Work is underway to create a BS in Exercise Science degree option in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion. Though the major has yet to be rolled out, the proposed program has been reviewed and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Exercise Science Major will be one of only two programs in the State of California that is accredited by CAAHEP.
“With this accreditation, we are ahead of the curve. It’s an unofficial mandate but it’s believed that accreditation will eventually be a requirement, because, as early as 2027, getting certified in fields like exercise physiology, or strength coaching will require completing an accredited program,” Kinesiology faculty Koyya Lewis-Trammell said.
Lewis-Trammell was the driving force behind the CAAHEP accreditation. The new major will contain similar coursework as the General Kinesiology and Pedagogy options and may also include courses in strength and conditioning, sports injury, bioenergetics, motor learning and control, and movement anatomy.
Students who have an AA in exercise science can be a personal trainer and receive certification. A common career path for students who have a BS in an Exercise Science major would be exercise physiology or strength coaches. Exercise physiologists do health related fitness tests in conjunction with other health care providers. They test for things like body composition, flexibility, velocity of joints, muscle fitness, and cardiorespiratory function.
Strength coaches are focused on agility, speed, and coordination. They work with professional athletes, trainers, and team physicians to maximize performance.
Senior Sydney Lam, who is majoring in general kinesiology said, “I intend to use my degree to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I see the recent CAAHEP Accreditation as a big achievement. I’m already taking some exercise courses and having access to an accredited program can support my career goals. It reinforces the idea that we can succeed in rigorous, nationally recognized coursework.”
The CAAHEP accreditation had multiple requirements. “CAAHEP is focused on outcomes. We showed that all our coursework met all of the 363 competencies,” Trammell-Lewis said. “We had to develop an advisory board made up of alumni and others working in the field. Internships were also a part of it. We did self-evaluations on our resources and surveyed students on their needs.”
Then there was a virtual tour, and two days of site visits by CAAHEP representatives that included meetings with faculty, students, and the Provost. It was a process that took about four months. The department originally had considered offering exercise science as a minor but the Academic Senate suggested it was comprehensive enough to offer as a major.
Kinesiology major Jonathan Lopez said, “Getting my degree from an accredited program supports me in my career goals because CPP has successfully prepared me for the next step of my career.”
Graduating from an accredited exercise science program allows access to more career options. “We want to make sure that students leave here ready for work,” said Lewis-Trammell.