Careers in Exercise Science
Concordia University of Chicago provides a transformative educational experience, arming students with the expertise, knowledge and connections necessary for diverse career paths and long-term success. Our graduates are esteemed by employers for their strong work ethic, critical thinking skills and hands-on experience. At CUC, you will be thoroughly prepared to enter the workforce with confidence and competence, ready to make impactful contributions in your field
Bachelor’s Programs
If you have a business-minded approach and a passion for the healthcare industry, a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration may be the perfect fit for you. The healthcare administration curriculum shares similarities with traditional business programs but is tailored to address the unique challenges, regulations, legalities and ethical considerations of the healthcare field. Embark on a journey where your enthusiasm for both healthcare and business opens the door to exciting career possibilities, as this groundbreaking program equips you with the essential tools to thrive and succeed in this evolving industry.
Potential Careers
- Hospital Administrator: Oversee the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities, ensuring smooth functioning, resource allocation and quality patient care.
- Healthcare Consultant: Offer advisory services to healthcare organizations, helping them optimize their operations, reduce costs and enhance patient outcomes.
- Healthcare Manager: Manage healthcare teams and departments, overseeing budgets, personnel and policies to ensure efficient and effective healthcare service delivery.
- Health Policy Analyst: Contribute to shaping healthcare policy by analyzing healthcare regulations, assessing their impact and making recommendations for improvements.
- Healthcare Quality Improvement Specialist: Focus on enhancing patient care by identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to increase the quality and safety of healthcare services.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from CUC, you’ll acquire the expertise and qualifications needed to explore a variety of exciting and rewarding career opportunities in the dynamic world of sports. This program allows you to merge your passion for athletics with your business ambitions, preparing you for success in one of the most engaging industries. Whether you’re interested in managing sports teams, working in sports marketing or overseeing athletic facilities, a degree in sports management opens the door to numerous roles where you can thrive professionally while staying connected to the sports you love.
Potential Careers
- Athletic Director: Lead and manage athletic programs at educational institutions or sports organizations, shaping the future of sports in your community.
- Contract Analyst: Play a crucial role in negotiating, reviewing and managing contracts for athletes, teams, and organizations..
- Operations Manager: Manage the logistics and facilities for sports organizations, ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
- Sports Broadcaster: Share your passion for sports with the world as a sports commentator, analyst or announcer, providing thrilling commentary on games and events.
- Sports Marketer: Develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote sports events, teams or athletes, connecting them with their fan base and sponsors.
A Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities in fitness, wellness, sports management, and leadership. After earning their degree online, graduates can pursue roles in various capacities within these dynamic fields. Many students go on to careers in exercise science, benefiting from the strong foundation provided by their kinesiology education. While some career paths may require additional education and certification, a kinesiology degree offers the essential groundwork needed to succeed in these rewarding and impactful professions.
Potential Careers
- Exercise Physiologist: Develop fitness and exercise programs that help patients recover from chronic diseases and improve cardiovascular function.
- Occupational Therapist Assistant: Support occupational therapists in helping patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.
- Athletic Trainer: Work with athletes to prevent, diagnose and treat sports-related injuries and provide rehabilitation programs.
- Rehabilitation Specialist: Assist patients in regaining strength and mobility following surgery or injury through customized rehabilitation plans.
- Corporate Wellness Coordinator: Develop and manage health and wellness programs within a corporate setting to promote employee well-being.
Graduate Programs
The Exercise Physiology concentration is tailored for individuals passionate about personal training, health promotion, wellness and cardiac rehabilitation. Exercise physiologists play a crucial role in promoting wellness, enhancing performance and preventing illness and injury through a deep understanding of how the body responds and adapts to physical activity. This field specifically examines the physiological changes that occur during exercise, while also recognizing the broader scope of exercise science. By studying exercise physiology, students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the health and wellness of individuals and athletes alike.
Potential Careers
- Clinical Exercise Physiologist: Work in healthcare settings to design and oversee exercise programs for patients with chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, or pulmonary conditions, to improve their health outcomes.
- Sports Scientist: Collaborate with athletes and sports teams to optimize performance by analyzing physical data, developing training programs, and providing strategies for injury prevention and recovery.
- Rehabilitation Specialist: Assist patients in recovering from injuries or surgeries by creating and implementing personalized exercise programs to restore function and mobility.
- Corporate Wellness Director: Lead wellness programs within organizations, focusing on improving employee health and productivity through fitness initiatives, health education, and stress management techniques.
- Researcher in Exercise Science: Conduct research on the effects of exercise on the human body, exploring areas such as cardiovascular health, muscle physiology, and the impact of physical activity on chronic disease prevention.
As injuries become increasingly common in physically active individuals, injury prevention has become a critical focus in the field of human movement science. The Master’s in Applied Exercise Science with a concentration in Human Movement Science equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop effective injury prevention programs. This program teaches students how to help athletes improve their functional capacity and correct faulty movement patterns, ultimately enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury.
Potential Careers
- Integrated Health Specialist: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to develop holistic wellness programs that combine physical therapy, nutrition and exercise to improve patient outcomes.
- Research Technician: Work in laboratories or clinical settings, conducting experiments and collecting data to support research in human movement, biomechanics and physical health.
- Health Coach: Provide personalized coaching and guidance to clients, helping them achieve their health and fitness goals through tailored exercise programs, nutritional advice and lifestyle modifications.
- Biomechanics Specialist: Analyze human movement and mechanics to develop strategies that enhance athletic performance, reduce injury risk and improve rehabilitation outcomes.
- University Instructor: Teach courses in human movement science, kinesiology or related fields at the college or university level, sharing expertise and mentoring the next generation of professionals.
The Sports Nutrition concentration is designed for individuals who aspire to provide reliable nutrition information to athletes and physically active individuals. This program emphasizes evidence-based principles in designing and implementing exercise and nutrition programs while interpreting relevant research in the field. By helping athletes reach their peak performance, understanding the science behind nutrition and exercise, promoting overall health and well-being and contributing to sports and exercise research, graduates will play a vital role in enhancing athletic performance and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Furthermore, this degree offers flexibility in career choices, allowing graduates to explore diverse paths, including consulting, nutrition education and writing for sports publications, while gaining professional recognition in a competitive job market.
Potential Careers
- Sports Nutritionist: Work with athletes and active individuals to develop customized nutrition plans that enhance performance, improve recovery, and support overall health.
- Dietitian for Professional Sports Teams: Collaborate with coaches and medical staff to design and implement nutrition programs that optimize athletes’ performance and endurance during training and competition.
- Performance Nutrition Consultant: Provide expert nutritional advice to sports organizations, fitness centers, and individual clients, helping them achieve specific fitness goals through targeted dietary strategies.
- Researcher in Sports Nutrition: Conduct research on the effects of diet and supplementation on athletic performance, body composition, and recovery, contributing to the advancement of sports nutrition science.
- Corporate Wellness Nutritionist: Design and deliver nutrition programs within corporate wellness initiatives, focusing on improving employee health, productivity, and overall well-being through balanced diets and healthy eating habits.
Our MS in Applied Exercise Science with a concentration in Sports Performance Training equips students with the essential skills to enhance athletic performance and promote optimal wellness. This program is specifically designed for coaches, athletic trainers and sports professionals who work with athletes of all levels, from high school players to Olympic competitors. By pursuing a Sports Performance Training concentration, students can accelerate their careers and gain a competitive edge in the dynamic field of sports performance training, ultimately helping athletes achieve their peak potential.
Potential Careers
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: Design and implement training programs that enhance athletes’ strength, speed and agility, helping them reach peak performance in their respective sports.
- Sports Performance Specialist: Work with athletes to develop and refine specific skills, such as power, endurance and flexibility, using advanced training techniques and technology.
- Athletic Performance Analyst: Use data and technology to assess and improve athletic performance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to optimize training and competition outcomes.
- High-Performance Director: Lead and manage sports performance programs for teams or organizations, overseeing all aspects of athlete development, including training, nutrition and injury prevention.
- Personal Trainer for Elite Athletes: Provide one-on-one training to professional or high-level amateur athletes, creating customized workout routines that target their unique performance goals and physical needs.
Concordia University Chicago’s Strength and Conditioning concentration is expertly crafted for current practitioners, aspiring strength and conditioning coaches, personal trainers and athletic performance coaches. This comprehensive program not only meets but exceeds the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) certification requirements, equipping students for advanced certifications in a growing field. Students will delve into advanced topics in strength and conditioning theory while developing their own training philosophies. The field of strength and conditioning is rapidly expanding, offering exciting career opportunities as the demand for specialized training in athletic performance and injury prevention continues to rise.
Potential Careers
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: Work with athletes at all levels, from amateur to professional, to improve their physical performance through customized training programs focused on strength, power, speed, agility and conditioning.
- Athletic Performance Specialist: Provide specialized training and support to athletes in specific sports or activities, focusing on enhancing performance, reducing the risk of injury and optimizing recovery.
- Personal Trainer: Work with individuals or small groups to develop personalized exercise programs aimed at achieving fitness goals such as weight loss, muscle gain or improved athletic performance.
- Fitness Center Manager: Oversee the operations of a fitness facility, including staff management, program development, member engagement and facility maintenance.
- Exercise Physiologist: Conduct fitness assessments, prescribe exercise programs, and provide lifestyle coaching to individuals with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or obesity, to improve their overall health and quality of life.
Doctoral Program
Pursuing a PhD in Exercise Science from CUC is a commendable choice for those called to make a difference in health sciences. In a world facing increasingly complex health challenges, advancing your career with this doctoral program equips you with the expertise needed to drive meaningful change in healthcare. Earning a PhD not only deepens your knowledge and skills but also opens the door to a wide range of opportunities where you can have a lasting impact on the industry and contribute to the well-being of others.
- University Professor: Teach advanced courses in exercise science, conduct research, and mentor students pursuing careers in health, fitness and sports.
- Director of Sports Science: Lead research and development initiatives within sports organizations, focusing on improving athlete performance through scientific analysis and innovative training methods.
- Exercise Science Researcher: Conduct high-level research on the physiological, biomechanical and psychological aspects of exercise, contributing to academic knowledge and practical applications in health and fitness.
- Senior Exercise Physiologist: Work in clinical settings or research institutions, designing and overseeing complex exercise programs for patients with chronic conditions, athletes or specific populations.
- Chief Wellness Officer: Develop and implement comprehensive wellness programs within corporations, hospitals or communities, integrating exercise science principles to promote health and well-being.