Exercise is one of the most powerful tools in modern healthcare. Pacific's MS in Applied and Clinical Exercise Science helps you turn exercise science into evidence-based practice for patients, clients and communities — fully online and on your schedule.
You’ll build the knowledge to design and evaluate exercise programs for people across the health spectrum. Explore topics like:
Case-based courses have you work through realistic scenarios and make the decisions you’d make in practice. You’ll learn to:
Finish the same 32-unit degree on the timeline that fits your life:
Courses are fully online and can be taken in any order.
HLTH 210 | Turn physiology, biomechanics and motor control into evidence-based exercise programs for diverse populations in health, clinical and performance settings. |
HLTH 212 | Explore bioenergetics, thermoregulation, recovery and overtraining, plus how health-monitoring technology supports performance. |
HLTH 214 | Study musculoskeletal anatomy, posture and neuroanatomy, then apply them to case-based evaluations and corrective exercise programs. |
HLTH 216 | Learn to design a research plan, evaluate the literature and write scholarly work, finishing with a full research proposal. |
HLTH 218 | Examine how the body responds and adapts to environmental and lifestyle stressors, from heat and altitude to sleep disruption and inactivity. |
HLTH 220 | Apply evidence-based nutrition strategies to energy metabolism, performance, recovery and body composition. |
HLTH 222 | Understand aging and major chronic diseases, and the role of exercise as prevention and therapy. |
HLTH 224 | Learn to gather, analyze and interpret data, and to appraise the quality of health research. |
Graduates are prepared for roles in clinical exercise, healthcare, wellness and research. Typical settings include hospitals, rehabilitation programs, outpatient care, research facilities, wellness programs, government agencies, nonprofits and universities. The degree is also a strong foundation for advanced study in physical therapy, physician assistant, athletic training, occupational therapy, dietetics, nursing and medicine.
job growth (3x the national average)
new jobs per year
You can finish in as little as one year by starting in summer, or take two years on the standard path starting in fall. A two-summer option is also available.
Yes. The program is fully online and asynchronous, designed for working professionals and students with family or other obligations.
A bachelor's in a health and exercise science field is preferred, but applicants from other disciplines are considered and may need to show success in science-based undergraduate coursework.
No. There are no prerequisite courses, and the eight courses can be taken in any order.
No. If you want to pursue the American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) credential, we'll help you find clinical sites to complete the required hours
To prepare graduates for leadership roles in healthcare, wellness and performance settings through scientific inquiry, evidence-based application and critical thinking.
For more information, please contact:
Sharon West-Sell
Program Director
209-932-3287
swest@pacific.edu
