Exercise scientists study the relationship between exercise participation and human health, and research focuses on understanding why regular physical activity prevents disease and promotes health.
The mission of the Department of Exercise Science (EXSC) is to expand and disseminate the body of knowledge concerning the relationship between physical activity and human health.
Career opportunities exist in academic institutions, hospitals, medical clinics, research laboratories, physical therapy facilities, rehabilitation facilities, perceptual-motor development clinics, health and fitness centers, and public health agencies. Jobs in the field include clinical exercise physiologist, motor rehabilitation specialist, health fitness instructor, professor of exercise science, research scientist, physical therapist and cardiac rehabilitation program director.
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 institutes and research oriented clinical
settings. Areas of specialization are applied physiology, health aspects of physical
activity, and motor behavior/rehabilitation. Specific research emphases correspond
to those listed for the departmental faculty. The M.S. program allows students to
emphasize expansion of research competence (for those who plan on pursuing a Ph.D.
degree or further graduate study) or to focus on professional and clinical aspects of
the field with concentrations in cardiac rehabilitation corporate wellness, and motor
control/development.
The goal of the department’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to produce graduates
who possess the skills necessary to be reflective practitioners and who can conduct
clinical research and scholarly activity necessary for the advancement of physical
therapy as an evidence-based profession.
In addition to the bachelor degree in exercise science, we offer four advanced degrees. Each graduate degree has specific application deadlines and requirements.
As an athletic trainer, Madison Hauge has developed expertise in examination, diagnosis and treatment. She has also learned the power of prevention and the need to focus on public health overall.
During her program, Norman J. Arnold Doctoral Fellow Allison Smith developed research expertise in the female athlete triad, eating disorder risk in understudied populations and body image dissatisfaction.
Originally from Ireland, Fairman has studied in the United States and Australia. He is applying his resulting expertise to his work at the Arnold School, researching how exercise and nutritional interventions can target the side effects of cancer/treatment for individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Graduate students from across the Arnold School have earned 2020-2021 SPARC Graduate Research Grants from the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research to fund individual scholarship initiatives.
Within the Big Data Health Science Center, the Geospatial Core engages in cutting-edge geospatial research and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) science. They also provide training in the use of GIS, spatial analytics and other technologies – recently launching the Health GIS Scholars Program.