Exercise Science Comprehensive

Are you ready to turn your passion for health, movement, and performance into a dynamic, in-demand career? The Exercise Science program at the University of West Alabama (UWA) is your gateway to competitive professional and graduate programs across the allied health and medical fields.

We don’t just teach Exercise Science—we provide a specialized, pre-professional launchpad. With eight distinct concentrations, UWA prepares you for immediate careers in performance or for direct entry into advanced professional degree programs with a scientific and practical foundation that allows you to stand out.

The Exercise Science program provides a depth of specialization that aligns with your ultimate career goal. You will choose a focused track that maximizes your readiness for professional success, whether through certification or graduate school admission.

Career Pathway Tracks

Allied Health Powerhouse

• Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre-PT): The ideal pre-requisite preparation for one of the nation’s most in-demand careers.

• Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT): Focus on the science of daily living movements to prepare for OT school.

• Pre-Physician Assistant (Pre-PA): A highly focused track for students targeting the competitive PA school application process.

Performance & Rehab

• Strength Training and Conditioning: Prepares you directly for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam—a gold standard in the industry.
• Pre-Athletic Training: The perfect foundation for students seeking to pursue a Master’s in Athletic Training.

Specialized Clinical Tracks

• Pre-Chiropractic: Dedicated coursework for students preparing for Chiropractic Doctoral programs.
• Pre-Optometry: A unique, tailored curriculum to meet the demands of Optometry School admission.

Foundation in Movement Science

• Exercise Science (General): A flexible option for careers in corporate wellness, fitness management, or immediate employment.

UWA is dedicated to your professional outcome. We provide the essential blend of academic rigor, hands-on experience, and direct pre-professional advising that will distinguish your application.

• Direct Pre-Professional Alignment: With 7 of our 8 concentrations designed specifically as pre-professional tracks, you eliminate guesswork and focus your education on the exact prerequisites and knowledge required for your target professional school (PT, OT, PA, Chiropractic, etc.).
• Hands-On Learning from Day One: Our curriculum emphasizes Applied Physiology and Biomechanics. You will gain real-world experience in our labs, learning to perform key clinical assessments like VO2 max testing, body composition analysis, and movement screening—skills that are critical for your internships and clinical rotations.
• Certification Ready: Our Strength Training and Conditioning concentration is directly mapped to prepare you for the highly respected NSCA-CSCS certification, giving you a competitive edge for performance-based careers immediately upon graduation.
• Expert Faculty Mentorship: Our faculty are dedicated mentors and experts in their fields, committed to guiding you through the complex application process for graduate and professional schools, including advice on shadowing hours, letters of recommendation, and interview preparation.

Ready to Launch Your Career?

Your future in healthcare, rehabilitation, or elite performance is waiting.

For more information, please contact Dr. Catalina Casaru at ccasaru@uwa.edu

Visit the Academic Catalog for information regarding program admission requirements, prerequisites, course offerings and more.