Both programs explore human movement and the effects of physical activity, but they prepare students for different goals:
Exercise and Wellness: Improving Health and Performance
This major focuses on helping people stay active, build healthy habits, and their well-being. Students learn how exercise, nutrition, and daily routines affect strength, endurance, and physical performance.
Students will:
- Create safe and effective fitness programs
- Apply exercise and nutrition principles to support healthy habits
- Coach individuals or groups in fitness settings
- Understand how exercise influences the body
Graduates often work in gyms, corporate health programs, or cardiac rehab, and some continue their education in graduate programs related to exercise science or health promotion.
Movement and Rehabilitation: Restoring Movement and Preparing for Healthcare
The Movement and Rehabilitation centers on recovery from injury and safe movement. Students study muscles, joints, bones, and how exercise helps the body regain strength and function.
Through this program, students will learn to:
- Design exercise programs that support recovery
- Identify movement limitations or weaknesses
- Explore how the body heals after injury
- Use technology and hands-on methods to assess movement
Graduates often continue to graduate programs like physical therapy, occupational therapy, or athletic training. Others may work in rehabilitation, healthcare, or fitness support roles.
How Are They Similar?
Both programs are rooted in science and emphasize hands-on learning. They include:
- Courses in biology, physiology, and movement science
- Practical lab experiences
- Opportunities to interpret fitness or movement data
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
These shared experiences prepare students to apply what they learn in real-world health, fitness, or rehabilitation settings.
Key Difference
- Exercise and Wellness: Focuses on improving fitness, healthy habits, and performance.
- Movement and Rehabilitation: Focuses on recovery, safe movement, and healthcare preparation.
Both paths provide a strong foundation in movement science, but each guides students toward different professional directions.
Sources
Fitness Trainers and Instructors — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Exercise Physiologists — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Physical Therapists — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Becoming a Physical Therapist — American Physical Therapy Association
Careers in Physical Therapy — American Physical Therapy Association
Understanding How Exercise Affects the Body — National Institutes of Health
Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity — National Institute on Aging (NIH)