Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences Exercise Science bachelor’s degree program has earned national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES). Accreditation status underscores the value of the comprehensive education UVM Exercise Science students receive in preparation for careers in the health, fitness, and exercise industry, and graduates of a CAAHEP-accredited exercise science program are eligible for advanced ACSM national certifications.
“Graduates of our program are equipped to help people of all ages and backgrounds improve their health, and students earning their degree from an accredited exercise science program can be assured that they receive a high-quality education that facilitates their preparation for employment in the health, fitness, and exercise industry or further graduate studies,” said Program Director Connie Tompkins.
The 124-credit Exercise Science program introduces theoretical approaches and applied skills using current evidence-based science to appraise risk, assess physiological function, and develop exercise prescriptions for various populations. It incorporates hands-on experiential opportunities in the on-campus human performance center and adapted physical activity laboratories and with community partners.
Senior students complete a capstone involving faculty-supervised clinical, research, or community-based experiences integrating knowledge and clinical skills. Capstone internships have included UVM Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation, Long Trail Physical Therapy, and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, among others.
UVM alums are prepared to enter the workforce or pursue graduate study upon completing the degree. Recent graduates have taken positions with The New York Rangers (NHL), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They are pursuing further education in occupational and physical therapy and physician’s assistant programs. Zachary Klein ’19, who’s seeking an advanced degree in occupational therapy, credits UVM's exercise science faculty with providing the valuable skills and knowledge he needed to reach his goals – beginning with an adaptive sports course that affirmed his passion for working in the field and introduced him to exercise's simultaneous, holistic effects on mental and physical health. He plans to continue his work in disability rights advocacy and wilderness therapy to create an outdoor sports program for people with mental and physical health challenges.
“Exercise science is so important right now because of the prevalence of chronic, preventable health problems in the U.S. and awareness of health disparities among diverse populations,” said College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Noma Anderson. “Those who study exercise science are equipped to develop exercise prescriptions with the potential to improve health outcomes for everyone.”
The University of Vermont is one of only 149 universities and colleges worldwide to be named an Exercise is Medicine® campus for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Exercise Science students’ passion for making moving a daily campus culture and helping others in the campus community cultivate lifelong physical activity habits helped UVM earn the gold-level designation for the sixth year in a row from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus program.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES
Part of an academic health sciences hub that includes the UVM Health Network and Larner College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences enrolls about 300 graduate students and 1000 undergraduates across four academic departments: Biomedical and Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, and Rehabilitation and Movement Science. CNHS calls students to a higher standard of care and teaches them to reach across divides for the benefit of patients, to become leaders among the next generation of culturally competent health professionals. Rigorously trained to collaborate with colleagues across the health fields, graduates join the workforce prepared to bring value to the work of their team members, champion the voice of a struggling patient, and to foster exemplary interprofessional, compassionate, and family-centered services. In this tight-knit ecosystem of health care education, research, and practice, students train to service society and their patients, with better outcomes for all.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT:
Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. UVM’s strengths align with the most pressing needs of our time: the health of our societies and the health of our environment. Our size—large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet intimate enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study—allows us to pursue these interconnected issues through cross-disciplinary research and collaboration. Providing an unparalleled educational experience for our students, and ensuring their success, are at the core of what we do. As one of the nation’s first land grant universities, UVM advances Vermont—and the broader society—through the discovery and application of new knowledge.
UVM is derived from the Latin “Universitas Viridis Montis” (University of the Green Mountains)
Source: 11.10.2023. 
