Health & Exercise Science

Finding ways to help people live healthier lives.

Health & Exercise Science major and minor

The Health and Exercise Science (HES) program studies human body movement to prevent and manage chronic disease and injury, diagnose, rehab, and enhance performance.

The major’s diverse academic structure strongly focuses on practical skills and experiential learning, including patient and client interaction.

The major is designed for students interested in a variety of career opportunities in healthcare and health-related services, including health coaching and promotion, strength and conditioning, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, corporate wellness, and pre-professional programs such as athletic training, chiropractic, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational thearpy, physical therapy, physician assistant, medicine, and speech therapy.

Internships and independent research allow students to work with health and high-risk clients of various ages and abilities.

The HES is designed for students interested in advancing their knowledge and skills related to health and wellness concepts. Foundational coursework will allow students to select upper-level courses in the HES major to best fit the individual’s future career and complement other areas of study across campus.

View major course requirements

View minor course requirements

Why Simpson College for Health & Exercise Science?

Students working in lab for pre-professional programs

A Growing Career Field with Many Opportunities

While some students proceed to graduate schools for an advanced degree in health-related fields, others become employed with health agencies, hospitals, fitness centers, business and industry, research laboratories, or any other setting that provides physical fitness enhancement programs for clients and patients.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that healthcare occupations are expected to grow almost 20% in the next 10 years, outpacing the average for all occupations.

Get Involved

Explore the ways you can get more involved with the Department of Sport Science and Health Education.

Internships

Internships allow students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to practical experiences, while making valuable connections in their field of study. We rely on these experiences to help students confirm their interests and further identify strengths and needed areas of improvement.

Labs

Labs are incredibly helpful to provide hands-on learning as well as practice techniques that aren't taught in a book. This includes patient/client communication and comfort with personal interaction that is so critical in the field.

Sport Administration Club

The Sport Administration Club gives you the opportunity to gain experience by recruiting guest speakers, engaging in fundraising activities and organizing events at Simpson and in the surrounding community.

Health & Exercise Science Club

As a member of the Health & Exercise Science Club, you will have the opportunity to attend professional meetings of organizations in your specific field. Conference attendance has included travel within Iowa and across the country. Recent conferences were held in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.