College of Science, Technology, and Health
Experiential Learning
Students in the Exercise Science program have numerous experiential learning opportunities throughout their course of study.
Laboratory Experiences
Laboratory experiences occur in conjunction with lecture classes in the areas of biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology I, anatomy and physiology II, exercise physiology, and exercise testing. In these courses, students apply the components of lecture and reinforce concepts to improve understanding though hands on laboratory experience. Students are exposed to a variety of equipment in the laboratory setting.
Hands-on Practice
Students gain valuable hands-on practice in numerous classes. In Biomechanics, students conduct biomechanical analyses on activities of daily living and sporting activities. In Exercise Principles for Optimal Performance, students experience, plan, and implement strength and conditioning training programs in small group settings. Students design and run small-scale research projects in Research Methods and Data Interpretation.
Service Learning
In service learning projects, students apply material learned in service to their community. Service learning occurs in Physical Activity for Specific Populations with a variety of populations, from children to the elderly. In Exercise Prescription and Implementation, upper level students are paired with a faculty or staff member in a semester-long training experience that improves students鈥� communication, assessment, programming, and training skills in addition to providing a valuable free training program for university employees.
Undergraduate Research
In addition to the required coursework in Research Methods and Data Interpretation, students can engage in undergraduate research in a variety of ways, from participating in a research study to conducting their own research in conjunction with faculty members in Independent Research and Research Internship courses. Faculty and students collaborate to produce a numerous publications and presentations.
Internships and Practica
Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Exercise Science program at 51福利社. Students complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of internship, providing hands-on experience in professional settings that align with their career interests and post-graduate goals. Internship experiences may also include research opportunities for students interested in graduate education or research careers.
Students also have the option to complete additional practicum coursework, offering observational and applied learning experiences that support career exploration and professional development.
Beyond internships and practicums, students gain valuable hands-on experience through coursework such as Program Design and Implementation. In this course, students apply the knowledge and skills developed throughout the curriculum by conducting fitness assessments, establishing baseline measures, designing individualized exercise programs, and implementing goal-oriented training plans for community clients. Throughout the semester, students monitor progress, adjust programming as needed, and evaluate outcomes through follow-up assessments.
These experiential learning opportunities enable students to integrate classroom knowledge with real-world practice while developing the clinical, professional, and communication skills essential for success in the exercise science profession.
Internship and practicum placements are tailored to each student’s career interests and professional goals. Below are examples of professional settings where Exercise Science students have completed experiential learning experiences.
Strength and Conditioning
Students have interned at numerous universities from NCAA Divisions I through III, in addition to professional sport internships, high school strength and conditioning, and private sector performance enhancement.
Personal Training and Group Fitness
Internship opportunities exist in personal training and group fitness at a variety of personal training and group fitness sites throughout the St. Louis metro region and beyond. Students have interned at a variety of sites, ranging from boutique gyms to nationally known chains and have worked with a variety of populations.
Senior Fitness
Sites are available in senior living facilities throughout the region. Students facilitate group exercise, personal training sessions, and wellness education for residents.
Military and Occupational Athlete Training
Students have worked with current military personnel, veterans, and other occupational athletes such as police and firefighters to use exercise programming to improve their performance and provide social and psychological benefits.
Physical Therapy and Chiropractic
Students intern in clinic settings to gain understanding of clinical practices before graduate school.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Interns work with patients who have experienced a cardiac event and are working under supervised exercise protocols.
Corporate Wellness
Internships are available at a range of corporations that provide wellness facilities on their work campuses for their employees. Interns may offer group fitness courses, personal training, wellness education programming, and other services to employees.
Adapted Fitness
Interns work with individuals and small groups with physical, visual, and/or hearing disabilities to use fitness and sport to provide physical and social benefits.
Facility Management
Fitness facility management, including both large and small companies, can be a component or the entirety of an internship experience.
Nutrition
Internship experiences are available for students interested in working with nutritional counseling.
Coaching
Students have interned with a variety of different teams at many different levels, depending on preference and desired career outcomes.
Community Wellness
Community wellness sites provide students experiences working with fitness management, personal and small group training, community health education, and wellness programming.