If you are interested in the science of human movement and in helping people live healthier lives through exercise, Berry College's exercise science major may be just the program for you. It is a major for which the college is particularly well suited. With the nation's largest campus, Berry offers exceptional opportunities for outdoor recreation and fitness activity. Now the Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center provides state-of-the-art indoor facilities.

The exercise science program

The exercise science program is a rigorous program that blends science with health and physical education. In addition to general education couses, students take lab courses in biology, physics and chemistry and such required courses as Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology. Students also get to choose several electives in preparation for post-graduate interests.

During the senior year, students participate in a capstone internship course that involves hundreds of hours of hands-on experience. Students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with experts in such fields as exercise, physical rehabilitation, performance and physical therapy. Exercise science students may also have opportunties to work with older adults at local senior centers.

The faculty

As an exercise science major, the student benefits from the expertise of faculty members in a number of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, and physical education.

Outdoor facilities

No where else in the world can students enjoy a 26,400-acre campus. That averages out to about 14 acres per Berry student!

We have miles of hiking, biking and riding trails as well as forests, streams, ponds and our own Lavender Mountain. Opportunities for adventure abound, particularly through our BOLD (Berry Outdoor Leadership Development) program. BOLD courses include rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking and challenge courses as well as adventure sports and experiential leadership development programming.

Science facilities

Students take science classes in one of the most modern science-education facilities in the country- a structure designed to facilitate hands-on learning and close interaction between student and professor. In fact, many of our students work directly with their teacher-mentors on original research projects.

Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center

For exercise science majors, the crowning jewel of Berry facilities is the Cage Center. This 131,000 square-foot, three-level structure includes an exercise science lab that contains state-of-the-art equipment for measurement of health fitness and physical function. Additionally, the Cage Center includes exceptional intercollegiate performance arena that also converts into three recreational courts; a natatorium with an eight-lane, 25-yard pool and spectator seating; a complete fitness center featuring cardio-vascular equipment and free weights; an athletic training center; a multi-activity court for recreational basketball, volleyball, badminton, indoor soccer and inline hockey; two racquetball courts; an indoor 1/8-mile fitness track; two multi-purpose rooms for physical activity classes and extracurricular programs including aerobics, Pilates, spinning, and yoga; two exercise science classrooms, a wet classroom, and a number of student gathering areas.

Beyond the classroom - earn while you learn

Berry is committed to providing practical, hands-on learning experiences for our students, and exercise science majors are no exception. Students find an array of student-work opportunties across campus, including many in the sciences. The Cage Center has dramatically increased the number of student-work positions related to health, fitness and sport that are available and provide exceptional opportunities for those interested in exercise science and fitness facilities managment.

Sports activities

Berry fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, golf, running, soccer and tennis. In addition, there is a men's baseball team and women's volleyball and equestrian teams. Women's varsity softball and men's and women's varsity swimming are new for 2009-10.

The intramural sports program is extremely active at Berry. Activities include badminton, basketball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, mixed-doubles tennis, soccer, softball, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball.