Exercise Science

Are you passionate about helping people live healthier lives, recover from injuries, or reach peak athletic performance? The Exercise Science program at York College offers a dynamic and accredited path to a fulfilling career in health and human performance.

Mission

The Exercise Science Major in the Department of Health and Human Performance at York College is committed to providing a rigorous and informative environment that promotes education and practical applications of exercise science, thereby enhancing physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.

Click on the highlighted text to view the Exercise Science Major Handbook.

Why Choose York College

  • Accredited Excellence: One of the first programs in New York State accredited by CAAHEP through CoAES.
  • Hands-On Learning: Real-world experience in health, fitness, and performance settings.
  • Graduate Pathways: Direct entry into advanced programs like Athletic Training, Nursing, Physical & Occupational Therapy, and Physician Assistant studies.
  • More than 80% of our graduates go on to successful careers in the field.
  • More than 97% graduate satisfaction rate.

Accreditation

The Exercise Science major demonstrates academic excellence as the first in CUNY and the third in New York state to obtain accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES).

Dr. Gali Werber-Zion, a professor, infront of a classroom with students, pointing at a screen that resembles soundwaves, which are the result of electromyography

Students in Movement Science Lab

Career Opportunities

With a degree in Exercise Science, you can work as an:

  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Strength & Conditioning Coach
  • Personal Trainer
  • Sport or Recreation Coach
  • Wellness or Life Coach
  • Cardiopulmonary Rehab Specialist

A bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science can be a stepping-stone for pursuing an undergraduate or a graduate degree in an allied healthcare career such as Athletic Trainer, Chiropractic, Nursing, Physical or Occupational Therapist, or Physician Assistant.

Job Outlook

Careers in these fields are growing 9–20% faster than average, with median salaries ranging from $58,000 to $133,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Graduates of York College’s Exercise Science program who meet specific requirements will be automatically accepted into the three-year Doctor of Chiropractic program at Northeast College of Health Sciences – a unique and valuable pathway to advanced professional success.

View the Exercise Science description in the college bulletin.

Student Testimonials

“We had a good partnership with professors and students. I don't think there was ever a point where I would try to talk to my professors, and they wouldn't want to talk. They always wanted to talk, and we'd have a good conversation... [The program] definitely prepared me for my graduate school.”
– Stephon Baldeo, Exercise Science graduate

“The exercise science program is a smaller program, but it allows the professors to actually give you more one-on-one time. You're not just a student on the checklist, they actually give you the time. [...] York is a hidden gem because you don't really know how good it is until you get to experience it. I had the best college experience because of York, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else.”
– Rosselyn Charris, Exercise Science graduate

Program Director

Galila Werber-Zion, PhD, FACSM, ACSM-EP
Office HP-206
Phone: 718-262-5113
Email: gwerber@york.cuny.edu

Revised: October 24, 2026