Exercise science major continues to grow in its second year
After only a short time, exercise science earns the title of fastest growing major at CSB/SJU. After being added as a minor several years ago, it was developed into a major after high demand from many students. The first class of exercise science majors will be graduating this spring.
Forty-one thousand students in the state of Minnesota are interested in attending a four-year college to obtain an undergraduate degree. Of these students, 20% of them indicated that they are interested in majoring in the Health Sciences and Technologies field. CSB/SJU now offers programs for these students wishing to major in these fields.
St. Ben’s and St. John’s implemented the new exercise science and health science major in the Fall of 2020. Despite this program being new, it is gaining recognition and popularity quite fast. This new program is among the top ten most popular major at CSB/SJU. Currently, there are 143 students in the major, with 70 of the students being Bennies and 73 Johnnies.There are also 41 students with exercise science as minors. This year will be the first year that anyone graduates with this major from CSB/SJU.
Previously, exercise science was only offered for students as a minor. However, conversations of creating a major have been going on for years now.
“There was such a high demand for this to be offered as a major, so it seemed only natural that we made that a reality” said Don Fischer, exercise science and sports studies department chair.
Kate Helou, CSB first-year, thinks it is great that CSB/SJU is offering this program as a major as the demand of health-care workers is increasing.
Prospective students are learning about this new program through tours and emails about the school. Promoting this new program to perspective students is key, as many students make their college decisions based on what schools offer certain majors such as exercise science.
Fischer wanted to recognize that the administration at CSB/SJU has done a great job promoting this new program as well as helping to continue to develop this new but thriving program.
One way that this program stands out from other exercise science programs is the way it fits in to CSB/SJU liberal arts education.
Fischer said that many of the classes fit into the Integration Curriculum, which helps students fulfill requirements and get a well-rounded education.
This new major is also flexible to incoming transfer students.
“There is more of an emphasis put on student learning than just how many points you earn in a class. You don’t just learn from a textbook, but you learn how to work with people in an empathetic and professional manner, which is great for everyone, but especially those looking to enter health care” SJU junior Nick Harris said.
This program is far from done progressing.
Fisher says that more internship opportunities are being developed and hopes to have those sometime soon in the future.