Program(s) Available: B.A.S., B.S.
To live life to the fullest, we must prioritize our overall health and wellness. If this topic interests you, the applied health science major could be for you!
The applied health science major is perfect if you want to work in health, wellness, kinesiology, and disease prevention. Students learn how to create and deliver comprehensive health and wellness programs that enhance the physical, cognitive and psychosocial well-being of clients. Faculty are true experts in the field and want to make sure you're comfortable with all topics before starting your career.
Students have the option to specialize in exercise science, health coaching, or sports medicine. Tracks of emphasis allow students to learn about working with the aging population, learn about exercise and its role in obtaining overall health, understand the psychological side of improving health, and allow students to complete prerequisites for a future in sports medicine.
Regardless of your chosen track, our goal is to help you land your dream job after graduation. How? It's simple. We give students hands-on experience on day one. Courses expose students to elements of the industry as early as the first year. You'll learn about human anatomy, human physiology, exercise science, health and more! Students also have the opportunity to volunteer for community initiatives like the Camp Cope youth bereavement program, the Outdoor Odyssey program for veterans, the Kip Kittens youth gymnastics program and more.
If you're interested in learning how the human body reacts to physical activity, this may be the track for you. Students pursuing exercise science participate in hands-on learning activities designed to mimic real-world experiences. Students also have many opportunities to volunteer!
The Exercise Science: Strength and Conditioning emphasis prepares students to help individuals and athletes improve performance, prevent injuries and reach their full physical potential. Through coursework in anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition and performance training, students learn how the human body responds to exercise and how to design evidence-based training programs.
Students gain hands-on experience assessing movement, developing strength and conditioning plans and applying coaching techniques that enhance athletic performance and overall wellness. Graduates are prepared for careers in collegiate and professional sports, private fitness facilities, corporate wellness programs and performance training centers, as well as advanced study and professional certifications in the field of strength and conditioning.
Four-year plan coming soon.
A multidisciplinary field, sports and exercise medicine is concerned with treating and preventing injury resulting from athletic activity. Nutritionists, personal trainers, physical therapists, psychologists, and physicians can all work within sports medicine.
These professionals help patients recover from acute traumas like sprains, dislocations, fractures, and injuries resulting from chronic overuse, such as tendonitis and overtraining syndrome.
The widespread popularity of professional sports and the healthcare industry's continued emphasis on preventative medicine make now a great time to pursue a sports medicine career.
The Exercise Science: Mental Skills Training emphasis prepares students to help athletes and performers develop the psychological skills needed to succeed in high-pressure environments. Students explore topics such as motivation, confidence, focus, resilience, stress management and performance enhancement while learning how mental and emotional well-being influence success both on and off the field.
Through coursework grounded in sport and exercise psychology, students learn evidence-based strategies to help individuals improve performance, overcome obstacles and build lifelong habits that support wellness and achievement. Graduates are prepared for careers in coaching, athlete development, performance support and wellness settings, as well as graduate study in sport psychology, counseling and related fields.
Mental Skills Coaching 4-year Plan coming soon.
For transfer students the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) is a flexible, individually tailored degree for students pursuing a vocational, technical or associate degree. Coursework for these degrees build on workplace skills and practical career training provided by an associate degree. Students may find a B.A.S. appealing for the following reasons:
Please note this program is not a traditional four-year program. It is structured for transfer students. Check out more on the benefits of our B.A.S. programs.
Wed, Oct. 7, 2026
(applied health science)
Wed, Oct. 7, 2026
(recreation, parks, sport & tourism)
Wed, Oct. 7, 2026
(health/PE & foods/nutrition)
School of Health Science & Wellness
660.562.1297
abeattie@nwmissouri.edu
“"What I loved most about the Applied Health Science / Sports Medicine Program was how hands-on learning experience was. The professors truly cared about helping students succeed and preparing us for real careers in healthcare and wellness. Northwest felt like a community."”
Harley Spurlock
Applied Health Science | Sidney, Iowa (2025)
The Mozingo Outdoor Recreation Area (MOERA) offers more than 320 acres of land dedicated to providing experiential learning opportunities for Northwest students.
The Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center is available for students to gain experience managing facilities, developing programs and personal training.
Students gain between 480 and 560 hours of profession-based experience during supervised internships lasting 12 to 16 weeks. Internships are available at cardiac rehabilitation facilities, private and not-for-profit wellness and fitness centers, municipal health agencies, senior centers, long-term care facilities and athletic training centers.
A renovation underway at Martindale Hall, the home of Northwest's School of Health Science and Wellness, will add seven lab spaces, including a sports science lab and a recreation and abilities lab.
