Love cheering people on as they work towards their goals? If so, a career in kinesiology and exercise science could be right for you!
Kinesiology focuses on human movement, anatomy, and physiology while exercise science is all about using research to understand and promote physical fitness.
Ivy Tech’s Bloomington-based Kinesiology & Exercise Science program gives you the best of both worlds. The curriculum is designed with Exercise Specialist career skills in mind. You’ll study:
Cardiovascular and muscular assessments
Exercise program design
Exercise demonstration and leadership
Exercise modifications
Special population clients
Wellness coaching
The prevention of disease
Post-rehab maintenance of cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength
Additionally, you’ll complete practicums to get experience working in the field. You’ll graduate ready to begin working in the wellness industry with several well-known certifications. The certifications in this program were designed to be stackable to give students the best chance to find employment upon graduation.
Associate degree students complete the following workforce credentials:
ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Career Options
Many of our graduates choose to go straight into the workforce after finishing their Ivy Tech program. Others choose to continue their studies so they can pursue more advanced roles, such as Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist.
An associate’s degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science prepares you for the following roles:
Certified Wellness Coach
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Group Fitness Instructor
Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach
Fitness Center Director/Manager
Athletic or Sports Administrator
Corporate Fitness Instructor/Trainer
Weight Room Supervisor
Recreational Sports Coordinator/Manager
Fitness Coach
Front Desk Supervisor
Sole Proprietor/Self-employed
Fitness Consultant
Fitness Membership Coordinator
As the credentials for this program are stackable, some students choose to begin working in the industry upon completion of the group fitness instructor certification. This allows them to gain on-the-job experience and get a head start in their careers.
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply to Ivy Tech First
Students interested in the Kinesiology and Exercise Science program must apply to Ivy Tech first using the Ivy Tech general application. Apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Please also let your advisor know that you are interested in Kinesiology and Exercise Science to ensure they can assist you in the application process. Apply to Ivy Tech Now
Then Apply to the Kinesiology and Exercise Science Program
The Kinesiology and Exercise Science program at Ivy Tech has a selective admissions process, which means not all students who apply to the program will be accepted. Details vary according to campus. Learn More about Selective Admissions
Strong Job Outlook
Community Partners who serve on the Kinesiology and Exercise Science Advisory Board report a preference to hire graduates with multiple national certifications because these candidates are capable of filling multiple roles, duties and responsibilities within their businesses.
Therefore, the Ivy Tech Kinesiology Program curriculum is designed to prepare students for each national certification. Further, the individual credentials are stackable, meaning students can complete them quickly, obtain certification, and start working in a role while they pursue another credential and certification.
This format gives Ivy Tech students the greatest opportunity for employment immediately upon graduation.
Associate Degree – Transferable or Career-Ready
The Associate of Applied Science in Kinesiology & Exercise Science is a selective admission degree that prepares you to train special population clients with modifiable diseases who have been cleared by their physician for independent exercise. You can go directly into the workforce upon completion of this degree, or you may choose to pursue further studies at the bachelor's, master's, or doctorate level. Wherever you go, this degree will give you the certifications and knowledge to help others meet their fitness goals and, as the American College of Sports Medicine says, “Exercise is Medicine.”
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Dive deeper into the world of personal training with the Personal Trainer Technical Certificate (TC). The curriculum focuses on creating individualized exercise programs for healthy population clients. You can choose to continue your education and add an additional certification by pursuing the associate degree.
The Personal Trainer TC program can be completed in two semesters or about one year.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science, you can earn this certificate on your way. The technical certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level exercise science careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 34 credit hours.
Short-Term Certificate
known as a Certificate (CT)
The Fitness and Wellness Certificate (CT) will increase your knowledge of fitness principles and proper exercise techniques. Upon completion, you will have the knowledge and skills to work in an entry-level role leading group fitness classes to a general population of clients looking to improve their fitness levels. You can choose to continue your education and add an additional certification by pursuing the technical certificate or associate degree.
The Fitness and Wellness CT program can be completed in two semesters.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science, you can earn this certificate on your way. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level exercise science careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 18 credit hours.
Kinesiology & Exercise Science is offered at 1 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:
Kinesiology and exercise science careers can be incredibly satisfying for those who enjoy coaching others and combining physiology and anatomy with psychology.
These professionals work in gyms and fitness centers, community recreational facilities, corporate fitness centers, university recreation centers, post-rehab healthcare centers, and phase III rehabilitation facilities. They may also work on cruise ships or at inclusive vacation destinations. Additionally, some exercise science professionals explore self-employment.
Careers in this industry require:
Comfort working with people
Communication
Interpersonal skills
Lifelong learning
Love of fitness
Empathy
Self-discipline
Teaching skills
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, kinesiology may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
Students will be required to provide their own transportation back and forth to clinical sites. Acceptance into this degree program requires face-to-face attendance in classes on the Bloomington campus due to the high level of practical exercise labs and course client training/coaching projects.
Students may be required to complete a background screening, drug screening, and required vaccinations (including COVID) upon acceptance into the program depending on internship placement.
Financial Aid
Connect with the Financial Aid team at your home campus to find out if you can receive financial aid for the program of your choice. Make sure that you have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by the established deadlines to be considered for financial aid assistance.
Prerequisite Courses for Kinesiology & Exercise Science
There are no prerequisite courses you must take prior to enrolling in the Kinesiology & Exercise Science program.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least four weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Kinesiology & Exercise Science Courses
Descriptions of kinesiology courses can be found in our online course catalog. Please note that courses are being updated for the 2023-2024 academic year. To learn more about these changes and courses that will be offered, please contact the program chair. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific courses will be offered by searching our course list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the course in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming courses are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Course Formats
Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences courses are offered via in-person and hybrid formats. Students must attend practical heavy lab courses in person twice a week. They have the flexibility to attend other core courses via synchronous Zoom sessions on the remaining two days of the week.
Step 1
Apply to Ivy Tech
Students interested in the Kinesiology & Exercise Science program must first submit the Ivy Tech general application. Apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Please also let your advisor know that you are interested in Kinesiology and Exercise Science to ensure they can assist you in the application process.
Admission to the college does not ensure acceptance to a health science program.
Students should attend an information session prior to applying to the Kinesiology & Exercise Science program. This session will provide details about what you can expect while in the program, as well as outline how to apply.
All sessions are virtual and can be accessed via the links below at the time of the event. No registration is required.
Upcoming Information Sessions
Date
Time
Zoom Link to Join
More dates coming soon
TBA
TBA
Step 3
Apply to the Kinesiology & Exercise Science Program
Interested students who apply to the College are initially designated as Healthcare Specialist with a Kinesiology & Exercise Science interest until the next application season. Interested students must apply via the Ivy Connect Nursing and Health Sciences Application Portal at https://apps.ivytech.edu/apply/NursingAndHealthScience.
You should select the Kinesiology program in this application. There are no prerequisite course requirements or minimum GPA to apply, but the students will be accepted to the program based on highest GPA.
The Kinesiology & Exercise Science program takes 12 new students each fall. The application window is March 15 to May 15.
If the application period is missed, students can designate Healthcare Specialist with Kinesiology interest and then schedule an advising session with the Program Chair to develop an academic course plan to prepare for the next application cycle.
Filling Out the Kinesiology & Exercise Science Online Application
If you are not a current Ivy Tech Community College student, please Apply Now. You will need a C# (Ivy Tech student ID number) and Ivy Tech single sign-on login credentials in order to apply.
Gather all required or optional documentation that you will need to upload into the system. View more about requirements here. You will have the ability to save your application in progress until you are able to secure documentation.
If you are transferring from another institution, please make sure that your transcripts are evaluated at least 4 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Check to make sure your personal information is accurate.
Select the programs and campuses you would like to be considered as an applicant. You can select up to three different programs and three different campuses. (Some students choose to apply to multiple programs within the School of Health Sciences.)
You must meet all of the prerequisites for a program in order to submit your application. If you receive a message indicating that you do not meet the prerequisites, then please remove that program selection in order to proceed with the application.
Upload any necessary documents.
Make sure grades in the system are accurate. If not, please contact your home campus registrar or advisor.
You will be able to submit your application if you are currently enrolled in a course identified as a prerequisite for the program.
Once complete, submit your application.
You will receive an email confirmation in your Ivy Tech email account that your application has been submitted and is pending review.
Once you have submitted your application, you have the option to reopen it to make changes.
Note: DO NOT USE THE “BACK” function on your computer. Use the navigation pane at the side of the page to navigate.
To learn more about the Health Sciences and Nursing application process, watch the below video, read the FAQ, or contact your campus of interest.
Offers of Admission
Students can select up to three programs and three campuses each on the application. Offers of acceptance are for a specific program and campus. The offers are determined through eight rounds of auto-selection and six rounds of manual selection.
If a student is accepted, they will receive an email from the online application system to their Ivy Tech email account offering a seat in the program. Offers are emailed beginning within one week of the application close date and continue until program capacity is met or one week before the start of semester classes. Each round of offers begins at 6:00 am and applicants have until 11:59 pm the following day to either accept or reject an offer.
Depending on their rank and offers, a student could potentially receive multiple offers. Once one offer is accepted, the student is immediately withdrawn from all other offers and will be contacted by the chair or dean of the program with information about the program orientation date, time, and location.
If a student fails to respond, then the offer expires. If a student rejects an offer three (3) times, the application is removed from the auto-selection application pool but will then be available for manual selection rounds that occur later in the process.
Students do have the ability to withdraw an application at any point during the admission cycle. However, once an application is withdrawn, another one cannot be submitted until the next application cycle.
After You're Accepted
If you are accepted into the program—first off, congratulations!—you will be required to attend an orientation session at your local campus during the summer semester prior to beginning classes. An email will be sent following your acceptance with details about the session.
What If I Don’t Get Admitted?
The Kinesiology & Exercise Science program maintains a waitlist, so if someone should decide to decline their offer prior to the start of the fall semester, the applicant with the next highest GPA will be contacted and extended an offer to fill seats in the program.
Non-admitted applicants can reapply in the next application cycle, but we recommend that they meet with an advisor to begin planning and preparing for the reapplication process. Advisors can also assist students in exploring other programs of interest in Ivy Tech’s School of Health Sciences if they have applied several times and have not been accepted into the program.
What is Selective Admission?
The Kinesiology & Exercise Science program is a limited admissions program, which means we only accept a small number of students each year. This allows us to ensure students receive the proper attention and training. Currently, we accept 12 students once per year in the fall.
Selection Process & Scoring
The Kinesiology & Exercise Science program only uses a student’s current cumulative GPA to rank offers. The twelve student applicants with the highest GPA receive an offer during the first round, and the process continues until all seats in the program are full.
The Program does maintain a waitlist, so if someone should decide to decline their offer prior to the start of the fall semester, the applicant with the next highest GPA will be contacted and extended an offer to fill seats in the program.
Kinesiology Careers & Degree Pathways
Ivy Tech can provide an individual academic plan to help a student achieve their career of interest. Students should contact the Bloomington Kinesiology Program Chair and schedule a Career Mentor Advising session to help develop the most appropriate academic plan to reach their career goals.
Below are various career pathways within the field of kinesiology, organized by education level. Ivy Tech will prepare students to sit for NCCA certification exams, but graduating from the program does not guarantee students will pass the national exam.
Ivy Tech Kinesiology Program Careers
Certified Fitness and Wellness Professionals (Fitness and Wellness CT) NCCA certification exam that Ivy Tech prepares students to sit for: ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
Group Fitness Instructor – Teaches general exercise formats to groups of apparently healthy individuals (Certified Professional)
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Works with athletes in the gym focused on sports performance (Certified Professional)
Entry-level fitness center and community recreation jobs (recreational sports, weight room staff, etc.)
Certified Personal Trainer (Personal Trainer TC) – Works with apparently healthy individuals and those released by their physician for independent exercise. They perform physical assessments and create personalized exercise plans designed to reach individual fitness goals. (Certified Professional) NCCA certification exam that Ivy Tech prepares students to sit for: ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Health Coach (Kinesiology & Exercise Science Degree AAS) – Works with clients to empower them to adopt and sustain healthy lifestyle behavior changes to prevent or reverse modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases. (Certified Professional) NCCA certification exam that Ivy Tech prepares students to sit for: ACE Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Bachelor of Science Required Careers
Occupational Therapist – Works with injured/deconditioned patients to restore activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, eating, writing, etc.) (Licensed Professional)
Recreational Therapist – Works with a variety of clients in social settings to overcome disabilities (generally cognitive) and improve psychological well-being (Licensed Professional)
Master’s Degree Required Careers
Athletic Trainer – An Athletic Trainer is an exercise physiologist embedded within professional and collegiate sports teams who treat or rehab injuries and focus on rehabilitation exclusively with athletes. They work in close conjunction with team physicians and make medical calls on the field/court. Many of those with these degrees find jobs in the physical therapy industry because of the limited number of jobs available with sports teams. Athletic Trainers are an extension of the Sports Medicine Physician profession and are not the same as Personal Trainers. (Licensed Professional)
Doctorate Degree Required Careers
Physical Therapist – Works with injured and deconditioned patients per physician directives to restore physical function through therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as electrotherapy, deep heat ultrasound), and assistive devices for impairments. (Licensed Professional)
Chiropractor – A health care professional who is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders with an emphasis on treatment through manual manipulation and/or adjustment of the spine. (Licensed Professional)
If you have questions about the program, career paths, or application process, please contact the program chair.
Program Chair & Associate Professor for the Department of Kinesiology, School of Health Sciences Cassey Connelly, MS ACSM EP-C, NASM CES, ACE cPT, ACE FNS cconnelly8@ivytech.edu 812-330-6314
“The Kinesiology and Exercise Science program at Ivy Tech Bloomington prepared me not only to pass my certification exams but also helped me in pursuing my dreams of launching my own business and platform to change others' lives. Without the help of Professor Connelly, I wouldn't have any of the knowledge or skills to help train clients effectively. Between personal training and nutrition, I owe it all to her. She took me under her wing and was so welcoming to me starting the program. It just felt like home. Her support and urge to push you harder were unmatched. In all my years of schooling, I can truthfully say that she had the biggest impact on me and was the best instructor I have ever had. I am very thankful to her for preparing me for success in this field. The program also helped me get accepted into Indiana University, where I will graduate with my bachelor's degree in May 2023. Ivy Tech opened many doors that will forever change my life.”
“Anna is a 2021 graduate who used the skills she learned at Ivy Tech to open her Personal Training business Family Fitness, LLC, which is located in Scottsburg, IN. Anna is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Certified Health Coach. ”
“I am living my passion for health and wellness and self-defense and owe my growing success to the practical coursework in the Kinesiology degree program at Ivy Tech. My career continues to grow as I now work as an Operations Manager with Counter Violence USA and have the opportunity to share my passion for self-defense with the community. My advice to other students is to never limit yourself to just one path because you are capable of so much more.”
–Madelynn W. | 2021 Grad
Featured Faculty & Staff
Professor Cassey Connelly
Kinesiology & Exercise Science Program Chair, Associate Professor, State Lead Curriculum Chair
Professor Cassey Connelly
Kinesiology & Exercise Science Program Chair, Associate Professor, State Lead Curriculum Chair
Professor Cassey Connelly holds a BS degree in Kinesiology and an MS degree in Rehabilitation Sciences. She is an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She has developed the Program Curriculum and all practical course projects and community partnerships since the program's inception at Ivy Tech in 2016. She brings over 20 years of professional experience to the program, having served as a Fitness & Nutrition Specialist in the clinical setting, an Exercise Specialist while managing a post-rehab fitness center, and a Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor in the wellness sector. As an undergraduate student, she was the first female recipient of the Lawrence A. Golding Scholarship Award sponsored by ACSM.
Questions About the Program?
Future Students
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Kinesiology & Exercise Science program and your certificate and degree options.
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Fax 812-265-4028
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Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
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1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.