Exercise Science

The wellness revolution, the fitness movement, and business opportunities in the world of athletics have necessitated a more science- and business-oriented approach to exercise science. The curriculum includes four tracks of emphasis: physical education teaching K-12, sport management, community recreation, and athletic training. Our exercise science students take science-, recreation-, sports-, and business-oriented classes within the department, as well as courses from the biology, economics, business management, and leadership studies departments.

Students acquire valuable “hands-on” job experience through such practicums as assisting high school and college coaches with their teams, helping teach classes at the college and high school level, working in the training room at Ripon Medical Center Rehabilitation Department, teaching at a local fitness club, and helping run the college intramural program.

Faculty

Jen Mueller

Course Guide: Exercise Science

Advising

Ripon College encourages all students to embrace a Four-Year Career Development Plan. This plan is based on the premise that career planning is a development process that involves learning and decision-making over an extended period of time.

First Year

Incoming students are assigned a Faculty Mentor based on their interest area(s). Please see the FACULTY tab under your major area;
All Freshman are required to enroll in a First-Year Seminar, which is designed as a transition from high school to college learning, providing an interdisciplinary introduction to the liberal arts and the pursuit of in-depth study;
Freshman are encouraged to meet the career development staff early on and complete interest and skills inventories, and self-assessment tools; and,
Attend the pre-Fall Break “Major Fest” to explore the various major options and career tracks.

Third Year

Assume leadership positions in on-campus clubs and organizations;
Participate in mock interviews with the Career Development Office;
Attend the Wisconsin Foundation of Independent Colleges Job Fair in February and other relevant career fairs;
If relevant, begin to research potential graduate school programs and take the appropriate entrance exam(s);
Continue to meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor;
Continue to build a solid network and a list of work references, and build your resume;
Consider off-campus study: Semester and/or alternative Spring Breaks;
Continue to job shadow; and,
Gain further career experience associated with your education during the academic year and as part of a summer job or internship.

Second Year

Get involved with on-campus clubs and organizations, athletic teams and/or intramural sports;
Attend the pre-Fall Break “Major Fest” to explore the various major options and career tracks;
Declare a major;
Meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor or match your interests with a faculty member in your major department. Determine which professors have areas of expertise most similar to your interests. Talk to people in the academic department to find out about faculty research, scholarly, and creative interests;
Attend on-campus career workshops;
Work with the Career Development Office to create an approved resume;
Job shadow people involved in various careers and professions of interest; and,
Gain further career experience associated with your education during the academic year and as part of a summer job or internship.

Fourth Year

Complete a Senior Capstone/Thesis in your major area(s);
Continue to meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor;
Perfect your interviewing skills;
Expand your existing network of contacts;
Finalize your resume and prepare cover letter;
Build a credential file in the Career Development Office;
Interview with on-campus recruiters;
Set-up informational interviews with target companies;
If relevant, apply to graduate school programs, and if necessary, re-take entrance exams; and,
Practice career goal-setting.

What can I do with an Exercise Science major?

Exercise Science can lead to careers in education, sports medicine, training and coaching. It often provides a background for further work in other disciplines including government, business, law, medicine, marketing and other fields.

Recent graduates have taken many paths, including graduate school programs in law, business, education administration and medicine.

In addition to the many schools where our graduates teach and coach, recent graduates of our program work for…

Accurate Controls, Inc.
Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital
Bank of Luxemburg
Bellin Sports Medicine
Boys and Girls Club
Carthage College
Coe College
Harris Bank
M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Meriter Hospital
Mile Bluff Medical Center
Northern Illinois University
Shorewood Community Fitness Center
Spirit Winds Physical Therapy
TotalMed Staffing
UW-Madison
UW-Sheboygan
Wisconsin Golf, Inc.
Xperience Fitness
YMCA

Job titles of recent graduates include…

Teacher
Coach
Licensed Athletic Trainer
Sports Director
Athletic Director
Fitness Specialist
Personal Trainer
Marketing Assistant

Our Graduates

Exercise Graduate - Jake Marshall While earning his degree in sports management, Jake Marshall, ’10, was Ripon’s record-setting quarterback. According to Jake, “The faculty in the Exercise Science Department prepared me for basically any career I wanted. My major requires two internships. My experience interning for a minor league baseball team, and the inspiration of coach Coles and coach Ernst, made me realize I wanted to become a coach. I am now a graduate assistant and wide receivers coach at Coe College. I am thankful every day for the experiences Ripon offered me. Go Red Hawks!”

Student Practicum

Exercise science students have completed practicums at various radio stations, at the University of Wisconsin campuses in Green Bay and Milwaukee, at the offices of the Midwest Conference, and for the Green Bay Blizzard, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Milwaukee Admirals, the Milwaukee Wave, the Rockford River Hawks, and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Academics | Exercise Science