Health Sciences (B.S.) - Pre-Professional Specialization
This undergraduate program, grounded in the university's Liberal Arts Core, provides students resources for developing professional skills in exercise testing, physical activity leadership, health and fitness assessment, exercise programming, wellness coaching, planning health promotion programs, and public health. Graduates are prepared for beginning administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions in commercial and community health and athletic clubs, corporate fitness and wellness programs, public health nonprofit and government agencies, and for undertaking graduate study in health education, exercise science, occupational therapy, athletic training, chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, and public health. In addition, qualified students may apply for an accelerated B.S. to M.S. program in public health education and promotion.
Students will choose from four specialization areas: exercise science/strength and conditioning, public health, pre-physical therapy, or pre-professional.
Students completing the baccalaureate degree in Marymount’s health sciences programs are prepared to apply for exercise physiologist or personal trainer certifications offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), strength and conditioning certification offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), or Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification. Exercise science/strength and conditioning, pre-physical therapy, and pre-professional tracks are all accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Upon successful completion of the health sciences program, students will be able to
- demonstrate the knowledge required to function as competent entry-level professionals in the health/fitness industry;
- demonstrate competence in using equipment, industry tools/inventories, and/or other practical "hands-on" applications typically used in health and wellness settings and/or clinical settings;
- demonstrate the ability to effectively educate and/or counsel individuals regarding behavior modification for the promotion of health and wellness;
- apply ethical standards to the conduct of health and wellness programs; and
- evaluate information to address the health needs/concerns of individuals or groups.
This specialization is intended for those interested in pursuing a general health sciences plan of study or advanced study in a health sciences–related professional field, such as the master's degree in occupational therapy (OT) or athletic training (AT), or the doctorate in chiropractic medicine (DCM). Students will work with an advisor to satisfy the college/university prerequisite coursework needed to apply for advanced academic preparation.
Pre-Occupational Therapy: Suggested prerequisite courses include statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II, human growth and development, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, and general psychology.
Pre-Athletic Training: Suggested prerequisite courses include statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II, biology I and II, exercise science, physics I, college math or statistics, English, social sciences, and nutrition.
Pre-Chiropractic Medicine: Suggested prerequisite materials include a health sciences degree with coursework in English, psychology, social sciences, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, kinesiology, statistics, and exercise physiology.
Internship Prerequisites: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, a grade of C- or better in HPR 202, HPR 301, and HPR 410, and a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount are needed to register for the internship.
Internship Requirements: When other requirements are completed, and minimum grade requirements are met, the student is placed in a 120-hour, three-credit internship.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a minimum grade of C- in HPR 202, HPR 260, HPR 301, HPR 302, HPR 410, HPR 415, BIO 151, BIO 151L, BIO 152, BIO 152L, BIO 161, BIO 161L, BIO 162, and BIO 162L.
Degree Requirements - Health Sciences Pre-Professional Specialization
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy
Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Health Sciences Core
| HPR 201 | Introduction to Health and Exercise Science | 3 |
| HPR 210 | First Aid and Safety | 1 |
| HPR 225 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| HPR 340 | Nutrition for Optimal Health | 3 |
Health and Human Performance
A minimum grade of C- is required in the following courses:
Biology Requirement
A minimum grade of C- is required for the following courses:
Psychology
| PSY 101 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
Pre-Professional Core
A minimum grade of C- is required for the following courses:
| HPR 260 | Introduction to Sports Medicine | 3 |
| HPR 302 | Fitness and Health Assessment | 3 |
| HPR 415 | Exercise Guidelines for Special Populations | 3 |
Pre-Professional Requirements
Pre-Professional Electives
| HPR 215 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| OR | |
| HPR 240 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| | |
| HPR | One (1) health and human performance elective | 1 |
Sample Degree Plans - Health Sciences Pre-Professional Specialization
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor when making course selections. Total credits may exceed 120, and some summer coursework may be required to meet all degree and pre-professional requirements.
Year One - Fall
Year One - Spring
Year Two - Fall
| BIO 161 | Anatomy and Physiology I * | 3 |
| BIO 161L | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab * | 1 |
| HPR 225 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| HPR 260 | Introduction to Sports Medicine | 3 |
| | Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course * | 3 |
| | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
Year Two - Spring
| BIO 162 | Anatomy and Physiology II * | 3 |
| BIO 162L | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| HPR 215 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HPR 230 | Community Health | 3 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three - Fall
| HPR 301 | Health/Fitness Program Management | 3 |
| HPR 302 | Fitness and Health Assessment | 3 |
| HPR 308 | Global Health and Culture | 3 |
| | One (1) health and human performance activity elective | |
| HI | History (HI) core course * | 3 |
Year Three - Spring
| HPR 300SL | Essentials of Personal Training | 3 |
| HPR 304 | Developing Physical Training Programs | 3 |
| | Depth in Humanities core course | 3 |
| | Depth in Faith and Reason core course * | 3 |
Year Four - Fall
| HPR 210 | First Aid and Safety | 1 |
| HPR 307 | Strength and Conditioning of Athletes | 3 |
| HPR 340 | Nutrition for Optimal Health | 3 |
| HPR 410 | Anatomical Kinesiology | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
Year Four - Spring
| HPR 399 | Professional Development for Health Sciences | |
| HPR 400 | Senior Internship | 3 |
| HPR 406 | Stress Management | 3 |
| HPR 415 | Exercise Guidelines for Special Populations | 3 |
| | One (1) elective or pre-professional course | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
HPR 406: DSCI core course
HPR 399 is recommended as one of the electives
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the
Liberal Arts Core and
Course Descriptions for further information.