Explore Non-Clinical Careers for Exercise Science Majors

Key Takeaways

Diverse non-clinical careers in exercise science are available. These include roles like corporate wellness or sports coaching.
Education and business roles include positions like health teacher or product developer in the fitness industry.
Exercise science knowledge is crucial for roles in wellness program management and sports management.
Gaining experience through internships and networking is essential to enter non-clinical exercise science careers.

The exercise science field is fascinating and dynamic. Exercise science professionals are dedicated to understanding the complexities of human movement. They also have a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of physical activity.

Most people associate exercise science with clinical careers (like physical therapy). There are plenty of non-clinical job opportunities for exercise science majors, too, though. We’ll be discussing these job opportunities below, so stick around!

Non-clinical jobs are just as important as clinical jobs. If you have a degree in exercise science and want to apply your knowledge outside of clinical settings, you’re in the right place. This article should provide you with the insights you need to weigh your options and plan out your career path.

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Non-Clinical Jobs in Exercise Science

Most people don’t talk about non-clinical jobs in exercise science enough. Non-clinical jobs in exercise science are essential. Also, you’ll still be able to contribute to public health in unconventional ways.

For example, you might work as a corporate wellness specialist. In this role, you’ll design programs to improve corporate employees’ health. There are plenty of other career possibilities, too. For example, you might choose to work as a fitness consultant for sports teams. We’ll be going over these career choices and more in detail below, so don’t go anywhere!

Non-clinical careers in exercise science focus on education. They also focus on preventative health measures and community engagement. By choosing a non-clinical career in the exercise science field, you can make a big difference. You just have to believe in yourself!

Alternative Careers in Exercise Science

Let’s start by talking about some of the more unconventional career options in the exercise science field. These jobs probably aren’t what comes to mind when you think about exercise science. Still, they are great examples of how exercise science graduates can use their skills outside of clinical settings.

Sports Management/Marketing

If you’re interested in Sports Media, you may want to consider sports management or marketing as a non-clinical career choice. In this type of role, you might be a gym manager or do marketing for professional sports teams. You might also spread information about sports teams through YouTube videos and social media posts.

Event Coordinator

Are you into planning health and fitness events? If so, you might want to explore the possibility of becoming an event coordinator. As an exercise science graduate, you’ll be able to plan and execute specific health and fitness-related events. These events might include wellness retreats, community fitness classes, or even marathons. With your knowledge, you’ll be able to keep things safe and enjoyable for participants during the events you coordinate.

Corporate Non-Clinical Exercise Science Opportunities

Contrary to popular belief, you’re not required to work in a healthcare setting just because you have a degree in exercise science. In fact, exercise science professionals are needed in non-healthcare settings now more than ever. Let’s take a look at some corporate non-clinical exercise science opportunities below.

Corporate Wellness Coordinator

A corporate wellness coordinator plans fitness programs and activities for corporate employees. In this role, you’ll be responsible for scheduling fitness classes and hiring motivational speakers. You’ll also be responsible for encouraging employees to integrate health and fitness into their busy lives.

Fitness Consultant

This job won’t usually take place in a corporate setting. Still, though, the duties involved are similar to that of a corporate wellness coordinator. As a fitness consultant, you might work at a resort or fitness facility. Your duties might include creating and organizing fitness-related activities for guests. You’ll also be responsible for educating people about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise Science Careers in Education and Business

Exercise science professionals are especially needed in educational and business settings right now. Below are some non-clinical career choices for exercise science majors who want to work in education or business.

Health/Physical Education Teacher

Becoming a health or physical education teacher is a great way to use your knowledge as an exercise science major. Health and physical education teacher roles are in high demand right now. Whether you’re interested in teaching high school or college students, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a job in this field.

Product Development

Many private businesses will hire exercise science graduates to develop products for them. This is especially true if these businesses are in the fitness and wellness industry. In this role, your duties will include coming up with concepts and producing fitness-related products. You’ll most likely work with a team of engineers to create prototypes and test these products.

Fitness Industry Careers for Exercise Science Majors

Let’s talk a bit more about non-clinical exercise science careers for those who want to work in the fitness industry. If you’re interested in becoming a personal trainer, this might just be the industry for you.

Personal Trainer

Personal trainers usually work one-on-one with people. They also design personalized exercise programs for them. In this role, you’ll be both an educator and a motivator. You can use your exercise science knowledge to educate people. This will include explaining how different types of physical exercise benefit the human body. You’ll also need to motivate them to stick with the program you developed for them.

Group Fitness Instructor

A group fitness instructor educates people about the benefits of physical exercise. In this role, you’ll be responsible for coming up with and leading group exercise programs (such as group cycling or yoga). Group fitness instructors tend to be motivational and bubbly in nature, so keep that in mind!

Sports Coaching Careers For Exercise Science Majors

As an exercise science major, you’re capable of helping athletes train to win in their sport of choice. Do you want to improve people’s athletic performance and reduce their chances of getting injured? You can do so by using evidence-based training methods. Needless to say, it’s a very important job.

High School/College Sports Coach

Not just anyone can coach a sports team. High school students and college students, in particular, will need someone to guide them. In this role, you’ll use your knowledge to teach student-athletes about physiology and nutrition. You’ll also be responsible for guiding them towards excelling at their sport and keeping their bodies healthy.

Professional Sports Coach

As a professional sports coach, it’s your duty to help professional athletes reach their full potential. This means training them and educating them about the biomechanics of their sport. This role will also require you to have strong leadership and motivational speaking skills.

Exercise Science Education Careers

You don’t have to stick to teaching health or physical education classes. There are plenty of other non-clinical career options for exercise science majors who want to teach. If you’re interested in educating others about the principles of exercise science, this career path may be right for you.

Exercise Science Professor

A professor of exercise science works in higher education, which means you’ll be teaching college students in this role. Your duties will include teaching students about nutrition and the benefits of physical activity. Keep in mind that you’ll need a doctorate degree (Ph. D.) in exercise science or kinesiology in order to follow this career path.

Kinesiology Professor

The subject of kinesiology is broader than exercise science. Still, it’s something that you likely have extensive knowledge of as an exercise science major. An exercise science professor might focus more on how movement impacts the human body. On the other hand, a kinesiology professor will usually focus on the anatomy and mechanics involved in human movement.

Wellness Program Management Careers

People need wellness programs in order to thrive and stay healthy. You could seek a career in wellness program management with your specialized knowledge. Let’s take a closer look at what a wellness program manager does below.

Wellness Program Manager

A wellness program manager creates and maintains exercise or meditation rooms within workplaces. They may also create these spaces in schools and community centers. In this role, you’ll come up with marketing plans. You’ll also evaluate and update any wellness programs that are already in place. This is a great career option for those who are also interested in marketing and management.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of non-clinical career opportunities for exercise science majors. If you want to apply your knowledge outside of clinical settings, you’re in luck. As the demand for health and wellness continues to grow, so too does the need for exercise science majors in non-clinical settings.

Exercise science majors who want to explore non-clinical career paths should remember to put in the appropriate work. This means gaining experience through volunteering, participating in internships, and networking with other professionals in the exercise science field.

Keep in mind, too, that there are a number of viable and rewarding opportunities available to you. You just have to know where to look and who to network with. By volunteering and interning, you’ll be able to get a foot in the door and find a non-clinical career in the exercise science field that truly suits you.