A clinical exercise physiology master’s degree prepares students to work with individuals to prevent disease or work with those who have a chronic disease condition that may benefit from exercise training and lifestyle interventions. A clinical exercise physiologist can choose to be a practitioner or focus on clinically-oriented research. Clinical exercise physiologists provide exercise programs they supervise for clients with a range of chronic diseases. In addition, they determine helpful exercise regimens, most commonly for pulmonary and cardiac patients, that won’t increase medical risk.
Exercise physiology, a division of kinesiology, focuses on how the human body acclimates to continuous physical activity and its short-term biological response to any stress the activity may induce. Applied exercise physiologists create workout plans for clients who are in good health and less likely to require medical attention. Clinical exercise physiologists perform the same primary function but assist clients with chronic diseases or other medical concerns that hinder their ability to be active.
Some careers available to CEP graduates are clinical exercise physiologist, exercise instructor, personal trainer, corporate wellness coordinator, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation professional, strength and conditioning specialist, clinical research assistant, athletic centers within a university/college, or management in the health and fitness industry.
The student must possess an overall 2.75 GPA (4.0 scale) in previous undergraduate work or maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale) in the last half of the undergraduate work.
No, GRE is not required for admission into the program.
The most common graduate course load is nine (9) credits per semester. View the program requirements and degree map.
Our CEP program has two program of study tracks: a. Thesis and b. Clinical internship (600 hours of hands-on experience).
Students who complete the clinical internship program of study track are eligible to sit for the ACSM-CEP exam. View the qualifications.
View information about graduate tuition rates and scholarships.