
What does a career in Exercise Science look like?
For students interested in health, fitness, and the human body, Exercise Science is one of the most versatile degrees focused on studying the intersection between science and fitness. The degree prepares graduates for careers in athletic or personal training, occupational or physical therapy, athletic coaching, strength and conditioning coaching, and more.
Exercise Science major Lauren Davidson ’21 experienced the many diverse branches of the program firsthand when she earned her degree with the ultimate goal of being a physical therapist. After completing her degree at Lees-McRae she was accepted to the physical therapy program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
“During my time at Lees-McRae, I found that the Exercise Science program was designed to offer students a strong foundation while allowing them to explore various career tracks, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, certified nutritionist, and more,” Davidson said. “Depending on individual interests and career goals, the advisors played a crucial role in guiding students down the appropriate path and tailoring course schedules to align with their desired career track to ensure their success both during their undergraduate years and in their chosen field after graduation.”
In the summer of 2024 Davidson passed her physical therapist board exams and secured a position as an in-patient rehabilitation physical therapist at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
“In my role, physical therapy is essential in helping individuals with neurological and orthopedic conditions—such as strokes, amputations, orthopedic surgeries, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries—regain functional mobility, strength, and maximize independence. I conduct thorough initial evaluations to assess patients’ home environments, family support systems, and prior levels of function, using this information to create personalized treatment plans with measurable goals,” Davidson said. “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have such a fulfilling job, and while I don’t mean to brag, it’s truly a privilege to be part of my patients’ recovery journeys. My patients inspire me every day, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of their recovery and transition back to independence after such life-altering events.”
Being able to make a positive impact on the lives of those you are working with is also an important motivator for Joshua Hall ’20, an Exercise Science major who switched to the program during his junior year after beginning his journey at Lees-McRae as a Nursing major.
As a student Hall ran cross-country and track, and that experience, along with his interest in understanding health and the human body, influenced him to make the switch. Since graduating, he has earned his master’s degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University and now works as the Director of Track and Field for Brevard College.
Another 2020 graduate from the Exercise Science program, Matthew Dunn, followed a similar path. He began the program with a goal of starting a career in athletic training, but instead discovered a passion for coaching in his sport of soccer. He earned his master’s degree in Exercise Science from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and now works as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.
“I like the idea of teaching the game and almost giving back to the sport that I’ve been playing for so long. To be able to give back to a game that was able to provide me with where I am today was important to me,” Dunn said. “I run all the warm-ups for the team, and I use what I have learned from both my time at Lees-McRae and Fort Hays to create more evidence-based warm-ups that are specific to getting the athletes ready for both practice and game days.”
Dunn said his role also involves analyzing team and individual player performance, assessing load management during games and practices, as well as recruiting, fundraising, food and nutrition, and alumni relations. Hall’s role at Brevard includes many of the same responsibilities, and he said his experience as an athlete and student at Lees-McRae has given him a wealth of knowledge to inform his professional career.
“My time at Lees-McRae helped me understand what the body needs, what the effects are from exercise, and it also helped me with the nutrition part, recovery, what to eat and how to eat, as well as the strength and conditioning part. It gave me a general idea how to create a workout plan and how to create a weightlifting plan,” Hall said. “We did a lot of hands-on stuff, and that’s what really drove me into the profession. I’m a hands-on person, so I have to really be able to do it before I can actually learn it and Lees-McRae did a really, really good job. Pretty much every day we did something hands-on.”
While Davidson, Hall, and Dunn are all working in their dream field, that does not mean their educational and professional goals are complete.
Davidson’s next goal is to strengthen her expertise in neurological conditions such as brain injury and Parkinson’s disease through a neurological clinical specialist program which she began this January. Dunn has dreams to expand his expertise by becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Each of these career paths is possible in large part due to the versatile and well-rounded academic foundation these alumni earned throughout their time in the Exercise Science program at Lees-McRae. From this strong foundation alumni can apply their skills and expertise to a wide range of career opportunities.
“Exercise science opens a lot of doors. You have a lot of opportunities out there, and I would explore all of them. Athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, coaching, strength and conditioning; it opens a lot of doors, and it’s a very good major to get into if you’re wanting to take the medical route or even the coaching and business route,” Hall said. “I didn’t even know I was going to go into coaching after Lees-McRae. It was one of those things where if you’re struggling with what to do at Lees-McRae, Exercise Science is a very good tool to open a lot of doors for you.”
Learn more about Exercise Science at Lees-McRae