The Profession
Students in the Exercise Science track should plan to continue their studies in a graduate or professional program in exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor behavior, sports psychology, physical therapy, physician's assistant or occupational therapy.  The academic advisor will recommend courses that will fulfill degree requirements at the College and also the prerequisites for entrance into a graduate or professional program.  Applications for an exercise science internship will be taken sometime during the junior year (see internship requirements in this handbook).  Interns have an opportunity to work in several different rehabilitation centers in the area.

**Note: The electives required/recommended for each of these programs varies from school to school.  It is the student's responsibility to determine the requirements for each school in which he or she is interested.

Exercise Science Advising
Each semester, the student will meet with his or her advisor initially to establish career goals and subsequently to ensure that these goals are met.  During each of the advising sessions, the student will update the advisor as to changes or progress in the following: 1) career interests, 2) plan of study, 3) extracurricular development (e.g. volunteer activities, job shadowing, etc.), 4) job/graduate school search, and 5) resume-building.

Exercise Science Professional Development and the American College of Sports Medicine
The primary interest group that represents the diverse fields within the exercise sciences is the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The ACSM performs a wide variety of important functions for the exercise science community, including: advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications for the exercise sciences, establishing position statements on safe and effective exercise and ergogenic nutrient supplementation guidelines, establishing and overseeing the certifications necessary to become a credentialed exercise specialist, etc. The ACSM is itself made up of a collection of regional colleges, including the Southeastern College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM), which is the organization that represents all the collegiate exercise science programs in the state of South Carolina. Each year, both the SEACSM regional conference (held in late January) and the ACSM national conference (held in early June) provide excellent opportunities for students to learn more about the  research currently being conducted, funding available for, and jobs available in the exercise sciences. Exercise science students at the College of Charleston are encouraged to attend at least one of these meetings each year. More information about this year's ACSM and SEACSM meetings may be found at http://www.acsm.org/meetings/index.htm. Students may find specific information about scholarships, certifications, and jobs at http://www.acsm.org/student/index.htm - opportunities. Finally, detailed information about all of the exercise science graduate programs in the United States can be found at: http://www.acsm.org/student/PL/User/UserLogon.asp

• effects of acute and chronic exercise on human function and health
• physiologic and biochemical mechanisms that underlie responses and adaptations to exercise
• physiologic responses to acute and chronic exercise in special populations, including children, females, the elderly, chronic disease patients, and those with neurological and/or orthopedic impairments
• neuromuscular and physiological processes associated with motor skill development
• development and aging aspects of motor function
• appropriate methods of designing and delivering physical activity programs for purposes of health enhancement , neuromuscular rehabilitation, and perceptual-motor functioning
• behavioral and psychosocial aspects of physical activity

• Graduate School application stating specialization (exercise physiology or motor control and development) with required, non-refundable application fee
• Graduate Record Examination scores of 450 or better on both the verbal and quantitative sections
• three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic ability
• official transcripts of all previous college/university work
• completed Applicant Information Form (available from the department), including resume, and a writing sample addressing future professional goals

Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Related Professions- Prerequisite Requirements for Physical Therapy http://www.musc.edu/chp/pt/ 

The college of Health Professions at MUSC offers a 3 year (9 semester) program to obtain a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy.  Entrance requirements for the Physical Therapy Education Program Include:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• 3.0 minimum undergraduate grade point average
• The GRE must be completed and scores received by the Office of Enrollment Services at MUSC prior to consideration for admission.  All components of the GRE are required.
• Completed 100 volunteer hours
• Reference letter from a supervisor for whom you have volunteered at least 50 hours
• American Heart Association's BLS for Heathcare Providers CPR Certification course is required prior to enrollment
  

The College of Health Professions at MUSC offers a 7 semester (27 month) program to obtain a Masters Degree as a Physician's Assistant.  Entrance requirements for the Physician's Assistant Program include: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• 3.0 minimum undergraduate grade point average
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) including the writing component
• Courses can only be applied towards the prerequisite requirement if a grade of "C" or higher was earned

Admission Criteria for an Internship 

Acceptance into the Department's Internship experience is extremely competitive and NOT automatic.  To be accepted as an intern in the Department of Physical Education and Health, you must:  

1. Be a Physical Education major;
2. Be a junior (75 hours completed) or above;
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.  Preference will be given to those students who have maintained a GPA of 3.00 or higher, as the number of internship sites are limited.
4. Complete an application form for the Internship at least one year prior to the fieldexperience.(All forms can be picked up from the Department secretary).
5. Complete TWO recommendation forms.  One form must be from a full-time faculty member within the Department of Physical Education and Health.  The second form  must be from someone in the professional area in which you are applying for an internship or a past employer. All forms must be received by the last day of classes one year in advance of the internship.
6. Current resume;
7. Have successfully completed the following PEHD major courses:  201, 330, and HEAL 216 AND be concurrently enrolled in  PEHD 340/L.
8. Receive a majority vote of approval by the full-time PEHD faculty; and
9. Agree to a contract outlining the terms of the Internship.

The Internship Review Process  

After your application form and two letters of recommendation have been received by the Department Chair or the Health Coordinator, you will: 

A. Receive a letter indicating when approval of interns will be voted on by the PEHD faculty;

B. Receive a second letter indicating your status into the internship experience. There are one of three categories for your application:

1. Immediate acceptance into the internship experience;

2. Probationary status of your application, with the faculty reevaluating your academic performance one semester before your proposed internship; or

3.  Rejection of your application at this time.  You may reapply for an internship at least one year prior to the field experience.

C. Acceptance into the internship experience is an honor that also carries additional requirements and responsibilities for each student.  These include:

1. There will be a two hour meeting of all interns on the Reading Day of the semester     preceding the start of the internship.  A letter will be sent to each intern identifying where the meeting will take place.  This meeting is MANDATORY and any student who misses this meeting may be dropped from his/her internship experience.

2. All interns must report back to the College on the Monday immediately before classes officially begin.  Students will be attending a two day workshop from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. This is an abbreviated version of the ACSM's Health Fitness Instructor (HFI) course. Upon successful completion of this workshop, students will receive a certificate from the Carolina Center for Athletes.

3. All interns must be currently certified in First Aid and CPR the semester in which their    internship occurs.  In addition, all immunizations must be current, especially TB and tetanus.  Students must bring a copy of their TB test to the HFI on the Monday immediately  before classes officially begin.

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Click on your field of interest to view other programs offered by the Department of Physical Education and Health.