Medical schools focus on the science; we'll teach you the hands-on aspects, such as clinical stress testing, result interpretation, client interaction, and the benefits of exercise in preventing and managing disease. This will prepare you for success in medical school, and give you a broad background of employable skills from which you can draw.
Exercise Physiology (BS) Pre-Med Specialization A pre-med specialization in the Exercise Physiology program prepares you for the actual physiological assessment skills required for the profession. The specialization provides the opportunity for you to add a scientific foundation to your curriculum and enables you to develop skills in hands-on techniques, assessment, monitoring, and interpersonal communication skills.
Specialization Overview
Exercise Physiology is a field that investigates the effects that exercise and physical activity have on the human body - from the cellular level to one's overall perception of well-being. In addition to completing the 17 credits in the physical sciences (including Chemistry, Physics, and Biology) required for a major in Exercise Physiology, you will gain the necessary interpersonal communication and physical assessment skills when you pursue your pre-med interests. With the number of growing health issues related to physical inactivity (such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), our Exercise Physiology curriculum prepares you with an in-depth understanding of how to utilize exercise and physical activity to improve the daily quality-of-life for otherwise healthy or clinical populations.
Our rigorous curriculum prepares you to perform and interpret assessments of personal and family medical histories, cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength and endurance, electrocardiograms, hemodynamic responses to exercise, and dietary analysis. Furthermore, you will receive instruction on how to work with those requiring adaptive physical activity, as well as how to care for and prevent physical-use injuries.
Your undergraduate curriculum culminates with a semester-long, full-immersion internship experience; many of our Exercise Physiology students have successfully completed their internships in clinical settings and research facilities - both of which attract favorable attention when part of an application to medical school. Once you pass your MCATs, our hands-on approach to understanding the human body at rest and in motion will benefit you throughout the remainder of your medical school career.
Improving your medical school application
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Developing Skills
Our Human Performance Laboratory is the perfect setting to hone your skills. The extensive hands-on learning activities complement the classroom lectures, and all core courses have a separate lab component that enable you to experience each lesson. -
Conducting Research
Highly motivated students can undertake research under the tutelage of our faculty. -
Strengthening Your Transcript
If you are interested in adding a pre-med specialization to your exercise physiology curriculum, additional classes can be added based on the requirements as outlined by the specific medical schools to which you plan to apply. Your academic advisor can help you develop a plan of study for this option. -
Add a Master's Degree
You can further stand out from the rest of the medical school applicant pool by receiving your master's degree prior to sitting for the MCAT exam.