Exercise and Health Sciences
A degree in Exercise and Health Sciences (EHS) equips you to help others lead healthier lives. Our interdisciplinary curriculum includes classes such as Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Exercise Prescription, Nutrition, and Health Behavior Change which will prepare you for any health-related career you wish to pursue. Our program is designed to enhance the knowledge needed to succeed, develop critical thinking skills and increase your problem-solving abilities. You will also get a chance to apply the knowledge you have learned in practical situations in the field. In addition to participating in engaging face-to-face or online courses, students will have the opportunity to complete internships, participate in faculty-led research, receive one-on-one faculty mentoring, and participate in experiential service learning. You may even choose to live on campus surrounded by others taking the same classes. A ready-made study group. Check out the Residential Learning Community Page. There are many different career paths a student can choose with a background in EHS. At UTC, the EHS faculty are committed to helping you find the right career path that is the best fit for you. Upon completing the EHS program, you should be well-equipped for success in your career or for further study in a related graduate school program. More information on a few of the career paths you might consider is listed below.
- Athletic Training
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Athletic Training is a graduate level program which is offered within the Health and Human Performance Department at UTC. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Graduate Athletic Training Program (GATP) prepares students to serve as licensed healthcare professionals in a variety of settings including college/universities, high schools, orthopedic offices, professional sports, industrial and occupational health, and performing arts. For more information on Athletic Training visit the UTC Athletic Training Website (link). Additional information on Athletic Training and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured so that you meet all the pre-requisites needed to be eligible to apply for entry into an Athletic Training program at UTC or other Universities. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Clinical Exercise Physiology
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Clinical Exercise Physiology prepares you to work in hospital or health care in positions such as cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to improve an individual's cardiovascular health after they experience a heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty or heart surgery. Job responsibilities often include patient intake and exercise prescription, supervision and monitoring of exercise sessions, and patient education. You would also be qualified to work in exercise programs working with older adults or individuals with diseases such as such as diabetes and obesity. Some Cardiac Rehabilitation positions do require a master's degree. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
Clinical Exercise Physiology Course of Study
- Dental School
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Dentistry is a graduate level program offered at other institutions. Additional information on Dental Schools and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured in such a way to allow you to take all the needed pre-requisites to be eligible to apply for entry into a Dental School at another University. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Health & Wellness Management
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The Health & Wellness Management plan of study prepares you for a career in Corporate Wellness and Wellness Coaching. Job responsibilities often include development and delivery of health promotion campaigns, engagement at community health-related events, health coaching for individuals and education for lifestyle risk reduction. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
Health & Wellness Course of Study
- Medical School
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Medical School is a graduate level program offered at other institutions. Additional information on Medical Schools and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured in such a way to allow you to take all the needed pre-requisites to be eligible to apply for entry into a Medical School at another University. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Nutrition and Dietetics
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Nutrition and Dietetics program is a graduate level program which is offered within the Health and Human Performance Department at UTC. The Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics (MPH ND) prepares graduates to practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to promote health equity in a variety of diverse settings, through scholarly achievement, public health leadership, and experiential learning in community nutrition, food systems management, and medical nutrition therapy, with the goal of preventing and treating nutrition-related chronic disease. For more information on becoming a Registered Dietitian visit the MPH Nutrition and Dietetics website (link). Additional information on becoming a Clinical Dietitian and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). An EHS undergraduate degree can be structured so that you meet all the pre-requisites needed to be eligible to apply for entry into the MPH Nutrition and Dietetics program at UTC or other Universities. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Occupational Therapy
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Occupational Therapy is a graduate level program which is offered at UTC. Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. For more information on Occupational Therapy visit the UTC Occupational Therapy Website (link). Additional information on Occupational Therapy and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured so that you meet all the pre-requisites needed to be eligible to apply for entry into an Occupational Therapy program at UTC or other Universities. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Physical Therapy
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Physical Therapy is a graduate level program which is offered at UTC. Physical Therapist are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. They practice in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, people’s homes, schools, sports and fitness facilities, workplaces, and nursing homes. PTs diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. For more information on Physical Therapy visit the UTC Physical Therapy Website (link). Additional information on Physical Therapy and other Health Careers may be found on the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured so that you meet all the pre-requisites to be eligible to apply for entry into the Physical Therapy program at UTC or other Universities. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Physician's Assistant
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Physician’s Assistant programs are offered on the Graduate Level at other universities. For more information on a career as a physician’s assistant go to the UTC Pre-Health Advising Webpage (link). The HHP: EHS undergraduate degree can be structured so that you meet all the pre-requisites to be eligible to apply for entry into a physician’s assistant program at other Universities. It should be noted that pre-requisite requirements for PA programs vary from school to school. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
- Public Health
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Public Health is a graduate level program which is offered within the Health and Human Performance Department at UTC. Careers in Public Health seek to protect and improve the health of people in their communities. Job responsibilities often include monitoring public health outbreaks, educating the public about health issues, empowering communities to live healthier, developing programs and policies that address public health concerns, and evaluating existing public health programs. For more information on a career in Public Health visit the UTC Masters in Public Health Website (link). When you graduate, you will be prepared to take the ACSM/NPAS Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist or NCHEC Certified Health Education Specialist certification exams. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
Public Health Course of Study
- Strength and Conditioning
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The Strength and Conditioning plan of study prepares you for a career in performance coaching and training. This might be a job as a personal trainer, working in a private, corporate, or government fitness facility or as Strength and Conditioning Coach in a private, high school, college or professional sports team. Job responsibilities often include administering physiological testing, interpretation of test results, training program development and monitoring as well as athlete education. When you graduate, you will be prepared to take certification exams from the NASM and the NSCA-CSCS. You may also want to pursue a graduate training at another university. Here is an example of what your undergraduate course of study might look like if you decide to pursue this career.
Strength and Conditioning Course of Study