Career Opportunities for Majors in Exercise Science & Sport Studies

Introduction

Exercise Science and Sport Studies offers 4 options of study:

Exercise Science: This option provides students with strong science foundation focusing on human anatomy and physiology, with emphasis on preparation for further graduate study or direct entrance into the job market. Opportunities include athletic training, biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness management, medicine, and pre-physical therapy.

Applied Kinesiology: This option is essentially identical to Exercise Science excluding the three labs, and with three additional elective credits at the junior and senior levels.

Exercise Physiology: This option provides students with strong science foundation emphasizing preparation for further graduate study or direct entrance into varied fields related to exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport medicine, and direct entrance to upper level certifications in the rehabilitation and fitness industries.

Sport Management: This option is designed to meet the needs of a popular, growing interest in the management of sport facilities and programs. Graduates may choose to pursue an advanced degree or enter the profession in one of the many dimensions of sport organizations, or high school and collegiate sport programs.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Athletic Director	Athletic Trainer	Chiropractic Physician
Corporate Fitness Director	Director of Community Relations	Director of Intramurals & Recreation
Director of Media Relations	Director of Sports Facilities	Exercise Physiologist
Exercise Program Director	Exercise Specialist	Exercise Test Technologist
Fitness Program Coordinator	General Manager, Prof. Sports Team	Health Club Manager
Health/Fitness Instructor	Marketing Director	Nautilis/Weight Training Instructor
Occupational Therapist	Operations Director	Personal Trainer
Physical Therapist	Physical Education Director	Physician
Promotion Director	Public Relations Director	Publicity Director
Rehabilitation Therapist	Sports Psychologist	Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Rep
Sports Event Coordinator	Sports Nutritionist	Sports Information Director
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Ticket Manager	Wellness Coordinator

Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Athletic associations	High schools	Sporting goods companies
College athletic conferences	Hospitals	Sports arenas & stadiums
Colleges & universities	Professional sports leagues & teams	Sports marketing & management agencies
Corporate health facilities	Race tracks	Sports medicine clinics
Country clubs & resorts	Rehabilitation clinics	Tennis organizations
Health & fitness clubs	Speedways

Government Agencies
Centers for Disease Control	Health Resources & Services Admin.	President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports
Center for Health Promotion & Education	Indian Health Service	Public Health Service
Consumer Product Safety Commission	National Institutes of Health	State Departments of Health
Dept. of Health & Human Services	Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion	U.S. Armed Forces
Dept. of Veterans Affairs	Peace Corps

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Account Executive, LCI Int'l.	Fitness Trainer, Penn Club
Asst. Athletic Trainer, Rutgers University	Marketing Assistant, MSG Network
Asst. Director of Club Sports, University of Maryland	Personal Trainer, Ladies Choice Fitness Center
Clinical Assistant, St. Barnabas	Physical Therapy Aid, Health Rehab Center of Edison
Corporate Fitness Trainer, AT&T	Police Officer, Montclair Police Dept.
Exercise Specialist, Sports Training Institute	Scouting Staff Assistant, New Jersey Devils

Jobs of Experienced Alumni (advanced degree information is not available for most alumni)
Assistant General Mgr., Programs, Equinox Executive Fitness Clubs	Integrated Rehab Services, LLC, Pitt Health & Rec. Center (Master's, Physical Therapy)
Asst. Manager/Fitness Director, Ladies Choice Fitness Center	Marketing, Team Operations, Account Mgmt. & Corp. Relations, NBA League Office, ESPN, NJ Nets
Asst. Supervisor, Corporate Fitness, AT&T	Marketing Solutions, Versus TV (covered 2010 Tour de France)
Circuit Defense Counsel, JAG, U.S. Air Force Reserve (JD)	Operations, Marketing, Event Planning, Corporate Sales & Account Management, Community Relations, NYKnicks, NY Rangers, and NY Liberty
Clinical Research Assoc., Genmab, Inc. (MS Health Sci.)	Trainer, Parisi Speed Schools, NY Sports Clubs
Director of Operations, Lakewood Blueclaws	Physical Therapist, Riverview Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy
Dir., Recreation & Conferences, Lycoming College (MS Rec. & Leisure Services)	Special Ed. Teacher/Athletic Trainer, New Providence H.S. (M.Ed)
Director, Recreation Program, Town of Highland Park	Sales, NJ Jets, Philadelphia 76’ers, Philadelphia Flyers, NJ Devils
Exercise Physiologist, Lifestyle Fitness Center	Statistician/Scouting Assistant, New Jersey Devils
Fitness Director, Health Fitness Center, Hoechst-Celanese	Varied positions with NY Yankees, NY Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Padres, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Colorado Rockies, and minor league teams
Head Athletic Trainer, Old Bridge High School	Varied positions with Radio City, Fuse TV
Head Coach, Varsity Soccer Team, So. Plainfield High School

Graduate Schools Attended

Columbia University	Ohio University, MS, Recreation & Leisure Services
Duke University	Seton Hall University
Florida State University, JD, Law	Temple University
George Washington University, MS, Health Science	Thomas Jefferson Law School
Marquette Law School	Towson College
Miami University	Tulane University Law School
Montclair State University, M.Ed, Education	UMDNJ, PhD, Physical Therapy
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, DPM	University of Massachusetts
New York University	University of North Carolina

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students.
Explore Rutgers University academic department information related to this major.
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.
Pick up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services office.

Still Have Questions? Ask a Career Counselor.