Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in health science

The health science concentration is designed for students who wish to enter a health care-related field (that does not require licensure, certification or registry status) such as corporate wellness, human services, nonprofit health promotion and medical and pharmaceutical sales. Graduates holding a degree with a concentration in health science can also be qualified to enter either graduate or professional health science programs, such as public health, health education and promotion, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing, speech-language pathology, audiology, radiation safety, clinical laboratory science and health care administration.

Student learning outcomes

• Analyzing data: Graduates will be able to analyze data from a variety of sources to assess individual community health topics.
• Solving health problems: Graduates will be able to solve complex health science issues and problems using interdisciplinary sciences.

Accelerated B.S. and M.S.

The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science (either concentration) and M.S. in Gerontology in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Students holding these degrees will have completed advanced course work focused on the application of health and the application of health and well-being among older adults. This will prepare graduates for a wide range of career options that promote physical well-being throughout the lifespan with a special emphasis on well-being in later life. Graduates are prepared to use an interdisciplinary approach to aging using a bio-psych-social model. Graduates will further the person-centered mission of the department largely in areas of administration, education, advocacy and entrepreneurship. Career opportunities exist in health and fitness centers, clinical settings, academic institutions, rehabilitation facilities, public health agencies, long-term care and congregate living, as well as supporting people in the community and within their own homes. 

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 84 undergraduate credit hours including HPEX 300 and HPEX 310; an overall minimum GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in ancillary requirements, and HPEX concentration core course work. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may submit GRE scores to receive further consideration. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the graduate program director of the M.S. program before they have completed 84 credits. Successful applicants would enter the program in the fall semester of their senior year.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate health, physical education and exercise science adviser and the graduate program director of the master’s program.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. Three reference letters (at least two from kinesiology and health science faculty members) are required.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will substitute for required major electives for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

The graduate gerontology courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are listed below:

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year. The courses for both concentrations will shift to accommodate the accelerated program requirements in their senior year.

For students in the exercise science concentration

For students in the health science concentration