Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science

Freshman and Sophomore Advisor: Mrs. Natalie Peyton (located in DeMoss Hall 1100) ngauguste@liberty.edu

Junior and Senior Advisors: Based on the first letter of the student’s last name:

A-B: Dr. David Titcomb (Science Hall T013) dtitcomb@liberty.edu

C-F: Mr. Justin Kilian (Science Hall T022) jrkilian@liberty.edu

G-K: Dr. Jeff Lowes (Science Hall T026) jnlowes@liberty.edu

L-N: Mr. Jessi Glauser (Center for Natural Sciences, Room T02C) jglauser@liberty.edu

Q-S: Dr. David Horton (Science Hall T024) dhorton@liberty.edu

T-Z: Dr. Stephen Eakin (Science Hall T023) sweakin@liberty.edu

What are the recommended course sequences that I should take each semester?

Please see the following CASAS webpage for course sequences. (Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the following webpage and select the year that you declared your major as EXSC. Then scroll down to Exercise Science degree, select your concentration)

Course prerequisites are listed in the course catalog as well as on a prerequisite sheet that is posted on the EXSC webpage.

See your advisor with any further questions.

What are the differences between the Therapeutic Science, Fitness Specialist, and Strength & Conditioning Specialist concentrations?

The Therapeutic Science Concentration is designed for students planning on attending graduate school for healthcare-related master’s or doctoral degree programs after completing the exercise science undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree.

The Therapeutic Science Concentration requires 20 credit hours of science courses. Students can select these from the following list: General Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. Students should select the appropriate general science courses which pertain to the prerequisites to the graduate school(s) they will be applying to. Students should begin looking at graduate school prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years to be prepared to apply to graduate school having taken the appropriate courses their senior year.

The Strength & Conditioning Specialist concentration is designed for students who are interested in becoming a strength & conditioning coach, athletic development specialist, human performance specialist, personal trainer, or tactical strength and conditioning specialist.

In addition, the Therapeutic Science Concentration includes these courses:

• ATTR 205 Musculoskeletal Term. and Clinical Documentation
• ATTR 330 Clinical Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Function
• ATTR 331 Clinical Musculoskeletal Anatomy Lab
• ATTR 335 Musculoskeletal Injury Assessment
• ATTR 336 Musculoskeletal Injury Assessment Lab
• ATTR 405 Theory of Therapeutic Rehabilitation
• ATTR 425 Healthcare Evidenced-Based Research Analysis
• MATH 201 Statistics
• General Science Courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

The Fitness Specialist concentration has these unique courses:

• EXSC 315 Group Exercise Instruction
• EXSC 345 Applied Strength Training and Conditioning
• PHED 101 Physical Fitness
• A PHED activity course

The Strength & Conditioning Specialist Concentration has these unique courses:

• EXSC 401 Seminar in Strength & Conditioning
• EXSC 440 Programming & Periodization for Strength & Conditioning

How do I apply to the Exercise Science program?

Please see the Admissions and Retention Guidelines document located at the bottom of the exercise science website for instructions.

Where can I get CPR and First Aid Certified on Campus?

Combined first aid/CPR/AED certification:

Available through CASAS at LU. Offered regularly throughout the semester (the course is 4 hours long). Sign up online on the CASAS continuing education website.

Combined First Aid/CPR/AED certification plus college credit hours for course: HLTH 205 HLTH 205: offered Fall, January, Spring, Summer

What clubs on campus are most popular among Exercise Science students?

• Powerlifting Club
• Pre-Physical Therapy Club
• Pre-Occupational Therapy Club
• Pre-Physician Assistant Club
• Pre-Med Club

What is required to take the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) exam in EXSC 485?

This certification exam is taken by EXSC students prior to the internship their Senior year and is part of the EXSC 485 course. Please see the exercise science website for more information.

What minimum score do I need to earn on the EP-C exam in order to graduate? 480/800

What minimum score do I need to earn on the EP-C exam in order to become certified? 550/800

Can I take the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam (EXSC 486) instead of the ACSM EP-C exam (EXSC 485)?

Yes. Students may choose to complete either EXSC 486 or EXSC 485 prior to their internship. For more information about the workshop and course, contact Professor Justin Kilian: jrkilian@liberty.edu.

What score do I need to earn on the CSCS exam in order to graduate? Minimum of 60% in both sections of the exam.

What score do I need to earn on the CSCS exam in order to become certified? 70% or higher in both sections of the exam.

Why can’t I sign up for a class?

If you are unable to sign up for a class on ASIST, you will see an error message that explains why you cannot sign up for the class. The most common errors are prerequisite errors and campus restriction errors. The prerequisite error means that you do not meet the academic qualifications to take the course. If you have met the prerequisite, contact the professor of the course you are wanting to take. The campus restriction error means that the class is an online class.

Can I take classes online?

If you have a 2.0 or higher GPA, you can take classes online. If you live on campus, you need at least 3 credit hours residentially. If you are an international student, you need at least 9 credit hours residentially. There are no undergraduate residential exercise science courses offered online, however, most of the general studies courses that are listed on the left side of the DCP are offered online and residential.

How do I sign up for online classes?

You can sign up for online classes from the Registrar’s Office webpage.

Can I take summer classes?

Yes, Liberty University offers summer classes both residentially and online every summer.

Exercise courses (residential only) that are typically available in the summer: 310, 320, 321, 340, 350, 351, 410/411, 499.

Can I take a class at a community college and transfer it into Liberty?

If the community college is an accredited college within the state of Virginia, you can go to the registrar’s website and use the VCCS Transfer Guide to see the course equivalencies. If you are taking the course elsewhere, you will need prior approval by filling out a form with the Registrar’s Office. For help with this form, you can call the office at (434) 592-5100.

Am I considered a junior or a senior?

As soon as you reach 48 credit hours, you are considered a junior. As soon as you reach 72 completed credit hours, you are considered a senior. You can see your total completed credit hours on ASIST.

Can I substitute a class?

If you want to substitute a class outside of the EXSC major, you will need the department chair’s signature on a course substitution form. If you want to substitute a class in the EXSC major, you can send your course substitution form to the Director of EXCS, Dr. Titcomb, and the Chair of Health Professions Department, Dr. Jim Schoffstall.

Can I walk in May with remaining classes?

If you will have 2 or fewer courses and are enrolled in those courses for the summer, you can participate in the May commencement ceremony. One of those courses can be EXSC 499, however, the other course cannot be another EXSC course. All other EXSC courses need to be completed before your internship. You will not have your degree conferred or your diploma sent until you have successfully completed all coursework and CSER requirements.

Is there a Fall/Winter graduation ceremony held at Liberty University?

Not currently.

Will I graduate if I have not completed my Christian Service (CSER) hours?

No. Your degree will not be officially conferred until you have successfully completed all CSER requirements.

How do I get into a class that is full?

You can only enroll in a class that is full if the professor of the class agrees to sign you into the class. You will need either their signature on an add/drop form or an email to the registrar from the professor of the course granting you permission.

Where do I find the form for add/drop, course sub, etc.?

This form is located on the LU Registrars webpage under Registrar Forms.

If I need a prerequisite override, how is this obtained?

These are only approved in special circumstances and must have department chair approval which is obtained by completing a prerequisite override form on the LU Registrars webpage under Registrar Forms

Can I do an independent study?

To complete an independent study, you need approval from the instructor, department chair, and dean. This process should be started the semester prior. The independent study form is found on the Registrar’s page under Registrar Forms, “Independent Study Form”.

Will this class be offered next semester?

All undergraduate exercise science courses are offered each fall and spring semester.

For all other class availability questions, please go to the Registrar’s page and view the links under “Announcements”.

Can I take more than 18 credits during a semester?

To take 19-20 hours per semester, you must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and have department chair approval. To take 21 hours per semester, you must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and have the dean’s approval.

Can I withdraw from a residential general education class and pick it up online during the same semester?

No. Liberty policy does not allow students to attempt a class more than once per semester.

How do I withdraw from a class?

To withdraw from a class, please contact your professional advisor. Refer to the staff listing on the CASAS website to view your advisor’s contact information. Note that this must be done before the withdrawal deadline which is listed on the University’s academic calendar.

Do I have a hold on my account?

Students can see if they have a hold on their account by logging into ASIST. Select the “student” tab, then click on the “Student Records” link. From there, you can select “View Holds”. Faculty can use CRM to view holds by clicking the Banner link within a student’s record.

Revised 10/2020