Exercise and sport science are the studies of human movement—from developmental—to psychological perspectives. To be a physical therapist, professional coach, or occupational therapist, you’ll need a deep foundational understanding how the human body works in clinical and nonclinical settings. Western’s Exercise & Sport Science program uses Gunnison’s high-altitude environment to create an unparalleled academic experience with an abundance of novel research opportunities.
Program Overview
Study everything about the human body—from bones and muscles—to skin and tissue.
In the Exercise & Sport Science (ESS) program, you’ll learn how to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance performance in exercise, sport and physical activity settings. As one of the highest-altitude colleges in the country, the ESS program at Western offers the unique opportunity to conduct original research in the state-of-the-art High Altitude Performance Lab. To get hands-on experience in your field, you can participate in the Wellness Elevated program, a partnership with the medical community of Gunnison Valley that allows you to work with clinical populations and their exercise programming for a semester or more.
As an ESS major, you can also start to build your professional network through the Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science, a club that provides provide social support, professional development and networking opportunities. Upon graduating, you can pursue entry-level careers in teaching, fitness, sport and wellness in addition to professional certifications and graduate degrees in physical therapy, exercise physiology and cardiac rehabilitation.
Feeling the pulse
Students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work with individuals having diverse needs in physical education, recreation, sport, fitness, or rehabilitation settings.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
Exercise and Sport Science Emphasis
A minimum of 41 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: 1 | 3 | |
ESS 495 | Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science | |
EDUC 410 | K-12 Student Teaching | |
ESS 498 | Internship in Exercise and Sport Science | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
EDUC 410 K-12 Student Teaching is a capstone option for K-12 Physical Education majors seeking Colorado licensure; ESS 498 Internship in Exercise and Sport Science is a capstone option for the ESS Standard Emphasis.
First Aid/CPR competency, and the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| ESS 275 | Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 282 | Principles of Sport and Fitness Management | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 |
| Nine upper division ESS elective credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 26 | |
"C" or better required for both ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness to receive credit toward ESS degree.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 9 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science ("C" or better required to receive credit toward ESS degree.) or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) milestone course & prerequisite for ESS 330 & ESS 380 | 4 |
| ESS 282 | Principles of Sport and Fitness Management | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 9 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 275 | Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 7 |
| Elective | Elective/Minor/Certificate/2nd Major | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| Elective | Elective (upper division) ESS/Minor/Certificate/2nd Major | 12 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 |
| Elective | Elective (upper division) ESS/Minor/Certificate/2nd Major | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Elective | Elective (upper division) ESS/Minor/Certificate/2nd Major | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 495 or ESS 498 |
Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science or Internship in Exercise and Sport Science |
3 |
| Elective | Elective (upper division) ESS/Minor/Certificate/2nd Major | 9 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
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.
Spotlight
Ryan Barnhouse
Student
“Being an orientation leader and having that leadership position helped me branch out to try these other things. It gave me the confidence to express myself as a leader and learn what kind of leader I am. And then be able to use that leadership in other aspects.”
Brittney Hoots
Alumni
"Participating on Western’s track team led her to a life lesson that’s infused everything since: being part of the team matters more to her than being the most competitive player."
Alexia Abric
Student
"As an Honors Program student, Mountain Sports athlete and an active member of the Academic Leadership Program, Alexia is versatile in terms of academics as well as athletics."
Jacob Stroup
Student
“Learning how my body works and learning ways to improve my performance is something I have always thought about. Exercise and Sport Science is the perfect major for the interests that I have always had.”
Aspen Wallace
Student
"Exercise and being active is so important at any level and encouraging people to be physically active is so important. I feel like I can help educate so many people on the importance of health."
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Graduate Research: Collaborate on research projects with students in the High Altitude Exercise Physiology master’s program.
- High Altitude Performance Lab: Take classes and conduct research in our state-of-the-art facility.
- Publish Research: Publish your work in the Center for Wellness and Human Performance Health & Fitness Journal.
- Wellness Elevated: Work with clinical populations and their exercise programming for a semester or more.
- Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science: This club is specifically tailored to ESS majors. Outings and events provide social support, professional development and networking opportunities.
High Altitude Performance Lab
Early exposure to cutting-edge research through the High Altitude Performance Laboratory (HAP Lab)—7,717 feet above sea level—enables students to gain career-ready skills normally found only in graduate school.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science (RESS) Department
Department Chairperson
Gary P. Van Guilder, Ph.D.Professor of Exercise & Sport Science; Chair, Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science Department
Administrative Assistant
Terri StinsonAdministrative Assistant
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
