Program Requirements
A minimum of 73 credits is required, including the 15-credit Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus:
To graduate, all exercise and sport science majors must complete ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness with a minimum grade of “C-”:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus | ||
| ESS 181 | Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science | 3 |
| ESS 185 | Lifetime Wellness | 3 |
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Select one of the following ESS Capstone courses: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science | ||
or ESS 498 | Internship in Exercise and Sport Science | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
First Aid/CPR competency and the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 372 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) | 4 |
| BIOL 373 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 298 | Fitness Instruction | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| ESS 385 | Fitness Assessment, Exercise Prescription and Program Planning | 3 |
| ESS 411 | Wellness Elevated I | 3 |
| ESS 412 | Exercise Biochemistry | 3 |
| ESS 430 | Topics in Clinical Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 431 | Wellness Elevated II | 3 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Basic Nutrition | ||
| Nutrition for Wellness and Performance | ||
| Total Credits | 58 | |
Chiropractic Education
Western has a 3+1 agreement with Palmer College of Chiropractic. Students must complete 90 credits at Western, including General Education and the Clinical Exercise Science Emphasis. Students who meet Palmer’s entrance requirements may enroll at one of the three Palmer campuses, and after successful completion of the first year of the D.C. program, receive credit for completion of their fourth year at Western, transferring Palmer credits back to Western in order to complete their undergraduate degree. Appropriate coursework should be taken in consultation with an academic advisor.
Capstone Course Requirement
Students can choose to take either ESS 495 Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science or ESS 498 Internship in Exercise and Sport Science to fulfill the Capstone Requirement.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Plan
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
A minimum of 73 credits is required. To graduate, all Exercise & Sport Science (ESS) majors must complete ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness with a minimum grade of "C-".
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CHEM 111 & CHEM 112 |
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills ) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills ) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters (select one) | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| CHEM 113 & CHEM 114 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II |
4 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills ) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 372 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 6 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 298 | Fitness Instruction | 3 |
| BIOL 373 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory) 1 | 4 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology 1 | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab 1 | 1 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 385 | Fitness Assessment, Exercise Prescription and Program Planning | 3 |
| ESS 412 | Exercise Biochemistry | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 9 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta (select one) | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 360 | Nutrition for Wellness and Performance | 3 |
| ESS 411 | Wellness Elevated I | 3 |
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 430 | Topics in Clinical Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 431 | Wellness Elevated II | 3 |
| ESS 495 or ESS 498 |
Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science or Internship in Exercise and Sport Science |
3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
- 1
Milestone course. Must achieve a "D" or better to enroll in many higher level ESS classes.
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.