Strength and Conditioning, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning Major is housed in the Health and Movement Sciences Degree Program. Strength and Conditioning is a multidisciplinary field of study involving the active human body in the areas of anatomy, physiology, metabolism, and kinetics. Please note that simultaneous completion of multiple majors in the Health and Movement Sciences Degree is permitted; sequential completion is not permitted.

Strength and Conditioning professionals work to understand the effects of exercise for:

-Fitness programming and outcomes across the general population’s lifespan; and
-Sports performance training principles for athletes of all levels.

Strength and Conditioning Professionals will serve in:

• Collegiate and Professional Sports Teams
• Athletic Performance Centers
• Fitness and Wellness Centers
• Fitness and Sales Industries

Students enrolled in Marshall University’s Strength and Conditioning program obtain hands-on experiences with health, fitness and sport assessments and testing within our state of the art Exercise Physiology Laboratories (MUEPL). Internship or Graduate Assistant opportunities involve working with Marshall Sports Teams and local Sports Performance Affiliated Centers and programs, or with general populations and athletes in the Human Performance Lab (MUEPL).

Marshall University Strength and Conditioning students are well-prepared for the premier certification Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) within the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Students choosing an Area of Emphasis may need to take additional hours beyond 15 each semester or take summer school to finish in 4 years. They will not be required to take the Restricted Electives listed in the Course Requirements and Semester Plan.

Admission Requirements

• Admission to Marshall University
• Strength and Conditioning selected as major.

Graduation Requirements

• A minimum overall GPA of 2.5. 
• A minimum grade of C in Major coursework. 

Course Requirements 

  - General Education Course

  - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
Critical Thinking		6
Core 2
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
Core II Math Requirement
Core II Phys./Natural Science		4
Core II Humanities		3
Core II Social Science		3
Core II Fine Arts		3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive		3
Writing Intensive		3
Multicultural/International		3
Capstone		3

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Course Requirements
BSC 227	Human Anatomy	3
BSC 227L	Human Anatomy Lab	1
BSC 228	Human Physiology	3
BSC 228L	Human Physiology Lab	1
CHM 100 or 200 level 3		3-5
DTS 210	Nutrition	3
ESS 215	Intro to Exercise Science	3
ESS 345	Exercise Physiology	3
ESS 375	Fitness Assess & Exerc Prescr	3
ESS 442	Princ of Strength & Cond	3
ESS 443	Prin of Strength Cond Lab	1
ESS 450	Drug and Sport	3
ESS 478	Energy Sources Body Comp	3
ESS 491	Internship Exercise Science (taken twice)	6
ESS 492	Strength & Condit Clin Fld Exp	3
HS 200	Comp Medical Terminology (CT)	3
HS 222	Hlth Prov First Aid/CPR/AED	3
HS 365	Functional Kinesiology	3
HS 365L	Functional Kinesiology Lab	1
HS 369	Motor Learning	3
HS 405	Sport Psychology	3
or PSY 405	Sport Psychology
HS 410	Organ Admin in Kines	3
HS 465	Biomechanical Analy of Mvmt	3
PHY 101, PHY 101L or 200 level with lab		4
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
PSY 223	Elem Behavioral Stat	3
PSY 440	Physiological Psychology	3
Restricted Electives (other electives approved by faculty advisor or department chair) 1
Select 21 hours of Restricted Electives from the footnote list below. 2		21
Total Hours for Major Requirements		98-100

¹

If a student opts to select an Area of Emphasis, Restricted Electives are not required.

²

Select 21 hours of Restricted Electives from the following list:  BSC 104, BSC 104L, BSC 105, BSC 105L, BSC 120, BSC 120L, BSC 121, BSC 121L, BSC 332, BSC 332L, BSC 334, BSC 334L, BSC 417, BSC 428, BSC 429, BSC 432, PSY 223, PSY 223L, PSY 250, PSY 300, PSY 302, PSY 311, PSY 312, PSY 323, PSY 360, PSY 391, PSY 405, PSY 406, PSY 411, PSY 415, PSY 416, PSY 417, PSY 418, PSY 420, PSY 426, PSY 427, PSY 430, PSY 440, PSY 443, PSY 475, HS 201, HS 212, HS 215, HS 220, HS 221, HS 230, HS 235, HS 255, HS 265, HS 280, HS 281, HS 282, HS 283, HS 321, HS 335, HS 336, HS 345, HS 346, HS 360, HS 361, HS 375, HS 423, HS 424, HS 430, HS 435, HS 440, HS 448, HS 449, HS 460, HS 464, HS 465, HS 475, HS 476, HS 478, HS 479, HS 480, HS 481, HS 482, HS 483, HS 485, HS 486, HS 487, HS 488, ESS 211, ESS 220, ESS 301, ESS 480, ESS 481, ESS 482, ESS 483, ESS 491, ESS 492, DTS 202, DTS 210, DTS 310, DTS 315, DTS 320, DTS 403, DTS 409, DTS 460, PHY 101, PHY 101L, PHY 102, PHY 102L, PHY 190, PHY 201, PHY 202, PHY 203, PHY 204, PHY 211, PHY 213, PHY 214, PHY 350, PHY 360, PHY 405, PHY 408, PHY 415, CHM 111, CHM 205, CHM 211, CHM 212, CHM 217, CHM 218, CHM 218H, CHM 305, CHM 327, CHM 345, CHM 355, CHM 356, CHM 357, CHM 358, CHM 361, CHM 365, CHM 366, ANT 362, ANT 363, SOC 200, SOC 330, SOC 362, SOC 425, SOC 430, MGT 100, MGT 218, MGT 320, MGT 325, MGT 335, MGT 348, MGT 350, MGT 354, MGT 355, MGT 419, MGT 420, MGT 425, MGT 428, MGT 429, MGT 430, MGT 445, MKT 231, MKT 340, MKT 341, MKT 371, MKT 375, MKT 400, MKT 425, MKT 430, MKT 435, MKT 437, MKT 440, MKT 465, STHM 218, STHM 250, STHM 270, STHM 290, STHM 320, STHM 360, STHM 380, STHM 381, STHM 390, STHM 401, STHM 405, STHM 410, STHM 416, STHM 425, STHM 430, STHM 440, STHM 450, STHM 452, STHM 458, PEL 100, PEL 113, PEL 114, PEL 115, PEL 116, PEL 117, PEL 118, PEL 119, PEL 120, PEL 121, PEL 125, PEL 127, PEL 132, PEL 133, PEL 136, PEL 140, PEL 141, PEL 142, PEL 145, PEL 147, PEL 155, PEL 156, PEL 159, PEL 170, PEL 171, PEL 173, PEL 175, PEL 180, PEL 185, PEL 205, PEL 220, PEL 232, PEL 233, PEL 234, PEL 235, PEL 240, PEL 242, PEL 243, PEL 245, PEL 251, PEL 252, PEL 258, PEL 259, PEL 270, PEL 271, PEL 275, PEL 280, PEL 281, PEL 282, PEL 283, PEL 290, PEL 403, PEL 404, PEL 405, HP 110, HP 210, HP 240, HP 320

³

If an Area of Emphasis is selected, see the Area of Emphasis requirements for Chemistry course requirements.

Semester Plan

  - General Education Course

  - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
First Semester		Credit Hours
HS 200	Comp Medical Terminology (CT)	3
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
ESS 215	Intro to Exercise Science	3
MTH 121	Concepts and Applications (CT) (or higher)	3
UNI 100	Freshman First Class	1
	Credit Hours	16
Second Semester
BSC 227	Human Anatomy	3
BSC 227L	Human Anatomy Lab	1
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
DTS 210	Nutrition	3
Humanities Elective		3
	Credit Hours	16
Second Year
First Semester
BSC 228	Human Physiology	3
BSC 228L	Human Physiology Lab	1
HS 365	Functional Kinesiology	3
HS 365L	Functional Kinesiology Lab	1
HS 222	Hlth Prov First Aid/CPR/AED	3
CHM 100 or 200 level		3-5
	Credit Hours	14-16
Second Semester
ESS 442	Princ of Strength & Cond	3
ESS 443	Prin of Strength Cond Lab	1
ESS 345	Exercise Physiology	3
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
PHY 101, PHY 101L or 200 level with lab		4
	Credit Hours	14
Third Year
First Semester
HS 465	Biomechanical Analy of Mvmt	3
PSY 223	Elem Behavioral Stat	3
ESS 478	Energy Sources Body Comp	3
Restricted Elective		3
Restricted Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
PSY 405	Sport Psychology	3
PSY 440	Physiological Psychology	3
Fine Arts Elective		3
Social Science Elective		3
ESS 375	Fitness Assess & Exerc Prescr	3
	Credit Hours	15
Fourth Year
First Semester
HS 369	Motor Learning	3
ESS 492	Strength & Condit Clin Fld Exp	3
HS 410	Organ Admin in Kines	3
Restricted Elective		3
Restricted Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
ESS 450	Drug and Sport	3
ESS 491	Internship Exercise Science	6
Restricted Elective		3
Restricted Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
	Total Credit Hours	120-122

Areas of Emphasis