Exercise Science

Why Choose Exercise Science at BHSU?

• Learn in Top Facilities: Train in the state-of-the-art Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center. This modern space and the Exercise Science lab gives you access to the tools and environment professionals use every day.
• Get Connected: Join professional organizations that support your future career. These connections open doors to internships, networking, and leadership opportunities.
• Build Expertise: Gain hands-on skills in training methods, program design, and administration. You’ll leave with practical experience that employers and graduate programs value.
• Make an Impact: Prepare to play a vital role in improving health and performance in our society. You’ll graduate ready to help individuals and communities live healthier, stronger lives.
• Learn from Dedicated Faculty: Our professors are passionate, innovative, and committed to your success. They bring real-world experience and personalized guidance to every class.

Specializations that set you apart:

• Science Track: Prepares you for graduate healthcare programs and eligibility for the Certified Exercise Physiologist Exam (ACSM).
• Strength & Conditioning Track: Prepares you for careers in athletic performance and eligibility for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Exam (NSCA).

Find out about our lab

Skills You'll Learn

At BHSU, you’ll gain hands-on experience in our Exercise Science lab and state-of-the-art facilities. Throughout the program, you’ll master skills that set you apart in the health and fitness industry:

• Perform health assessments like blood pressure, heart rate, EKG readings, respiratory rate, BMI, and body composition.
• Conduct fitness tests for speed, agility, strength, endurance, flexibility, and range of motion.
• Learn to coach proper exercise form, progress and regress movements for special populations, and analyze sport-specific techniques.
• Apply evidence-based strategies for injury prevention and care.

Curriculum

Student Opportunities

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The Internship Program within the School of Behavioral Sciences at Black Hills State University presents opportunities for students to obtain academic credit through professional learning experiences (paid or unpaid) in a position related to their major. Internship is an experimentally based course which allows advanced students to “learn by doing” under the direct supervision of a field supervisor, and under the distant supervision of an internship coordinator from the discipline’s department. Your advisor will spend considerable time with you to find the right internship experience and we have many options across the United States. Former students have interned in various locations such as Cardiac rehab, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, local gyms, weight loss camps, and physical therapy clinics. Many of our former students now serve as internship preceptors.

Exercise Science Internship Manual 

The Exercise Science Lab is a state-of-the-art laboratory with industry-standard teaching and research equipment. As an exercise science student, you will have numerous hands-on laboratory courses where you will gain the practical skills needed to succeed in the workforce or graduate school.

The BHSU Exercise Science Lab contains the following equipment used in exercise science and health research:

• BodPod
• Dartfish Motion Capture Technology
• Monark Cycle Ergometer
• Velotron Cycle Ergometer
• COSMED 12-lead Electrocardiogram
• Force plates

Find out more about the lab

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Our student organizations provide valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth. 

• Exercise Science Club

The Make A Difference scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, a commitment to making a positive impact, and a strong desire to make a lasting difference within the local community. Recipients are expected to complete a project that benefits the local community as part of the scholarship requirements.  This prestigious scholarship provides full in-state tuition coverage and recognizes students who are dedicated to both their academic pursuits and their community. Join us at BHSU and be part of a tradition that values excellence and community engagement.

CAAHEP Accreditation

The Black Hills State University Exercise Science program is proud to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This accreditation ensures our curriculum meets the highest standards in the field and better prepares students to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) Exam, a nationally recognized credential for professionals working with individuals who have medically controlled conditions and those pursuing advanced fitness and rehabilitation goals.

CAAHEP Accreditation Reporting

2025-2026 Academic Year 
Internship pass rate: 97%
Graduation Rate: 
Graduate Positive Placement: 
ACSM Certification Exam Taken: 
ACSM Certification Pass Rate:

2024-2025 Academic Year

Internship Pass Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 80 %
Graduate Positive Placement: 100%