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Arnold School of Public Health

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Exercise Science

Exercise Science is an interdisciplinary field tying together traditional disciplines as biology, physiology, psychology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, genetics, nutrition, and sociology to facilitate an understanding of the links between physical activity, exercise, fitness, performance, diet, and health.

Exercise Science has become an increasingly valued discipline within public health, the medical community, and even high-performance environments. Exercise has even been acknowledged for its role in the treatment of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, type II diabetes, cancer, depression, anxiety, and other chronic diseases & stress related disorders.

The mission of the Department of Exercise Science (EXSC) is to promote an environment of excellence and achievement in human health and performance. As part of our forward-thinking vision, EXSC is used as a resource to train the next generation of scientists and practitioners in the latest techniques and technologies in the field. In addition to advancing the science, we emphasize translation of this research for greater integration into practice and application.

The department’s Ph.D. program has consistently been ranked as one of the top 5 programs in the United States by the National Academy of Kinesiology. Our program prepares graduates for entry into positions in universities, colleges, research oriented settings, and industry. Specific areas of research specialties correspond to those listed for the departmental faculty.


Degrees Offered

In addition to the bachelor degree in exercise science, we offer four advanced degrees. Each graduate degree has specific application deadlines and requirements


Exercise Science News 

Glenn Weaver

Glenn Weaver investigates when and why children gain weight during school breaks

Funded with $3.5 million from the National Institutes of Health, the exercise science associate professor will be looking for patterns of weight gains and BMI increases based on behavioral, social, environmental and biological factors.

Christopher Gaskins

Alumnus blends occupational therapy, neuroscience and technology to improve health for stroke, military populations

Inspired by his practicum experience at a rehabilitation hospital during his B.S. in Exercise Science program, '07 alumnus Christopher Gaskins forged a career in occupational therapy and neuroscience while working with stroke and military populations.

athletic training

Exercise science collaborators publish research on athletic training and mental health

Faculty, students and alumni affiliated with the Department of Exercise Science’s athletic training program have published seven papers across a two-part special edition of the Journal of Athletic Training. 

Number one

USC again among nation's best in sport science

The annual Global Ranking by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, recognizes the combined excellence of the Arnold School’s exercise science and athletic training programs and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s sport and entertainment management program. 

Amanda Trujillo

Exercise science degree preps Carolina Band Feature Twirler for career in athletic training

Amanda Trujillo will build on her undergraduate experiences by continuing her journey at USC. She was recently accepted into the Arnold School's Master of Science in Athletic Training program.

DEI 2023 Awards

2023 DEI Awards announced

The Arnold School is pleased to announce the 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards, which are designed to recognize alumni, faculty, staff and students who have made exceptional contributions to advancing DEI.

Sara Wilcox

A pound of cure

USC features the Prevention Research Center, which marked its 30th anniversary this year. The PRC partners with communities and churches to promote physical activity and healthy eating.

research

Propel mentorship makes grant writing tools accessible to early career faculty across the USC system

The USC Office of the Vice President for Research digs deep into the early-career grant proposal training program, Propel, including its origins in the Arnold School and the key faculty members who are making it happen. 

Dianne Ward

Former faculty member leaves legacy through research and founding exercise department, DSAC

It has been 25 years since Dianne Ward held a full-time appointment with the University of South Carolina, but the imprint she made during her time at the Arnold School and the continued collaborations in the decades since have only grown.

 

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