Southern’s Master of Science in Exercise Science degree program will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to address health, wellness, and human performance in various professional settings and allow you to personalize your education and best meet your specific career goals.
Our graduate program includes three concentrations: clinical exercise physiology, human performance, and sport psychology. The clinical exercise physiology concentration is the only CAAHEP-accredited clinical exercise physiology program in CT and is suited for individuals who wish to work in clinical settings with diverse populations. The human performance concentration is also the only CAAHEP-accredited applied exercise physiology program in CT and is best suited for individuals who wish to pursue careers in strength and conditioning and sport performance. The sport psychology concentration prepares students for a career as a sport psychologist by providing them with the curriculum necessary to sit for the Association of Applied Sport Psychology’s Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) certification, which is necessary to practice as a sport psychologist.
Graduates have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields as clinical exercise physiologists, strength and conditioning coaches, and other allied health care fields. Recent graduates have gone on to fully-funded doctoral programs at some of the most prestigious programs in the country, including the University of Massachusetts, University of Connecticut, Florida State University, University of Texas at Arlington, and University of Houston.
Current Research Projects
- Biomechanical Gait Variations
- Psychological and physiological readiness for play in female collegiate athletes
- Cardiovascular Health
- Psychosocial and behavioral health in young women with obesity
- Autonomic Function
- Exercise Supplementation
- Aging
Program Features
Our concentrations in clinical exercise physiology and human performance are CAAHEP accredited, both the only accredited clinical and applied exercise physiology programs in the state of Connecticut and one of less than 20 nationally. Graduates of our clinical exercise physiology program are uniquely advantaged when applying to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Clinical Exercise Physiology certification (ACSM-CEP). Graduating from an accredited program like ours reduces the paperwork and documentation necessary to apply to take the certification exam. See requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Preparation for Certification for the following by concentration:
- Clinical Exercise Physiology- ACSM-CEP (ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist)
- Human Performance- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS), in addition to the ACSM-EP-C (ACSM Exercise Physiologist- Certified)
- Sport Psychology- AASP CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant)
Concentrations
Human Performance
The Human Performance concentration of our graduate program in Exercise Science provides the student with the opportunity for advanced study in a wide variety of exercise sciences including advanced exercise physiology, advanced strength and conditioning, biomechanics and applied kinesiology, cardiac rehabilitation, laboratory techniques in exercise testing and prescription, exercise prescription for diverse populations, and more. As one of two accredited graduate programs in New England, our students work closely with our faculty in the classroom or in conjunction with one of our ongoing research projects.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students to sit for and pass the National Strength and Conditioning Association Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) certifications and the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist–Certified (EP-C) examination. This program includes a thesis and non-thesis option.
Accreditation Outcomes
- 2025-26 Graduate Positive Placement - 100%
- 2025-26: 2 - year graduation rate - 67%
Sport Psychology
The Sport Psychology concentration is an interdisciplinary program offering students in-depth study in the areas of health psychology, counseling, performance enhancement, and intervention strategies. The curriculum encompasses the knowledge areas to become a certified mental performance consultant upon passing the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) Examination sponsored by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.
The CMPC certification demonstrates to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public that a certified individual has met the standards of professional practice. You will gain the knowledge necessary to assist athletes and other individuals to perform at the highest level. You will have the opportunity to work with athletes, sports teams, athletic departments, and other organizations to optimize performance. This 33-34 credit interdisciplinary program utilizes faculty and coursework from Health and Movement Sciences, Counseling and School Psychology, and Psychology departments.
Clinical Exercise Physiology
The Clinical Exercise Physiology concentration helps prepare individuals for positions in cardiac rehabilitation and developing exercise programs for other clinical populations such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and the aging population. Graduates will qualify to sit for the ACSM certification examination as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Completion of the program includes a 300-hour clinical experience. Students complete 34 graduate credits to earn this degree. The program includes a thesis and non-thesis option.
The curriculum includes a hybrid mix of online and on-ground coursework and is designed to prepare students to sit for and pass the American College of Sports Medicine Clinical Exercise Physiologist Examination (ACSM-CEP).
Accreditation Outcomes
- 2025-26: Graduate Positive Placement – 80%
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2025-26: 2–year graduation rate – 71%
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2025-26: National Credentialing Exam Pass Rate – 100%
Accreditation
The concentrations in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Human Performance are the only accredited graduate programs in Connecticut through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Careers
Graduates of this program are prepared for roles in clinical settings (e.g. cardiac rehabilitation, exercise oncology, etc.), sport performance (e.g. strength and conditioning coach, sport scientist, etc.), and as sport psychologists (e.g. athletic counseling, performance consultant). Employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. The MS in Exercise Science program has a long history of producing high-quality graduates who have gone on to become leaders in the field.
Typical Job Titles
- Clinical Exercise Physiologists
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Sport Performance - Mental Preparation
- Research Scientist
- Athletic Coaches
Graduate and Research Assistantships
We offer several graduate teaching and research assistantships to qualified students.
- A 2-year period at 20 hours per week for full-time students
- A 2-year period at 10 hours per week for part-time students
A stipend is given for this service. Graduate Assistant responsibilities include: assisting faculty with undergraduate instruction, performing laboratory testing and procedures, and involvement in ongoing research. If interested, please send a letter of interest and a current resume to Dr. William Lunn, Director of Human Performance Laboratory.
New Health and Human Services Building
We are housed in a brand new Health & Human Services building with approximately ~4500ft2 of state-of-the-art laboratories, including dedicated laboratories for:
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Body Composition
- Neuromuscular / Cardiovascular
- Behavior Change and Health Promotion
- Metabolic Testing
Specific Equipment includes (partial list):
- Parvomedics Metabolic Measurement Systems (3) for VO2max, energy expenditure, lactate threshold, etc.
- DEXA and Bod Pod for bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition measurement
- Biodex system for isokinetic strength
- Instrumented Treadmill with Integrated Force Platforms and cameras
- Static and Dynamic Balance Systems
Application
Apply now at the School of Graduate and Professional Studies or see application requirements.
From our Alumni
The Exercise Science, M.S. – Human Performance program at SCSU challenged me to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning success in the realm of athletics. With the help of passionate and supportive professors whose curiosity for performance matched my interests, I feel well prepared to excel in my career in coaching.
Jake Jayworth, '23
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
Obtaining my Masters at SCSU was one of the most influential experiences of my life. The courses I took not only educated me on the science of health and movement but also helped sharpen my clinical judgement so I can provide the best care for the patients I serve today. Additionally, I cannot thank the professors enough who helped shape me and my vision for my future career as an exercise physiologist.
Dan Rosati, '22
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
The Exercise Science program at SCSU gave me the great opportunity to learn in the classroom and apply the knowledge I gained in real world settings. The professors were very knowledgeable and always available and willing to share more information outside of the classroom. I am proud to say that I graduated in sport psychology in 2023 because the program gave me all the knowledge I need to succeed in my job and my life.
Greta Brunello '23
MS Exercise Science (Sports Psychology)
MS Exercise Science (Sports Psychology)
My time in the graduate program was an amazing period of growth and development for me both personally and professionally. The coursework, my GA and TA experiences, and the time and effort spent on completing my Master's Thesis provided countless opportunities to challenge myself in my education, problem-solving skills, leadership capabilities, and so much more. The experienced faculty created a supportive environment that promotes learning and accountability and made Southern feel like home.
Christine Volz '19
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
The masters program was the best two years of my educational career. The professors embody the philosophy that exercise is medicine and truly practice what they preach. They are full of knowledge, experience and are dedicated to the students’ successes. I felt fully prepared to step out into the real world and become the best exercise scientist I could be. Forever an owl.
Ally Derosier, '15
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
My experience with SCSU’s Exercise Science Graduate Program was completely tailored to my needs. My professors were always available to talk or answer any questions I had. I was able to do two independent study classes, one focusing on pharmacology with Dr. Robertson and the other I shadowed a physical therapist who led pulmonary rehab in order to get more experience with different populations to ready me for the ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist exam. Dr. Axtell guided me through that independent study where I wrote case studies about patients’ course of care. I worked as a graduate assistant in the Human Performance Lab with Dr. Lunn where I learned how to get comfortable walking clients through different anthropomorphic testing, and always found a way to have a fun time. The Research Methods class with Dr. Gregory gave me a deeper understanding of research, and enhanced my writing ability. This incredible team at SCSU prepared me to be the exercise professional that I am today, I highly recommend this program to anyone thinking of pursuing graduate studies in exercise science.
Danielle Watters, '18
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
MS Exercise Science (Human Performance)
Application Requirements / Deadlines
School / College
College of Health & Human Services
Department
Health and Movement Sciences
Contact
Dr. Robert Axtell