Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science (EXSS) Dual Degree Program

Students apply to the dual degree program as incoming freshmen and are admitted directly into the graduate program at the same time as their admission as undergraduate students. Dual degree students are guaranteed a place in the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science program provided they continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress into enrollment in the graduate program. Dual degree students, therefore, have a space reserved for them in the graduate program beginning in their first year, with clear criteria and achievements required to progress into the graduate program.  

Combined with advisement from their undergraduate academic advisor, students’ engagement with the College of Health Professions, participation in activities offered by the Exercise & Sport Science program and interactions with graduate faculty provide strong support toward successful progression into graduate study.  

Dual degree students pursuing the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science degree may complete up to seven credits toward their graduate degree during their undergraduate studies. These credits count toward both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Students, therefore, save on the cost of graduate tuition as these credits are included in the cost of the full-time undergraduate tuition.  

Students may pursue one of two pathways to the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science program:  

Accelerated 3+2 Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science

In the Accelerated 3+2 option, students complete three years of undergraduate coursework and two years of graduate coursework, earning both a bachelor’s degree and the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science degree within five years. The 3+2 option requires that students choose an undergraduate major in Exercise Science, and all requirements for the bachelor’s degree in exercise science must be completed by the end of the third year. Students choosing the 3+2 option work carefully with their undergraduate advisor to follow a specific sequence of study, which includes some summer course work. With appropriate planning, summer course work may be completed at other universities offering equivalent courses.

Students initially pursuing the 3+2 option may move to the 4+2 option by consulting with their academic advisor.

4+2 Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science

In the 4+2 option, students complete the bachelor’s degree in the traditional four-year time frame and complete two years of graduate study in the EXSS program, earning both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree within six years. This option is open to students in the exercise science major.

Criteria for Admission as an Incoming Freshman

Students apply to the bachelor’s-Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science dual degree program by selecting the dual degree program on the Common Application. Admission to the dual degree program is competitive, with minimum criteria including: 

  • Overall high school GPA of 3.3 or higher 
  • Four years of math and science academic coursework 
  • Grade of a B or better in all math and science coursework 

Students admitted to the dual degree program must continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress to enrollment in the EXSS program, as outlined below.

Criteria to Progress to the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science Program

  • Successful completion of the bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Note that participation in the 3+2 dual degree program requires successful completion of the bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science 
  • Successful completion of all required prerequisite courses with no individual prerequisite course grade below a “C” 
  • Prerequisite courses for all students include: 
    • Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab – 4 credits
    • Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab – 4 credits
    • Kinesiology – 3 credits
    • Exercise Physiology – 3 credits
  • Additional prerequisite courses for 4+2 students not majoring in exercise science include:
  • Developing Strength & Conditioning Programs with Lab – 3 credits
  • Highly recommended prerequisite courses include:
    • Nutrition – 3 credits
    • Statistics/Research Methods – 3 credits
  • Demonstration of scientific writing skill via submission of an essay related to exercise science, nutrition, public health, biology or a related field. (A research paper previously submitted for a class or a formal lab report from a laboratory class may be submitted.)
  • Two letters of reference from SHU faculty members who have had the student in class