Exercise Science is an interdisciplinary field tying together traditional disciplines as biology, physiology, psychology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, genetics, nutrition, and sociology to facilitate an understanding of the links between physical activity, exercise, fitness, performance, diet, and health.
Exercise Science has become an increasingly valued discipline within public health, the medical community, and even high-performance environments. Exercise has even been acknowledged for its role in the treatment of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, type II diabetes, cancer, depression, anxiety, and other chronic diseases & stress related disorders.
The mission of the Department of Exercise Science (EXSC) is to promote an environment of excellence and achievement in human health and performance. As part of our forward-thinking vision, EXSC is used as a resource to train the next generation of scientists and practitioners in the latest techniques and technologies in the field. In addition to advancing the science, we emphasize translation of this research for greater integration into practice and application.
The department’s Ph.D. program, which is ranked #1 in the United States by the National Academy of Kinesiology, prepares graduates for entry into positions in universities, colleges, research oriented settings, and industry. Specific areas of research specialties correspond to those listed for the departmental faculty.
In addition to the bachelor degree in exercise science, we offer four advanced degrees. Each graduate degree has specific application deadlines and requirements.
The National Association of Athletic Trainers' Service Award recognizes recipients for their contributions to professional associations, community organizations, grassroots public relations efforts.
Exercise science professor Stacy Fritz partners with engineering researchers to capture details about a person’s gait from the vibrations in their feet and then determine what variations in a person’s walking speed and step length can say about health changes and challenges.
Graduate students from across the Arnold School have earned 2022-2023 SPARC Graduate Research Grants from the USC Office of the Vice President for Research to fund individual scholarship initiatives.
Caleb Morris, an instructor in the Department of Exercise Science and an advisor within the Office of Undergraduate Services, has been honored with an Outstanding Advising Award from the National Academic Advising Association.
USC's Megan Sexton tells the story of how Arnold School alumnus Alex Medina (M.S. in Advanced Athletic Training, 2015) saved the life of fellow Gamecock and Board of Trustees Member J. Egerton Burroughs through a blood cell transplant.
The director of athletic training programs and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion has been chosen to lead the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education's Board of Commissioners as president-elect and then president.