For the second consecutive academic year, King’s College has developed a new bachelor’s degree academic program that builds on existing College strengths and responds to an expanding need and job market.
A bachelor of science program in exercise science will be offered to students entering King’s in fall 2014. The program is designed for students who have an interest in the sciences of health promotion, wellness, and fitness. The program is also expected to attract students that are interested in a more general program than offered by the College’s existing pre-professional degree programs in physician assistant studies and athletic training. King’s successfully introduced a new degree program in physics and a cooperative engineering degree program with the University of Notre Dame this past fall.
According to information supplied by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, market demand for occupations suitable for exercise science graduates are expected to grow faster than average demand for all other occupations. The job market for positions including personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, exercise physiologist, and nutritionist are expected to grow between 20-30 percent through 2020. Aggregately, approximately 61,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the field over a ten-year period.
“The development of this program is a natural progression for King’s College as it follows its mission of providing students with an excellent liberal arts education while also preparing them for an ever-changing job market,” said Father John Ryan, C.S.C., president. “While 10 new courses will be designed for the new major, degree candidates will also take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, education and psychology.”
“The exercise science classrooms and labs will be part of the academic space in the renovated Ramada Inn in downtown Wilkes-Barre,” added Father Ryan. “The College fully expects that the facility will be state-of-the-art and allow for world-class instruction in not only exercise science, but also physician assistant studies and athletic training.”
“In this ever-changing environment of legal requirements and consumer demand for health insurance, businesses and insurance organizations are expected to recognize the benefits of health and fitness programs for their employees, further increasing the demand for specialized workers in these areas,” said Jeremy Simington, chair of the department of sports medicine and the department of exercise science.
King’s College is a Catholic College Sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.