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What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science?

Key Takeaways

  • There is a growing need for exercise science professionals due to rising health awareness.
  • Diverse career options in exercise science include fitness, healthcare, and education.
  • There is a positive job outlook in the field, with strong demand and job growth projections.
  • With an exercise science degree, you can make a difference by improving people’s health and quality of life.

A bachelor’s degree in exercise science prepares you for jobs helping people live healthy, active lives. More and more people want to exercise and eat right these days. This means there is a growing need for experts in exercise science. With this degree, you can get a stable and rewarding job doing meaningful work that improves people’s health and fitness.

This article will look at different paths for careers in exercise science. It will show you the potential for career growth. Also, the potential for personal satisfaction and for impacting people’s lives. You might dream of coaching athletes or helping injured people recover. Or, you might dream of promoting workplace wellness or inspiring active lifestyles. There are many exercise science graduate opportunities in exercise science.

“Physical activity is a wonder drug that’s not only incredibly effective but also has few side effects. A degree in exercise science gives you the tools to prescribe this wonder drug effectively.” – Dr. I-Min Lee, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University

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Exercise Science Industry Outlook

The future looks very promising for exercise science graduates entering the job market. Rising rates of obesity, chronic diseases, and an aging population are driving demand. The demand is for qualified exercise science professionals. The exercise science employment trends point to strong job growth over the next decade.

According to the BLS employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 10% through 2033. This is faster than the average for all occupations. Healthcare costs are expected to rise. So, demand for the workers will grow. They provide services to prevent illness.

The outlook is equally positive for fitness trainers and instructors. Businesses, healthcare providers, and aging populations are placing higher priority on wellness programs. The BLS predicts employment growth of 14% through 2032.

Driving this demand is the sobering fact that around 73.6% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over were overweight or obese as of 2020, according to the CDC. Obesity is linked to conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. We will need exercise science expertise to address this.

Another factor is the large baby boomer population reaching older ages. Over 82 million Americans are projected to be 65 years and over by 2050. The demand for qualified exercise professionals is expected to rise. They will assist with active aging, rehabilitation, and improving life quality.

Here are some of the job opportunities post-exercise science degree:

Health and Fitness Career Paths

Careers in the fitness industry allow you to directly apply your exercise science knowledge. The work is active and hands-on as you motivate others to exercise and live healthier. 

Personal Trainer

Role

Design custom exercise programs. These will help clients to improve fitness, lose weight, and gain strength. Provide motivation and accountability.

Career Growth

You can advance to become a master trainer, open your own studio, write books/programs, and become an influencer.

Positive Impact

Guiding clients to achieve their goals improves their quality of life and instills lasting healthy habits.

Fitness Instructor

Role

Lead group exercise classes like yoga, cycling, dance, boot camp, etc. Ensure proper form and create engaging routines.

Career Growth

Get advanced certifications and become a program director. Also, open your studio and make video workouts.

Positive Impact

Making exercise enjoyable and more accessible. Aiding in reducing obesity, improving mental health, and building community.

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Role

Design training programs to optimize athletic performance. Do this using exercise science principles around strength, power, agility, etc.

Career Growth

Advance by working with elite athletes and professional teams. Coach for universities or Olympic programs.

Positive Impact

Enhancing athletes’ capabilities allows them to compete at a higher level and be role models promoting fitness.

Corporate Wellness Coordinator

Role

Create workplace wellness initiatives. These include fitness classes, health education, and activity challenges. They will improve employee health.

Career Growth

Advance to manage wellness programs for larger corporations. Earn advanced certifications and move into consulting roles.

Positive Impact

Improving employee health boosts productivity and reduces healthcare costs for companies and families.

Healthcare and Rehabilitation

These healthcare roles apply exercise science to prevent and treat injuries/illnesses. Your skills aid recovery and disease management, allowing you to dramatically improve lives. 

Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist

Role

Design and implement exercise programs. This is typically for patients recovering from heart disease, surgery, or events like heart attacks.

Career Growth

Advanced leadership roles overseeing rehab programs and earning specialty certifications. Also working in clinical research.

Positive Impact

Improving cardiovascular health and quality of life for people with heart conditions.

Athletic Trainer

Role

Prevent, evaluate, and treat injuries/illnesses in athletes. Develop rehab programs for safe returns to play.

Career Growth

Opportunities with pro/college teams, sports medicine clinics, and physicians’ offices. Pursue specializations.  

Positive Impact

Keeping athletes safe, preventing future injuries, and extending athletic careers through proactive care.

Exercise Physiologist

Role

Use exercise testing and prescriptions. Use them to develop programs for patients with chronic conditions, like diabetes or lung disease.

Career Growth

Workplaces include hospitals, clinics, and wellness centers. Option to open a private practice or consult.

Positive Impact

Slowing disease progression, and reducing side effects. This is through therapeutic exercise to benefit patients and the healthcare system.

Education and Research

In these education and research roles, you can share your passion for exercise science. You’ll shape programs, sharpen curricula, and create new knowledge. 

Physical Education Teacher

Role

Develop and teach curriculum to promote physical fitness, healthy habits, and sports skills in K-12 students.

Career Growth

Opportunities to become a lead teacher, athletic director, or administrator. Can teach at higher levels

Positive Impact

Combating childhood obesity and inactivity. This is by engaging students in sports, activities, and fitness education.

Exercise Science Professor 

Role

Instruct students who are pursuing exercise science degrees. They should conduct research and write papers. This will expand the field’s knowledge base.  

Career Growth

Option to earn advanced degrees, become head of a department, and focus on specialized research interests.

Positive Impact

Scholars’ work leads to advances. It optimizes exercise and prevents injuries. It also promotes public health.

Researcher

Role

Plan and do studies in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and kinesiology. This will add to our scientific understanding. 

Career Growth

Increase credentials with more published studies. This can to lead and direct research initiatives.

Positive Impact

Research discoveries lead to improvements. These improvements apply to areas like injury prevention, rehabilitation, and elite performance.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

The entrepreneurial realm grants autonomy and ingenuity. It gives you the continual ability to evolve your business model to fulfill emerging market demands.

Starting a Fitness/Wellness Business

Role

Start your own business. It could be a gym, studio, or personal training company.

Career Growth

Expand operations by opening additional locations, introducing new programs, or broadening service offerings. 

Positive Impact

Become an accessible community resource providing health and wellness solutions.

Developing Fitness Apps/Online Programs

Role

Imagine, make, and sell fitness apps, video workouts, or digital training programs. People buy them.

Career Growth

Continuously attract new subscribers and expand your consumer base to increase revenue streams.

Positive Impact

Leverage technology to enhance convenience and accessibility of fitness for diverse demographics.

Consulting Services  

Role

Offer tailored exercise science consulting to corporate entities, athletic organizations or individual clients.

Career Growth

Cultivate a distinguished reputation to procure prestigious, lucrative opportunities.

Positive Impact

Implement innovative, research-driven strategies to revolutionize corporate wellness or elite athletic capabilities.

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As you can see, a bachelor’s in exercise science opens many doors to different rewarding career paths. With this degree, you can pursue jobs helping people in the fitness industry, healthcare field, schools, or even start your own business. 

No matter which path you choose, your work will improve people’s health, fitness levels, and overall quality of life. You’ll get to use the skills from your exercise science degree every day. 

You will guide clients, patients, students, or athletes toward reaching their wellness goals.

Make the most of your education by exploring the diverse array of possibilities this degree provides. With commitment and hard work, you can establish a meaningful career path. It will align with your interests and let you make a positive impact.