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Lasell University

Exercise Science

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Lasell’s Exercise Science program immerses you in a CoAES-accredited curriculum that prepares you for a career in fitness, sports performance, wellness, or healthcare.

You'll dive deep into topics such as exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, performance analysis, and clinical exercise testing. You’ll also explore the technology of health and wellness that are essential in today’s industry. Plus, with a strong focus on practical experience and preparation for national certifications, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to jump straight into the workforce or continue on to advanced study in fields like kinesiology, athletic training, or physical therapy. 

Program Features

  • Industry Experience - You’ll complete at least one industry-relevant internship and graduate from the program equipped with real-world skills and the confidence to make an immediate impact.

  • Professional Perspective - Our faculty have been out in the field. They’ve worked in the industry and know what it takes to succeed and bring that real-world experience into the classroom, giving you practical skills and insights.

  • Seminar learning opportunities - Courses exemplify Lasell's unique Connected Learning environment, facilitated by faculty with noted industry experience.

  • Industry Technology - Get hands-on with top-of-the-line technology, including Catapult vests, force plates, VO2 max testing equipment, and InBody machines.

  • Graduate School Pathway - Build the knowledge and experience you need for success in athletic training, PT, and other health-focused master’s programs.

Colleges of Distinction - Education 2020-2021
Lasell University's Exercise Science program has been recognized by the NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) which recognizes and distinguishes programs with approved and standardized strength and conditioning or personal training curricula. 

 

Why Exercise Science at Lasell?

 

 

Do you want to be an Athletic Trainer?

Students are required to earn a master's degree from a CAATE accredited program to become an athletic trainer. Lasell's Exercise Science degree is a pathway to our Master of Science in Athletic Training. 

What You'll Learn

From your first day, you’ll take courses in your major and advance towards graduation with a yearly plan. Not sure what classes to take? We’ll help you create the perfect plan. 

Courses and Sample 4-Year Plan

This example four-year plan is provided as a broad framework that you can follow in order to complete your degree within four years. Be sure to always consult your academic advisor before registering for classes.

MATH203
Precalculus

This course prepares students for the study of calculus, physics and other courses requiring precalculus skills. Included is solving systems of equations, the analysis and graphing of linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational functions, the unit circle, and triangle (right and non-right) trigonometry. Prerequisite: MATH 106 with a grade of C or better or demonstrated competency through placement testing. Restrictions: not open to students who have completed 205, 206, or any 300 level mathematics course successfully.

This is a comprehensive course focusing on the structure and function of the human body. The course introduces students to aspects of human biology ranging from the chemical basis of life and cell biology to the anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems. Topics covered include: cell biology, major body tissues, and the structure and function of the following systems: skin, skeletal, muscular, and nervous. The laboratory component includes dissection. Students should have successfully completed one year of at least secondary (high school) level Biology before electing this course. Corequisite: BIO 205L.

In this course, students gain understanding of and confidence in strategies for effective writing by composing and reading in a variety of genres. The course emphasizes writing as a process and focuses on the rhetorical choices writers make. Students engage critically with sources by examining how genre, context, purpose, credibility, and bias work together to create meaning and impact audiences. Students who choose to take Writing I Workshop are provided with time during class to work on their writing while the instructor and a writing tutor are present to provide assistance. Students must earn a “C” or higher in order to pass this course

The First Year Seminar (FYS) is part of the Core Curriculum and a requirement for all incoming first year students and transfer students with fewer than 15 credits. The First Year Seminar is a theme-based inquiry course that engages students in a specific area of interest while providing support for a smooth transition into the Lasell University community and the Connected Learning philosophy. Through studying an academic topic, students develop and apply core intellectual skills and receive an introduction to the core knowledge perspectives. At the same time, students connect to the experiences and people that make up the Lasell University Community. Course outcomes are accomplished through engaging activities including reading, writing, class discussions, presentations, team projects, field trips, and exploration of campus resources. Civic engagement and service-learning activities are often part of this course as is participation in the Connected Learning Symposium. Through the seminar, students develop close ties with faculty and peer mentors who serve as advocates for first year students' academic success. Past course titles have included: The Immigrant Experience, Fashion & Film of the 20th Century, The Social History of Rock & Roll, Exploring Cultures & Languages, The Spark of Creativity, Women and Sports, and Latin America: Food And Traditions. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking either FYS103 or HON101 (for students enrolled in the Honors Program).

This course provides a description of the various health care professions including educational and licensing requirements. The concepts of professionalism, health care teams, and current health care policies will be covered. Students will increase their knowledge of the various health care professions through job shadowing.

This course is a continuation of BIO 205. The following systems are covered during the semester: endocrine, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, urinary, and reproductive. The laboratory component includes dissection. Prerequisite: BIO205 with a C or better. Corequisite: BIO206L.

The purpose of this course is to provide foundational skills in measurement techniques of health and physical activity that are necessary and relevant for a professional in the field of exercise science, fitness management and related disciplines. Students will learn how to screen exercise participants for health risks, to assess basic anthropometrics, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, and flexibility in apparently healthy individuals, across the lifespan, using a variety of techniques and technologies. In addition, principles and techniques for recognition and management of non-life-threatening and life-threatening emergencies will be covered. Students will be exposed to evidence-based foundations within the discipline, as well as career options and the role of the exercise, health, and fitness professional in the health, wellness and sport disciplines.

This course is a continuation of Writing I and focuses on research and public writing. Theme-based courses provide students with lenses to explore issues of interest and develop their reading, research, and writing skills. Students work with a topic of their choice, broadly based on the course theme. Assignments build upon each other, lead up to a researched position paper, and culminate in a public piece. Students who choose to take Writing II Workshop are provided with time during class to work on their writing while the instructor and a writing tutor are present to provide assistance. Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in order to pass this course. Prerequisite: WRT 101

Equity & Intersectionality(KP)

This course focuses on evaluating and implementing healthy lifestyles and human behavior for longevity of lifespan from adolescence through adult development. Focus will be placed upon cultivating a holistic approach to health and wellness that is rooted within strategies for implementing healthy lifestyle changes, as well as "living through prevention": a description relating to methods of preventing long term disease and disability.

EXSC106
Functional Anatomy & Resistance Trainig

This course applies principles of anatomy to the study of human motion and resistance training. The course will explore human movement through applied anatomy and biomechanics, as well as through the analysis of exercises and sport movements. Students will be able to identify, describe, execute, and progress common resistance training exercises for the upper extremity, lower extremity, and trunk that target specific musculature. Students will utilize their anatomical knowledge base to evaluate exercise technique and form.

In this course, students learn to think like psychologists as they study classic and contemporary topics in human behavior, feeling, and thought. Students learn to apply psychological perspectives of thought, including biological, cognitive, sociocultural, humanistic, psychodynamic, and behaviorist, to better understand the human experience. Students will learn to use these perspectives to explore how individual behavior is influenced by and influences one’s biology, family, community and society. Topics may include human development, personality, psychopathology, human relationships, language, memory, perceptual processes, and intelligence, among others.

This is the first semester of a one-year course that surveys the field of physics at a non-calcu­lus level. Topics include motion in one and two dimensions, force, uniform circular motion, work and energy, and statics of rigid bodies. The laws of thermodynamics are introduced. Laboratory experiments are conducted to complement the material covered in lecture. Prerequisite: MATH 203 or equivalent with a grade of C or better. Corequisite: PHYS111L, PHYS111R.

This Knowledge Perspective course will provide students with the opportunity to interpret and analyze the complex interrelationships and inequities in human societies in a global historical context. Emphasizing the interrelatedness and mutuality of influence between East and West, we examine questions of exclusiveness, intolerance, and cooperation. Prerequisite: ENG101 with a C or better

KP (Knowledge Perspective) Course

This course examines the anatomical and mechanical concepts required for critical assessment, description, and analysis of human motion. The laboratory component includes analysis of human motion. Prerequisites: BIO205, BIO206, PHYS111. Corequisite EXSC222L

This is an introductory course in descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include: data analysis, and graphical methods of describing data, measures of central tendency and variability, probability, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 106 with a grade of C or better or demonstrated competency through placement testing and ENG 102.

This course prepares students for national certification exams as personal trainers. Each class addresses pertinent topics of the health fitness professional. These topics include health screening and assessment and comprehensive program design for multiple populations. The course empowers students with the skills necessary to become qualified fitness professionals.

In this project-based course, students explore a social or intellectual problem using at least two knowledge perspectives. Faculty and students follow a collaborative process of exploration, discussion, and problem solving that integrates knowledge perspectives and core intellectual skills.

Choose an Elective or Minor course

EXSC209
Performance Nutrition

This course studies the effects, benefits, and sources of major nutrients. It includes an overview of nutritional issues involved in disease processes and nutritional needs for an active population. Special focus on patient assessment and development of dietary plans based on energy expenditure. Prerequisites: BIO 205, BIO 206.

This course explores the acute and chronic effects of exercise on the structure and function of the body with an emphasis on the metabolic cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuromuscular systems. Also discussed are the effects of environmental factors and ergogenic aids on exercise performance. The objective of this course is for the student to gain an understanding and working knowledge of how the body responds to exercise so that they may apply this knowledge to their chosen field. The practical applications of the major principles are demonstrated in a laboratory setting (EXSC 302L). Students are advised that the capability to exercise moderately and maximally may be required and documentation if a medical examination indicating cardiopulmonary status and exercise capacity may be requested by the instructor. Prerequisite BIO 205/BIO 206. Corequisite EXSC 302L

This course will address the interaction between the lives we lead and the application of traditional (and some nontraditional) ethical theories and principles to important decision points in our lives. Students will take on real-life ethical problems and dilemmas for each class; each student will be responsible for presenting a number of issues, as well as for guiding the discussion of those issues in class. The problems we address will largely span a lifetime of experiences and concerns. Students will also write several papers that evaluate formal arguments, using standard tools of critical thinking and philosophy. The course is discussion based, so a willingness to read carefully, to think critically, and to engage in classroom presentations and discussions is essential. Prerequisite: Junior standing, MDSC203 & ENG102.

In this course, major pathophysiologic concepts are explored using a body systems approach relating them to the practice of the health care professional. Theories relating etiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations are used to study common disease processes. The course introduces students to medical terminology, and describes the impact of cellular dysfunction, interpretation of medical laboratory tests and drug interaction and pharmacology for the health care provider. The course encourages critical analysis of clinical data to identify logical connections and integration. Prerequisites: BIO205, BIO206 or by permission

This course presents the principles of managing physical education, intramural and athletic programs, commercial fitness and strength and conditioning/sports performance businesses, issues, scheduling, staff, financial planning and related duties of faculty mangers. Likewise, it is important to note that this is a writing intensive course. Prerequisites: Junior Standing

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to engage in the application of physiological principles and development of practical skills for fitness evaluation and exercise prescription. Course content will emphasis: pre-test screening and assessment and prescription fundamentals for cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, body composition, and flexibility. Prerequisite EXSC302. Co-requisite EXSC304

Lecture and practical sessions include principles of weight training and conditioning, orientation to different modalities, including free weights, weight machines (i.e., Nautilus), and circuit training and development of individual and group exercise programs. Students may be required to obtain medical clearance prior to participation. Pre-requisite: BIO206. Co-requisite EXSC305L.

This is an off-campus experience in a hospital, clinic, corporate, university or commercial setting, as appropriate. Concepts, theories, and practices learned in the classroom are applied in a supervised setting. Students must successfully complete at least 150 hours of field experience in addition to written assignments. Prerequisites: EXSC302, EXSC305, current CPR/AED certification

This class examines the basic theory and application necessary to understand and facilitate small groups. Topics may include group types, formation, roles and stages; group process; cultural awareness; group interventions and ethics within the field of psychology and human service; therapeutic value of groups; and the family, classroom, and peers as small groups. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOC 101.

Choose an Elective or Minor course

This course will prepare students to sit for the certification in the field of exercise science, with emphasis on the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and the ACSM, Certified Exercise Physiologist certifications. Students will assess their current level of knowledge, and identify and actively improve upon areas of weakness. Students will develop a personal study plan, which will involve review sessions and practice tests both in and out of the classroom, Students will develop a post-graduation plan and prepare the necessary materials to carry out their individual plan, including GRE preparations, resume, cover letter, personal statement writing, as well as mock interview sessions. Prerequisite: Senior level standing

000
Elective or Minor Course

Choose an Elective or Minor course

This course covers research concepts in the healthcare and fitness industry including the logic of experimental and correlational designs, issues of control, sampling, measurement of variables, ethical issues in research, use of online professional search procedures, and writing in APA style. Students engage in various aspects of the research process culminating in a research paper on a discipline specific topic. Prerequisite: MATH 208

Exercise for Special Populations explores the role of exercise in health and disease and how the normal physiological response to exercise changes in the presence of disease. This course will specifically focus on pathophysiology, treatments and medications, acute and chronic effects of exercise, and exercise testing and prescription guidelines for individuals with cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, neurological and immunological diseases and disorders. This course will allow students to understand the effect of exercise, chronic diseases and conditions, and allow them to apply this knowledge in the field. Prerequisite: EXSC302.

Choose an Elective or Minor course

Choose an Elective or Minor course

This is an off-campus experience in a hospital, clinic, corporate, university or commercial setting, as appropriate. Concepts, theories, and practices learned in the classroom are applied in a supervised setting. Students must successfully complete at least 150 hours of field experience in addition to written assignments. Prerequisites: EXSC302, EXSC305, current CPR/AED certification

The capstone course synthesizes theories and practices of exercise physiology into one culminating and progressive exercise program for a client. Students serve as subjects, technicians, and administrators. The primary goal is to better prepare students to engage in research at the graduate level and to create an opportunity for students to apply various concepts and theories attained throughout the curriculum. The content of this course focuses on opportunities for exercise program design and undergraduate research, with three course design option; development of original case study research, with focus on adhering to written and oral presentation standards within the field; development of an original research question, with focus on methodology, data collection and statistical analysis; or development of an understanding of the research process, with focus on review of the literature, defining the research question, and study methodology. Prerequisite: EXSC 340

Choose an Elective or Minor course

Choose an Elective or Minor course

Choose an Elective or Minor course

Certification Eligibility

  • Eligibility to sit for American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Training Exam ACSM-CPT
  • Eligibility to sit for American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-EP)
  • Eligibility to sit for the National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Eligibility to sit for the National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) Certified Personal Training Exam
  • Eligibility to sit for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Corrective Exercise Specialist Exam
  • Instruction in Functional Movement Screening: Eligibility to sit for the FMS level 1

Accreditations:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Lasell University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and active through 2027. Accreditation increases and enhances employment opportunities.

Endorsement:

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Lasell's Exercise Science Program has also received an endorsement of its curriculum from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) recognizes regionally accredited academic institutions for their educational programs that have met, and continue to meet, educational guidelines recommended by the NSCA. ERP recognitions are good for three years and schools are eligible for renewal following this three-year period.

Lasell's Exercise Science Program has also received an endorsement of its curriculum from the from the NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP). Regionally accredited academic institutions for their educational programs that have met, and continue to meet, educational guidelines recommended by the NSCA. ERP recognitions are good for three years and schools are eligible for renewal following this three-year period. 

Ari Diorrio, MS, LAT, ATC, PES: Education Program Coordinator & Trainer, Bando Performance

Chris Householder: Head Corrective Exercise Practitioner, Perfect Postures

Rachel Householder, MS, CSCS: Head Strength Trainer and Assistant Corrective Exercise Specialist, Perfect Postures

James Collins, CSCS: Special Market Account Manager - Association Football, Hawkins Dynamics

Tracy Curran-Jessick, PhD: Senior Cardiac Program Development Manager, Boston Children's Hospital  

Geoff Ebbs, MS, CSCS: Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Northeastern University

Emily Sargent, ALM, SCCC, CSCS: Owner, Pitching & Hitting Instructor, Ace of Diamonds  

Nick Stanovich, CSCS: Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, College of the Holy Cross  

This example four-year plan is provided as a broad framework that you can follow in order to complete your degree within four years. Be sure to always consult your academic advisor before registering for classes.

4-Year Plan

Career Outlook

Exercise Science majors are prepared for careers in strength and conditioning, health fitness instruction, personal trainers, or graduate programs in exercise, athletic training, and more.

Our students have interned with:
  • Atrius Health-Harvard Vanguard
  • Bando Performance
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Harvard University
  • Marathon Physical Therapy
  • Newton-Wellsley Hospital
  • BIOZOO Peru
  • Brandeis University
  • Northeastern University
  • Advanced Sports Therapy
  • Athletic Evolution Performance
  • Train Boston
  • Neuro-Wellness Center
  • Flight Performance and Fitness

Our Alumni have careers at:
  • Flight Performance
  • Fitness Together
  • Catapult
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Elite Physical Therapy
  • Marathon Physical Therapy
  • ATI Physical Therapy
  • Dexter Southfield School
  • Longfellow Tennis & Health Club
Student Perspective
Juliana Medini

"The Exercise Science program has prepared me by giving me real world experiences through internships and technology."

Juliana Medini '25

Exercise Science

Watch our Internships Video
Juliana Medini
Owen Bond profile photo

"My professors have been extremely suportive of my growth as an exercise science student. I love how the classes aren't just lecture-based - they're very hands-on and encourage us to think critically."

Owen Bond '25

Exercise Science

Read more about Owen
Owen Bond profile photo
Alyson Barnes profile photo

"I chose Lasell's Exercise program because I came in with a passion for exercise. When I realized it was something I could study, it immediaitely became an interest of mine. I never thought I'd be where I am today - it's a great program!"

Alyson Barnes '25

Exercise Science

Read more about Alyson
Alyson Barnes profile photo
Katie Hopkins profile photo

"Being a student-athlete has given me the discipline, teamwork, and time management skills essential for success in my career."

Katie Hopkins '24 G'25

Exercise Science

Read more about Katie
Katie Hopkins profile photo

Learning Outcomes

  • Interact professionally and educate clients, patients, peers, colleagues and medical/athletic personnel.
  • Apply a team approach to client and patient care.
  • Adhere to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength, and Conditioning Association and National Academy of Sports Medicine code of ethics.
  • Deliver client/patient-centered services and care 4. Model professional conduct and behavior
  • Advance knowledge through the use of evidence-based practice 
  • Exhibit knowledge in core exercise science content areas as defined by the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES). Lasell University CoAES data.

For a complete list of courses and learning outcomes, view the Academic Catalog

FAQs

What is an Exercise Science Degree?

An Exercise Science degree teaches you how the body moves and how exercise supports health, performance, and recovery. You’ll study areas like anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition, and learn how movement plays a role in everything from fitness to rehab.

What can you do with an exercise science degree?

You have a lot of options with an Exercise Science degree - from personal training and strength coaching to working in rehab settings or corporate wellness. Many students also use this degree as a pathway to graduate programs in physical therapy, athletic training, or kinesiology.

What technology will I use while studying exercise science?

You’ll get hands-on experience with tools used by professionals in the field. At Lasell, that includes Catapult wearable tech, VO2 Max testing, velocity-based training, force plates, and strength-testing equipment - all to help you understand how the body performs and recovers and understand the data that goes with it.

 

Do I need to get my Master’s Degree?

It depends on what you want to do. If you're planning to become a physical therapist, athletic trainer, or work in advanced rehab, you’ll need a graduate degree. But for careers like fitness coaching or personal training, a bachelor’s may be all you need.

 

What Sets Lasell’s Exercise Science Program Apart?

  • Hands-on learning from year one
  • High-tech labs and real-world internships
  • Personalized advising and small classes
  • Strong prep for grad school & certifications
  • Prime Boston-area location for networking

 

Beyond the Classroom
Putting Learning in Motion

Coaches using Catapult technology

Hear how students are using the Catapult vest and other exercise science technologies to improve athletic outcomes for themselves and other athletes.

Watch the Video
VR/AR Lab

Lasell's new virtual reality lab enhances classroom experience by with cutting edge virtual reality/artificial intelligence technology.

AR VR Lab
Alumni Profile - Red Sox Athletic Trainer

red sox logo

Bobby Stachura '13, Athletic Trainer for the Boston Red Sox, credits internships and connections while at Lasell for his success in this competitive field.

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