i took a few of these classes getting my BS in kinesiology. but i've always found that running improved my running way more than any class ever did.
i took a few of these classes getting my BS in kinesiology. but i've always found that running improved my running way more than any class ever did.
no kids, thank you wrote:
I was a bio major, but didn't like plants enough, so I switched. At my college, all ex sci majors took their anatomy/phys/chem classes in the bio or chem depts, so I was taking a very similar course load as my bio major cohorts.
Major in whatever you enjoy the most.
Great advice. I also started out as Biology/Pre-Med but got bored with plants, haha! Overall, the Ex. Science curriculum taught me how to live healthy.
My daughter is in your field. Yes, knowledge is power. It can help you. She is required to take Ochem and math. Stay with it. My brother, a Neurologist has encouraged this field. She has helped me with my training and understanding, particularly in nutrition, recovery and avoiding injury. Good luck!
The BS in Exercise Science (or some other exercise related BS degree) is more or less an "entrance" degree. Each school is different in how they approach that degree program. Some are aimed more toward the science, some are aimed more toward the practical (athletic trainer, personal trainer, cardiac rehab).
It's more or less an empty degree that prepares you for OT or PT programs or possibly some cardiac rehab.
If you go further and get an MS you'll be stuck in research & teaching or even further into cardiac rehab as an "Exercise Physiologist".
Now, with just a BS degree in Exercise Science you can do a few things:
1. Work at a Corporate Wellness Center
2. Work at a Commerical Gym.
Your benefits will likely be much greater in the Corporate Wellness Field than the Commercial Route.
If you are business savy and can market yourself (powerpoint and any graphics experience would be nice to have) you can make a lot of money as a personal trainer.
I know of a handful of trainers in the Louisville area who make 50-75k a year from training. Keep in mind this is Louisville, KY where the median household income is only like $35k.
To be a successful personal trainer you'll also want the ASCM-HFI and/or NSCA cert. With the NSCA cert you can also go the route of becoming a strength and conditioning coach for colleges and/or high schools.
It's very much a hit or miss industry. You could easily make 25k a year or 2-3 times that. Also, learn a lot about lifting and current trends. Forget everything about nutrition than you learned in college. It's bunk.
Read Charles Poliquin, look up articles at T-nation.com, learn how to lift and how to train people. Amazingly, they don't really teach you that in your university program.
If you are runner you will have quite a learning curve. You can't train people by just taking them out for a run and most people won't lose weight that way. Find you niche and become really good at it.
Alna
Runningart2004 wrote:
Also, learn a lot about lifting and current trends.
This is unfortunate, but true. Everyone wants to do the next Hollywood workout, or they want to do the whole Biggest Loser thing.
Okay, let's punch the air with 8 pound weights and see if we can't get you a nice torn rotator cuff!
Forget everything about nutrition than you learned in college. It's bunk.
Depends on where/when you went to college...