Morrison Family College of Health
Morrison Family College of Health
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Department of Health & Exercise Science

Internships & Careers

Discover your future in health and exercise science

When thinking about an internship or career path, getting curious is a good place to start. There are many career options for graduates of the Department of Health and Exercise Science, with many expected to grow faster than the national average for other occupations over the next decade. For example:

  • Exercise science careers are expected to grow by 11%
  • Health education and community health jobs are expected to grow by 11%
  • Public Health education and management positions projected to grow by 11-18%
  • Nutrition jobs are expected to grow by 8%

As part of your course work, you will gain practical experience in the field through a 100-hour internship that prepares you for a future career or entry into a graduate program. We also encourage students to work with the Career Development Center to identify ways to grow toward your area of interest.

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Exploring the World of Internships

Finding an internship can feel daunting if you’re unsure of the available opportunities, but rest assured our faculty advisors, department internship coordinator, and the resources from the Career Development Center can help you explore your area of interest.

All Health and Exercise Science majors will complete a two-credit, 100-hour internship course with the guidance of a department faculty before graduating. The internship provides a way for you to explore career interests and apply classroom learning in a professional setting.

Common internship sites include:

  • Physical therapy/sports medicine clinics
  • Local/state health departments
  • Chiropractic offices
  • Hospitals
  • Home-based care
  • Community-based organizations
  • Dental clinics
  • Government/non-profit agencies
  • Long-term care facilities

Career Outlook by Major

There are a number of careers attainable by graduates from the Department of Health and Exercise Science. Your major and interests will determine the path you take, and some careers require additional education. We encourage our students to work with the Career Development Center to identify ways to grow toward their area of interest. Below are only some of the careers that may be available to you in your chosen major.

Careers for exercise science majors include:

  • Clinical exercise physiology
  • Cardiac rehabilitation
  • Recreation and fitness management
  • Strength and conditioning training
  • Medical sales

In addition, many exercise science majors go to graduate school for physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy physician assistant and medicine.

Careers for public health majors include:

  • Health advocacy and education
  • Disease investigation
  • Health communications
  • Research assistant at a university
  • Health department program assistant
  • Public health/nonprofit project management
  • Epidemiology
…and many more!

Careers for health promotion majors include:

  • Health coach
  • Health and wellness program coordination
  • Health promotion advocacy and education
  • Community recreation management
  • Recreation and fitness management

After achieving a foundation in health promotion and wellness, some graduates may decide to pursue advanced education. This degree is an excellent foundation for a variety of health-related graduate programs.