What Is Exercise Science? A Guide for Health Professionals Ready to Advance

Who Is This Article For?

This guide is designed for fitness professionals, athletic trainers, and healthcare workers who are exploring graduate education in exercise science and want to understand how the field connects to advanced career opportunities.

• Clear definitions of exercise science, kinesiology, and sports medicine
• A breakdown of career paths by degree level
• How Keiser’s MS in Exercise and Sport Science fits working adults

What Is Exercise Science?

If you’re already working in fitness, healthcare, or athletics and considering your next move, understanding how exercise science connects to advanced graduate study can bring real clarity to your path. Whether you’re looking to step into a leadership role, specialize in clinical practice, or increase your impact in the wellness field, the right graduate education makes all the difference.

To the uninitiated, terms such as exercise science, sports medicine, kinesiology and physiology seem practically interchangeable. However, they reference decidedly different concerns. They all require a thorough understanding of anatomy and other foundational topics, but they begin to diverge considerably as you get into the elite levels of study and professionalism.

To clear up the confusion and help you determine which exercise-related field is right for you, we’ve highlighted key similarities and differences between the many professional designations involved in this field:

Exercise Science Defined

Exercise science is an all-encompassing field that integrates many areas of study to provide a well-rounded understanding of anatomy as it relates to fitness and general wellness. The National Library of Medicine’s Collection Development Guidelines defines exercise science as the “scientific study of human movement performed to maintain or improve physical fitness.”

“Keiser University’s Program Director Dr. Stéfane Dias explains that the Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science combines evidence-based practice with practical application to prepare professionals to excel in high-performance sport, fitness, rehabilitation, and human performance.  “Our curriculum bridges cutting-edge scientific research with real-world decision-making.

Students learn through applied projects, case studies, and industry collaboration, gaining skills they can immediately use in their careers, whether working with professional athletes, active populations, or individuals seeking to improve health and performance. Our mission is to transform

How Exercise Science Compares to Kinesiology, Sports Medicine & More

While it’s arguably the most comprehensive study involving movement and the human body, exercise science is just one of the numerous topics centered around how the body functions. Below, we’ve outlined several related areas of study, including those that are core components of exercise science and a few that are more loosely related.

Sport Science Vs. Sports Medicine

Sport science and sports medicine are both targeted practices related to exercise science. While both involve the unique needs of athletes, their scope differs dramatically.

Sports medicine is a clinical field focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to exercise and athletic activity. Key sports medicine responsibilities and tasks include:

• Injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment
• Rehabilitation and recovery planning
• Clinical patient care
• Specialized licensure and certifications
• Collaboration with physicians, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals

Sport science takes a broader view, detailing how a variety of scientific principles apply to athletic activities and how these concepts can be used to boost performance. Key focuses in sport science include applying scientific principles to:

• Improve athletic performance
• Improve training
• Improve overall wellness

Key characteristics include:

• Performance enhancement
• Exercise and training optimization
• Human movement analysis
• Coaching and athlete development
• Hands-on work with athletes and active individuals

Kinesiology Vs. Exercise Science

Kinesiology and exercise science are closely related fields that study human movement but there are several distinctions worth noting. Exercise science focuses on how physical activity affects the body and how exercise can be used to improve health, fitness and performance.

Common areas of study include:

• Exercise physiology
• Strength and conditioning
• Fitness assessment
• Performance training
• Health promotion

American Kinesiology Association’s (AKA’s) defines kinesiology is a targeted academic discipline involving the “study of physical activity and its impact on health, society and quality of life.”

Key areas of kinesiology include:

• Human movement and physical activity
• Health and wellness
• Psychological aspects of movement
• Social and behavioral influences
• Professional applications of movement science

Kinesiology takes a broader approach by examining human movement from multiple perspectives including:

• Exercise physiology
• Exercise psychology
• Motor behavior
• Athletic training
• Sport management

Exercise Physiology

As one of the core components of both exercise science and kinesiology, exercise physiology details how the body responds to movement — especially acute exercises. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) details, exercise physiologists perform fitness tests and create exercise programs to help a variety of patients manage or even recover from chronic health conditions.

Exercise physiology’s integrative approach allows professionals to identify and make progress toward movement-oriented goals while preventing injuries and limiting discomfort. Often, exercise physiologists are referred by physicians and work closely with medical teams to deliver individualized treatments as prescribed by the patient’s doctor.

Physical Therapy

As a key form of medical care, physical therapy (PT) involves prescribed and highly targeted treatments that aim to improve mobility, reduce pain and enhance the general quality of life.

When patients visit physical therapists, they can expect thorough examinations, followed by diagnoses (when relevant) and, finally, “treatment plans to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function and prevent disability.”

Nutrition

Nutrition involves the study of food, especially as it relates to human health and development. The National Institutes of Health break this concept into a three-part process:

• A person consumes food or beverages.
• The body breaks these substances down into nutrients.
• These nutrients travel via the bloodstream to various parts of the body, where they act as fuel.

This is often a foundational component of exercise science degree programs, as nutrition has the power to enhance athletic performance, improve movement-oriented outcomes and support the very wellness initiatives pursued through targeted exercises. That said, only a registered dietitian can provide targeted nutritional instructions, whereas exercise science professionals are limited to general advice.

Exercise Science Career Opportunities: From Entry Level to Advanced Roles

Now that you understand the many subjects related to exercise science and how they can be applied, it’s time to take a closer look at the career paths you can pursue once you’ve obtained a thorough understanding of (and hands-on practice in) these areas. Some will be within reach as soon as you earn your associate or bachelor’s, while others will require a master’s along with specialized licensure or certification.

Note: Roles marked with an asterisk (*) typically benefit from or require a master’s degree. Keiser’s MS in Exercise and Sport Science is specifically designed to open these doors for working adults.

• Strength and Conditioning coach: Coaches design and implement training programs that build strength, speed, power, and endurance to improve athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury. They work primarily with athletes, or people who want to improve their strength and conditioning.
• Personal trainer. Some people require more individual attention than can be achieved in a group setting. A personal trainer assesses each client’s unique needs and guides training sessions with specific goals, injuries and interests in mind.
• Sports coach. Those with a background in exercise science are better equipped to assist young athletes with general conditioning while also helping them train safely and productively for specific sporting events.
• Exercise physiologist*. As mentioned previously, exercise physiologists work closely with patients and doctors to determine which types of physical activities are most likely to improve a variety of health outcomes.
• Health coach*. Integrating research-backed insights from nutrition, exercise physiology and other exercise science practices, health coaches help clients develop and make progress toward meaningful goals.

Many students gain foundational knowledge in exercise science before moving into more clinical fields. At Keiser University Graduate School, the MS in Exercise and Sport Science is built around the reality that most of our students are already professionals, coaches, trainers, and healthcare workers who want to level up without stopping their careers.

Exercise Science Education and Certification

Exercise science education is available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For many aspiring professionals, the first step involves seeking an Associate of Science or Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science. Both programs encompass valuable coursework in kinesiology, anatomy and physiology, along with externship opportunities that expose you to the field’s greatest challenges and opportunities. A BS provides more concentrated coverage of topics like corrective exercises, sport pharmacology and fitness business management.

At the graduate level, a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science prepares you for several high-level roles in the fitness, athletic and wellness industries. You’ll emerge with a highly respected degree that signals your elite training and exposure to the most cutting-edge research.

In addition to your associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can supplement your training and resume with targeted certifications. The curriculum at Keiser University helps prepare you to sit for certifications available from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Certifications worth pursuing include:

• Certified Group Exercise Instructor (ACSM-GEI)
• Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT, NASM-CPT or ACSM-CPT)
• Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP)
• Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP)
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA CSCS)
• Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (NSCA CPSS)
• Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES)

Samantha Gershowitz’s Journey in the Master’s in Exercise and Sport Science at Keiser University

Samantha came to Keiser’s MS program as a working fitness professional looking to move into a higher-level clinical and leadership role. In this video, she shares how Keiser’s flexible, one-class-at-a-time format made it possible to earn her master’s without stepping away from her career and what doors it opened for her once she graduated.

Kaelan Jones on Elevating His Career with a Master’s in Exercise and Sport Science

Already established in the athletics field, Kaelan pursued Keiser’s MS program to gain the advanced credentials needed to move into a more specialized role. Watch as he describes how the program’s research depth and practical focus helped him stand out in a competitive job market.

Ready to Advance Your Exercise Science Career? Here’s Your Next Step.

You already know the field. Now it’s time to lead it. Whether you’re a trainer, coach, or healthcare professional ready to specialize or move into a higher-impact role, Keiser University’s MS in Exercise and Sport Science gives you the credentials and knowledge to get there without putting your life on hold.
program prepares students for several certifications offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), including:

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS)
• Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F)
• Among others

Whether you want to pursue your Associate, Bachelor or Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science, you can count on the trusted programs at Keiser to give you the advanced skills, knowledge and inspiration you need. Reach out to learn more about our exercise science programs.