M.S. in Exercise Physiology
Carroll University's accredited Master of Science in Exercise Physiology (MEXP) program with a clinical emphasis offers small, individualized classes that put the focus on you, as well as extensive hands-on experience in our unique rehabilitation clinic. Our program provides an innovative curriculum taught by faculty with extensive experience in cancer and chronic disease rehabilitation, as well as a reputation of teaching excellence.
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Exercise physiology is the scientific study of the physiological mechanisms underlying human movement. In clinical settings, exercise physiologists or exercise specialists work with patients to directly combat their disease using prescriptive exercise, and to improve and maintain their health. Many patients with chronic conditions such as cardiac disease, cancer, or metabolic diseases often work through rehabilitation with a certified exercise physiologist.
Extensive hands-on experiential learning both in and outside the classroom prepares you for future job success. You'll benefit from more than 1,000 hours of clinical experiences, including an internship, and the preparation needed to immediately sit for the ACSM-CEP exam upon graduation. You'll be prepared for careers in inpatient and outpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, stress testing, preventive cardiology programs and various wellness related settings that cater to clients with current or ongoing health conditions.
The field is waiting and you’ll be ready
- 90% of our students obtain a job within three months of graduation.
- Even before graduating, 81% of our students get a job in their chosen field DURING their second year in our program.
- Our clinical practical courses prepare you for multiple career options.
- Our research component gives you the foundation you need to pursue a doctoral degree or career in research.
- Tuition costs for our program are among the most affordable in the state.
- Our in-house CURE program provides you with one-on-one patient contact.
- Students will accumulate more than 1,000 hours of clinical experience through three practicums and a 14-week internship.
The Master of Science in Exercise Physiology program is the FIRST graduate program in the state of Wisconsin to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.
Visit CAAHEP for more info →
Leaders in the Field
Dr. Jessica Brown, Ph.D. and Dr. Daniel Shackelford, Ph.D. are considered pioneers in the field of exercise-based cancer rehabilitation. Together they developed the first cancer population-specific treadmill protocol for the measurement of cardiovascular endurance and are the innovators behind Brown’s Phase Program for cancer rehabilitation. The pair have hosted numerous international workshops and trainings on cancer rehabilitation and developed much of the curriculum currently taught and used by other groups throughout the world. At Carroll, they created the Carroll University Rehabilitative Exercise (CURE) Program, a rehab clinic that focuses on using exercise as medicine for cancer patients and those diagnosed with chronic disease.
Develop Expertise in Research
In your second year of the MEXP Clinical program, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in research and active data collection. Gain expertise in writing research proposals, recruiting clients for testing and gathering full sets of data for analysis. You’ll present your research during the spring semester at Celebrate Carroll, our annual academic conference that highlights scholarly achievements of students and faculty. Select students will also be invited to present research at the regional and national American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Conference each year. Future national conference locations include San Francisco, Washington D.C., San Diego and Denver.
Graduate Into a High-Demand Career
Carroll's program delivers the background knowledge and extensive hands-on experience you need to become an expert in clinical rehabilitation. Upon graduation, you'll be prepared for a variety of clinical and related specialty certifications, and/or doctoral level work in exercise physiology or other allied health disciplines. This means you’ll be career-ready for a variety of positions, including, but not limited to:
- Clinical Rehabilitation Careers (inpatient and outpatient)
- Cancer
- Cardiac
- Diabetes and Obesity
- Neurological
- Pulmonary
- As well as others
- Research Positions
- Research Associate
- Sports Medicine Researcher
- Administrative Exercise Careers
- Director of Clinical Operations
- Clinical Coordinator
- Clinical Program Manager
- Stress Testing Technologist
- Cath Lab Positions
- Entry into Advanced PhD Programs
Practical Experiences
Recommended experiences meet the requirements for becoming an ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP):
- Cardiovascular
- Cancer
- Metabolic
- Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal
- Neuromuscular
- Immunological/Hematological
Our Carroll University Rehabilitative Exercise (CURE) Program includes practical opportunities both on and off campus. During two semesters you’ll receive a diversified clinical experience conducting individualized exercise interventions on patients diagnosed with cancer and chronic disease, as well as the geriatric population, in our state-of-the-art CURE Clinic.
Learn more about the CURE Program
Our students have recently completed internships at cardiac, pulmonary, and cancer rehabilitation sites such as: