Exercise Sci Major, Concentration?

Off Topic
1

What’s up folks. I will be attending South Carolina here in the next year or so after my stint in the military. I am pretty set on an Exercise Science major. The trouble I run into is when I have to pick a concentration for the Exercise Science major. What I want to do eventually is start my own gym/training facility one day. But I also want to be involved in new research for disease prevention through exercise and nutrition one day. I was just wondering if anyone could shed any light on what concentration I should be focused on… or if I should be so worried about them at all. Thanks!

Here is the link for the program.

http://bulletin.sc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=10&poid=2606&returnto=1873

2

Let me be very blunt with you. I live in the States, so this may not be wholly comparable. In fact it may not even apply to you. But if you are going to South Carolina and staying there, read what I have to say.

I graduated in 2010 with an Exercise Science degree. Your concentration is not going to matter much. Exercise Science as an undergraduate major is a stepping stone to becoming a physical therapist. That is it. Your other option is to pursue a Masters degree and work as a physiologist (fancy word for “exercise tester”) at a local hospital. The job openings here in America are very competitive and employers can and will take someone who has had postgraduate education over an undergraduate, with a starting salary of 40,000 USD, and usually less!

Your main option with “just” an Exercise Science degree is to be a personal trainer or coach, which can be very hit or miss with the money aspect. You could make 20k a year or you might make 70+.

If you want to own your own gym, go for an MBA or find an appropriate benefactor to help you get started.

If you want to be involved in cutting edge research, stay in academia for your PhD in either Human Physiology or Public Health.

Stopping your education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science is a very limiting decision.

How do I know this? I’m 3 years out. Since I don’t want to be a physical therapist, a personal trainer (even though I have an NSCA CPT), or an academic, I’m applying for a trade apprenticeship instead. Something completely unrelated to exercise science.

That’s just my experience with it all. Don’t be discouraged from pursuing your dream, whatever it may be.

3

Biology major with some kinesiology, biomechanics, chemistry, and biochem classes will probably give you a better foundation and open a lot more doors. From my experience the exercise science degree was more of a “biology lite” bachelors.

4

[quote]outworksc wrote:
What’s up folks. I will be attending South Carolina here in the next year or so after my stint in the military. I am pretty set on an Exercise Science major. The trouble I run into is when I have to pick a concentration for the Exercise Science major. What I want to do eventually is start my own gym/training facility one day. But I also want to be involved in new research for disease prevention through exercise and nutrition one day. I was just wondering if anyone could shed any light on what concentration I should be focused on… or if I should be so worried about them at all. Thanks!

Here is the link for the program.

http://bulletin.sc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=10&poid=2606&returnto=1873[/quote]

I’m an Exercise Science major at South Carolina.

If you want to open/own a gym, Health Fitness is the concentration you are looking for. There is a required class for all concentrations (EXSC 454) where they teach you the basics of opening/running a gym/clinic, but I would suggest you take some business classes as well

You can get involved in research while you are in school or after, regardless of your concentration. You will still learn all the Anatomy/Physiology/Exercise stuff, those classes are the same in each concentration.

5

on an possible related note, Donnie Thompson(1260# squat,3000#total), who is the Strength Director at Progressive Sports Physical Therapy, has his gym in Irmo South Carolina.

6

I used to be an exercise science major. Now I’m studying EE. If your central ambition is really owning a gym or training facility, I second VTPower’s advice concerning a MBA. If you really want to get involved in scientific research, you pretty much need a postgraduate degree with heavier science orientation.

Maybe consider taking up the Scientific Foundations concentration with business as a second major, which won’t be easy but you want to do both, right? Keyword is consider. How certain are you that this is what you want to do? Just consider multiple frames of reality. By all means go for it if you wish, but stay conscious of your environment.

7

fire off an e-mail to Donnie. he’s a nice guy and would probably answer your questions. he is a PT and the strength and mobility director for over 20 clinics statewide. check out his PT vids at SuperDtv3000 on youtube

8

[quote]silverblood wrote:
on an possible related note, Donnie Thompson(1260# squat,3000#total), who is the Strength Director at Progressive Sports Physical Therapy, has his gym in Irmo South Carolina.
[/quote]
Also this. Some form of mentorship would be great.

9

Damn this is the truth right here. Most science degrees are just stepping stones to either a PhD MD or some other form of post grad. Unless that is what you want to do steer clear of those degrees. I am sure many want to be the next big thing in the exercise community but its pretty damn hard and I don’t know too many who make a decent living with their bs in exercise or kinis.

My honest advice to everyone who is about to go to college is to study comp sci or some sort of engineering. If you can’t hack the math then do accounting. If you think you want to go become a doctor or pt take the prereqs as part of your gen ed.

Or you could study for two years and become a dental hygienist and make 80 k a year.

[quote]VTPower wrote:
Let me be very blunt with you. I live in the States, so this may not be wholly comparable. In fact it may not even apply to you. But if you are going to South Carolina and staying there, read what I have to say.

I graduated in 2010 with an Exercise Science degree. Your concentration is not going to matter much. Exercise Science as an undergraduate major is a stepping stone to becoming a physical therapist. That is it. Your other option is to pursue a Masters degree and work as a physiologist (fancy word for “exercise tester”) at a local hospital. The job openings here in America are very competitive and employers can and will take someone who has had postgraduate education over an undergraduate, with a starting salary of 40,000 USD, and usually less!

Your main option with “just” an Exercise Science degree is to be a personal trainer or coach, which can be very hit or miss with the money aspect. You could make 20k a year or you might make 70+.

If you want to own your own gym, go for an MBA or find an appropriate benefactor to help you get started.

If you want to be involved in cutting edge research, stay in academia for your PhD in either Human Physiology or Public Health.

Stopping your education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science is a very limiting decision.

How do I know this? I’m 3 years out. Since I don’t want to be a physical therapist, a personal trainer (even though I have an NSCA CPT), or an academic, I’m applying for a trade apprenticeship instead. Something completely unrelated to exercise science.

That’s just my experience with it all. Don’t be discouraged from pursuing your dream, whatever it may be.[/quote]

10

Ex.Sci path is really painful career-wise. Of the 12 people in that major that graduated with me, I am the only one actually working in the field (blind luck and/or just stupid).

Most have moved to something in the medical or business fields. Make sure you have a STRONG passion for this stuff. Also, while it might be as sexy as having a gym or training people for performance, look into getting training in the Community Health or Corporate Wellness fields as well. This is where most of the opportunities will be in 4-6 years when you graduate.

11

Just dont make the same mistake that I did.

Back when I was doing my under-grad, I really didn’t take school seriously. Graduated with my degree in Kinesiology, but my GPA is pretty shitty. I have lots of work experience, but getting hired as a full-time strength and conditioning coach is EXTREMELY difficult without a masters. Most Universities etc… will not even look at someone without a masters unless they know you some how (internships, have a friend of a friend etc…).

AND even with a masters the job security is crap. Several of my friends/colleagues have their masters and lots of experience and are still on contract with weird hours and still make a good percentage of their income by personal training average Joe’s. Just last month, one of the head strength coaches was let go because “they didnt have any work available” This was a guy with 10 years of strength coaching experience with OLYMPIANS, a masters degree and a great track record.
If he could be let go that easy, what chance do us guys without a masters have…

I want to get a masters, but it would take me 2 years to up-grade, and then another 2 years of the actual program and i would probably be like 50k in debt by the end of it and still not have a great job or a salary over 65k/year (if im lucky). Alternatively, I could go back to school to be a teacher, finish in 2 years with less then half the debt and get a job STARTING at 60k which would get up to 80K after 5 years.

Pretty dark imo.

12

[quote]tork94 wrote:
Just dont make the same mistake that I did.

Back when I was doing my under-grad, I really didn’t take school seriously. Graduated with my degree in Kinesiology, but my GPA is pretty shitty. I have lots of work experience, but getting hired as a full-time strength and conditioning coach is EXTREMELY difficult without a masters. Most Universities etc… will not even look at someone without a masters unless they know you some how (internships, have a friend of a friend etc…).

AND even with a masters the job security is crap. Several of my friends/colleagues have their masters and lots of experience and are still on contract with weird hours and still make a good percentage of their income by personal training average Joe’s. Just last month, one of the head strength coaches was let go because “they didnt have any work available” This was a guy with 10 years of strength coaching experience with OLYMPIANS, a masters degree and a great track record.
If he could be let go that easy, what chance do us guys without a masters have…

I want to get a masters, but it would take me 2 years to up-grade, and then another 2 years of the actual program and i would probably be like 50k in debt by the end of it and still not have a great job or a salary over 65k/year (if im lucky). Alternatively, I could go back to school to be a teacher, finish in 2 years with less then half the debt and get a job STARTING at 60k which would get up to 80K after 5 years.

Pretty dark imo. [/quote]

Good points.

Head S&C jobs are few and far between, with most coaches basically sitting in their position as long as possible. Plus, factor in the additional college debt, YEARS interning/assistance coaching, really crapping hours and the ease with which entire coaching staffs are let go. Not saying one cannot make it, but you REALLY have to love it and be willing to make it your life.

13

Thanks for all the info everyone. I did figure being in the fitness industry wouldn’t be more tough than others, but I am defiintely willing to work my ass off to make it work. With me serving in the military for the past 3 years I have learned alot about myself and actually trying to find my vocation in life(not just doing work for a paycheck/benefits). The big picture is improving other individuals confidence and helping people realize their potential.

14

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
I used to be an exercise science major. Now I’m studying EE. If your central ambition is really owning a gym or training facility, I second VTPower’s advice concerning a MBA. If you really want to get involved in scientific research, you pretty much need a postgraduate degree with heavier science orientation.

Maybe consider taking up the Scientific Foundations concentration with business as a second major, which won’t be easy but you want to do both, right? Keyword is consider. How certain are you that this is what you want to do? Just consider multiple frames of reality. By all means go for it if you wish, but stay conscious of your environment.[/quote]

I am very certain. I have spent the past 3 years doing something I like… don’t love it though. I spend all my free time trying to learn about health/fitness… I feel like it’s for me.

15

[quote]silverblood wrote:
fire off an e-mail to Donnie. he’s a nice guy and would probably answer your questions. he is a PT and the strength and mobility director for over 20 clinics statewide. check out his PT vids at SuperDtv3000 on youtube

Could you send me is email?

16

And I do plan on pursuing more education after my bachelors

17

[quote]outworksc wrote:

[quote]silverblood wrote:
fire off an e-mail to Donnie. he’s a nice guy and would probably answer your questions. he is a PT and the strength and mobility director for over 20 clinics statewide. check out his PT vids at SuperDtv3000 on youtube

Could you send me is email? [/quote]
I’ve put it up a few times but it keeps getting removed. it’s not his private e-mail but the one for general usage so I’m not sure what’s going on.
donniethompsonpower@gmail.com

18

[quote]silverblood wrote:

[quote]outworksc wrote:

[quote]silverblood wrote:
fire off an e-mail to Donnie. he’s a nice guy and would probably answer your questions. he is a PT and the strength and mobility director for over 20 clinics statewide. check out his PT vids at SuperDtv3000 on youtube

Could you send me is email? [/quote]
I’ve put it up a few times but it keeps getting removed. it’s not his private e-mail but the one for general usage so I’m not sure what’s going on.
donniethompsonpower@gmail.com[/quote]

Thank you.

19

Good luck, man. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.