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Utica University
Students in the woods stand on a log holding hands.

Exercise and Wellness Studies

  1. Academics
  2. Our Programs
  3. Exercise and Wellness Studies

About This Program

You’re always on the move. You’re energized by working with others and being active. You don’t want a career that involves sitting at a desk all day. Exercise and Wellness Studies may be the major for you.

Why Utica University

Exercise and Wellness Studies prepares students for leadership roles in exercise science or health and wellness fields. Taught by accomplished faculty with extensive professional experience in the field, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes foundational courses in biology, kinesiology, and group facilitation, with advanced experiential learning opportunities in exercise and wellness program design, workplace health promotion, strength and conditioning, health and fitness trainer methods, and much more.

Students will be given the option of pursuing an education track in a concentration of either Exercise Science or Health and Wellness. Students in both concentrations are taught using a range of methods by which health promotion can be achieved.  In particular, the program utilizes adventure education (structured learning exercises characterized by perceived or real risk or challenge) and experiential education principles as the foundation for its curriculum.

Students in the Exercise Science concentration work in the health and fitness industry, and are skilled in evaluating health behaviors and risk factors, conducting fitness assessments, writing appropriate exercise prescriptions, and motivating individuals to modify negative health habits and maintain positive lifestyle behaviors for health promotion.

They conduct these activities in university, corporate, commercial or community settings where their clients participate in health promotion and fitness-related activities. 

As an integral part of the health and wellness team, Exercise Science Professionals can work with Personal Fitness Trainers and Exercise Physiologists in a number of different settings, such as corporate, clinical, community, and commercial fitness and wellness centers (entrepreneurship).

Exercise Science Professionals work with the apparently healthy population and clients with controlled disease, leading and demonstrating these clients in safe and effective methods of exercise. The Exercise Science Professional can also assess risk factors and identify (not diagnosed) the health status of clients.

Students in the Health and Wellness concentration prepare for careers as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings working with groups and individuals.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions

(315) 792-3006
admiss@utica.edu

General Information

Track

  • Major

Degree

  • B.S.

Location

  • Utica Campus
Utica Excellence, Utica Value

Exercise and Wellness Studies at Utica

Career Opportunities

The Exercise and Wellness Studies program prepares students for opportunities in fast growing career areas within:
    • Strength and Conditioning Coach
    • Personal Trainer & Fitness Instructor
    • Corporate Wellness Director
    • Outdoors Adventure/High Ropes Director
    • Team Building Facilitator
    • Health and Wellness Program Coordinator
Students give thumbs up while on platform of outdoor ropes course.

A Strong Foundation

A comprehensive curriculum with advanced experiential learning opportunities in exercise and wellness program design, workplace health promotion, strength and conditioning, health and fitness trainer methods, and much more.
Students lay on gym floor in a circle, brainstorming on paper.

Hands-On Learning

Exercise and Wellness Studies majors take their learning beyond the classroom, with field experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.

What You'll Learn

Students in both concentrations are taught using a range of methods by which health promotion can be achieved.  The program utilizes adventure programming (structured learning exercises characterized by perceived or real risk or challenge) and experiential education principles as the foundation for its curriculum.

Full Exercise and Wellness Studies Curriculum and Learning Objectives
Timothy Abraham - Wellness Adventure 201810_0008

Exercise and Wellness Studies Faculty

Timothy Abraham
Timothy Abraham, M.S.
  • Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Exercise & Wellness Studies
Margaret Hemstrought
Margaret C. Hemstrought, M.S.Ed.
  • Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Exercise & Wellness Studies

Adjunct Exercise and Wellness Studies Faculty

Richard S. Coffey, M.Ed.
  • Head Coach M-Basketball
Nathan J. Fredsell, B.S.
  • Adjunct Lecturer of Physical Education, Exercise & Wellness Studies
Gwendolyn A. Murphy, M.S.
  • Assistant Athletic Trainer
Jae Sung Park
Jae Sung Park, Ph.D., CTRS
  • Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Recreation
Kyle J. Sikes, B.S.
  • Adjunct Lecturer of Physical Education, Exercise & Wellness Studies
Lisa Wells, M.Ed.
  • Adjunct Lecturer of Education

A Degree That Works

Utica University's Exercise and Wellness Studies program prepares students for opportunities in fast growing career areas in the exercise science or health and wellness fields, such as Corporate Wellness (Wellness Director, Health and Wellness Program Coordinator, Director of Healthy Living, Fitness Trainer and Instructor), Adventure Education (Team Building Facilitator, Program Instructor, Outdoors Adventure/High Ropes Director, Assistant Director of Outdoor Adventures), and Fitness (Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Strength and Conditioning Coach).

Utica College - DePerno Hall
Physical Therapy lab

Dive Deeper

The Interprofessional Education (IPE) program at Utica University helps you develop a deeper understanding of a broad range of roles in the health professions so that you can effectively team up with practitioners in other disciplines to deliver outstanding patient care.

Learn More

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