acquisition of SLO #1 is the undergraduate survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of fundamental exercise physiology principles that underlie performance of physical activities and exercise?”
3. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of the SLO #2 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK4110L Applied Exercise Physiology, APK 4120 Clinical Exercise Physiology and PET 3627C Care and Prevention of HP Injuries.
4. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #2 is the undergraduate survey question that students complete during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of the exercise risk stratification process, physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals associated with chronic disease?”
5. The direct instrument used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4113C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4120C Clinical Exercise Physiology, and APK 4110L Applied Exercise Physiology.
6. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the undergraduate survey that the students take during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of selecting appropriate assessments and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual?”
7. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 are the Midterm and Final Exams taken in the following courses:  APK 4123 Human Performance and Energy Supplies, and APK 3312 Pharmacology and Ergogenic Aids.
8. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 is the undergraduate senior exit survey question that the students complete during the semester they graduate:  “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Nutritional Aspects of Health and Performance?”
9. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 are the Midterm, Final Exams and Senior Level Project completed in the following course APK 4930 Preparation for Entering and Growing in Profession.
10. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 is the undergraduate senior exit survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Ethics and Legal Issues and Professional Development?”

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of fundamental exercise physiology principles that underlie performance of physical activities and exercise. 
2. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with exercise risk stratification, physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals associated with chronic disease.
3. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of selecting appropriate assessment and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual.
4. Prepare the student with the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the nutritional aspects of wellness and human performance required of the entry-level practitioner in the Exercise Science field.
5. Prepare the student with the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with understanding administration and professional development required of the entry-level Exercise Science practitioner.

Communication Skills are assessed at the college and department levels through essays, exams, and other projects completed in the following courses:

1. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of student learning outcome (SLO) number one from above is the midterm and/or final examination taken in the following courses: APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4311C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4137 Exercise and Sport Physiology and APK 4137L Exercise and Sport Physiology Lab.
2. The indirect measure used to gauge acquisition of SLO #1 is the undergraduate survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of fundamental exercise physiology principles that underlie performance of physical activities and exercise?
3. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of the SLO #2 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses: APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4110L Applied Exercise Physiology, APK 4120 Clinical Exercise Physiology and PET 3627C Care and Prevention of HP Injuries.
4. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #2 is the undergraduate survey question that students complete during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of the exercise risk stratification process, physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals associated with chronic disease?”
5. The direct instrument used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4113C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4120C Clinical Exercise Physiology, and APK 4110L Applied Exercise Physiology.
6. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the undergraduate survey that the students take during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of selecting appropriate assessments and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual?”
7. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 are the Midterm and Final Exams taken in the following courses:  APK 4123 Human Performance and Energy Supplies, and APK 3312 Pharmacology and Ergogenic Aids.
8. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 is the undergraduate senior exit survey question that the students complete during the semester they graduate:  “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Nutritional Aspects of Health and Performance?”
9. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 are the Midterm, Final Exams and Senior Level Project completed in the following course APK 4930 Preparation for Entering and Growing in Profession.
10. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 is the undergraduate senior exit survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Ethics and Legal Issues and Professional Development?”

Critical Thinking Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of fundamental exercise physiology principles that underlie performance of physical activities and exercise.
2. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with exercise risk stratification, physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals associated with chronic disease.
3. The student will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of selecting appropriate assessment and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual.
4. Prepare the student with the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the nutritional aspects of wellness and human performance required of the entry-level practitioner in the Exercise Science field.
5. Prepare the student with the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with understanding administration and professional development required of the entry-level Exercise Science practitioner.

Critical Thinking Skills are assessed at the college and department levels through essays, exams, and other projects completed in the following courses:

1. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of student learning outcome (SLO) number one from above is the midterm and/or final examination taken in the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4311C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4137 Exercise and Sport Physiology and APK4137L Exercise and Sport Physiology Lab.
2. The indirect measure used to gauge acquisition of SLO #1 is the undergraduate survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of fundamental exercise physiology principles that underlie performance of physical activities and exercise?”
3. The direct measure used to gauge acquisition of the SLO #2 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK4110L Applied Exercise Physiology, APK 4120 Clinical Exercise Physiology and PET 3627C Care and Prevention of HP Injuries.
4. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #2 is the undergraduate survey question that students complete during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of the exercise risk stratification process, physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and injury prevention in healthy individuals and in individuals associated with chronic disease?”
5. The direct instrument used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the midterm and/or final examination taken for the following courses:  APK 3125 Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, APK 3125L Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Lab, APK 4113C Advanced Methods of Strength and Conditioning, APK 4120C Clinical Exercise Physiology, and APK 4110L Applied Exercise Physiology.
6. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #3 is the undergraduate survey that the students take during the semester they graduate:  “Did the program prepare you in the knowledge, skills and abilities of selecting appropriate assessments and training modalities according to the functional capacity of the individual?”
7. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 are the Midterm and Final Exams taken in the following courses:  APK 4123 Human Performance and Energy Supplies, and APK 3312 Pharmacology and Ergogenic Aids.
8. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #4 is the undergraduate senior exit survey question that the students complete during the semester they graduate:  “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Nutritional Aspects of Health and Performance?”
9. The direct measures used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 are the Midterm, Final Exams and Senior Level Project completed in the following course APK 4930 Preparation for Entering and Growing in Profession.
10. The indirect measurement used to gauge acquisition of SLO #5 is the undergraduate senior exit survey that the students complete during the semester they graduate: “How well were you prepared by the FGCU Exercise Science program in the following subject areas: Ethics and Legal Issues and Professional Development?”

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Student Account Services web site.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Additional Expenses

In addition to typical FGCU student costs, the Exercise Science students can anticipate additional costs* related to the following items during their progression through the upper-level Exercise Science curriculum.
*Costs listed are estimates and are subject to change.

Scholarship Information

To apply for any of the below scholarships, obtain further information on the below scholarships, or to locate additional opportunities please visit FGCU Foundation/Scholarship.

Theodore Siegel Exercise Science Scholarship Endowed Fund  (Exercise Science Students Only):

• Recipients will be full-time, degree seeking students enrolled in the Exercise Science program.
• Recipients will have demonstrated academic merit with a minimum program GPA of 3.0.
• Recipients will be in good standing, as defined by the university.
• Preference will be given to seniors in the Exercise Science program.
• Preference will be given to FGCU student athletes.
• Preference will be given to students receiving limited to no scholarship support.
• This scholarship should be awarded to one student, however, more than one student may be awarded the Theodore Siegel Exercise Science Scholarship in an academic year at the recommendation of the scholarship selection committee.
• Scholarship are to be awarded annually and student who continue to qualify may be awarded in successive years.

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