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Professional Advancement for Clinicians
Post-baccalaureate Education
This graduate certificate bridges the knowledge gap between the medical field and the exercise field to promote the benefits of exercise for disease prevention and therapeutic intervention for their patients with chronic diseases. Click here to learn about the admissions process.
This graduate certificate provides graduate professional experience through course work and experiential learning opportunities. Students develop well-rounded knowledge of the role of physical activity and exercise on health and disease prevention/intervention. Coursework covers knowledge of exercise physiology and exercise testing, assessment and prescription, all of which are major domains of job tasks for a Clinical Exercise Physiologist required by the American College of Sports Medicine. Click here.
The Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science includes course work and experiential learning opportunities for students to develop well-rounded knowledge of the role of physical activity and exercise on health and disease prevention/intervention. It covers knowledge of exercise physiology and exercise testing, assessment and prescription, all of which are major domains of job tasks for a Clinical Exercise Physiologist required by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Upon successful completion of the curriculum, students will be granted an Exercise Science for Clinicians Certificate.
The 2 required courses provide foundation for understanding principles of exercise physiology and the cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems (6 credits total).
The 2 required courses provide the foundation for understanding acute and chronic responses to endurance and strength exercise in major body systems (6 credits total).
Students complete 2 internships of a minimum of 300 hours of supervised experience in a research or practice setting.
Complete 3 semester hours of electives with approval of program director.
Curriculum subject to change. For a sample curriculum, please click here.
The Exercise Science Graduate Certificate program accepts applications for Fall entry only.
Applicants accepted: | Domestic only |
Delivery: | Primarily on campus |
Student status: | Full-time |
Term Start: | Fall only |
Application Deadlines: | 8/1* |
If you are a student that is also applying to the Northeastern PA program, you must submit your application for both the PA program and the graduate certificate by 7/1. For more information click here.
Click each required application item for more information.
Note: GRE is not required for the certificate program
Students are encouraged to explore other departmental offerings and opportunities to interface with faculty.
Students are encouraged to explore other departmental offerings and opportunities to interface with faculty.
“I was lucky enough to work under Dr. Dinesh John during my time at Northeastern, which offered me the opportunity to both learn and grow my research capabilities in ways I never could have imagined. Constantly in the lab, I surrounded myself with all that the program had to offer. Ideas were readily encouraged!
In my current role, I am responsible for coordinating multiple research studies from the ground up that involve looking at effective ways for people with type 2 diabetes to overcome barriers to exercise. Coordination includes recruitment, conducting research visits utilizing the metabolic cart and a number of other measurement tools, compiling and analyzing data collected, and regulatory compliance involving the Institutional Review Board.
I see myself focusing on behavioral health in the future, integrating exercise science as a way to implement behavior changes for the better. I aim to eventually become a tenured professor conducting research at the university level.”
– Ian M. Leavitt, class of 2014, Professional Research Assistant, University of Colorado Anschultz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
“Northeastern is extensively networked, and the institution places high value on experiential learning. While Northeastern University provides the networks and resources of a large institution, the Exercise Science program is small and intimate.
Two experiences made my graduate school experience. I worked as a part of an interdisciplinary health informatics research team that partnered with a start-up tech company to study on-body physical activity sensors. I interned at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where the physiology I learned in the classroom took on another dimension through clinical significance and patient interaction.
Clinical Exercise Physiologists contribute to the next wave of professionals in the field by training undergraduate and graduate interns. The patient population is diverse in age, race, language, and culture. I enjoy exposure to and learning from these differences, and being part of patients’ lives during a critical time.”
– Tricia Povilonis, class of 2014, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
“I was lucky enough to work under Dr. Dinesh John during my time at Northeastern, which offered me the opportunity to both learn and grow my research capabilities in ways I never could have imagined. Constantly in the lab, I surrounded myself with all that the program had to offer. Ideas were readily encouraged!
In my current role, I am responsible for coordinating multiple research studies from the ground up that involve looking at effective ways for people with type 2 diabetes to overcome barriers to exercise. Coordination includes recruitment, conducting research visits utilizing the metabolic cart and a number of other measurement tools, compiling and analyzing data collected, and regulatory compliance involving the Institutional Review Board.
I see myself focusing on behavioral health in the future, integrating exercise science as a way to implement behavior changes for the better. I aim to eventually become a tenured professor conducting research at the university level.”
– Ian M. Leavitt, class of 2014, Professional Research Assistant, University of Colorado Anschultz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
“Northeastern is extensively networked, and the institution places high value on experiential learning. While Northeastern University provides the networks and resources of a large institution, the Exercise Science program is small and intimate.
Two experiences made my graduate school experience. I worked as a part of an interdisciplinary health informatics research team that partnered with a start-up tech company to study on-body physical activity sensors. I interned at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where the physiology I learned in the classroom took on another dimension through clinical significance and patient interaction.
Clinical Exercise Physiologists contribute to the next wave of professionals in the field by training undergraduate and graduate interns. The patient population is diverse in age, race, language, and culture. I enjoy exposure to and learning from these differences, and being part of patients’ lives during a critical time.”
– Tricia Povilonis, class of 2014, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
The program consists of 21 credits. For up-to-date information regarding Northeastern University tuition per credit, please refer to the University’s tuition page.
Institutional scholarships may be available to qualified students. The Office of Student Financial Services provides the most up-to-date information and recommends that every student consider applying for financial aid, regardless of his/her income and assets. You may also call 617.373.5899 or email sfs@neu.edu.
Yes, as long as the courses are offered by an accredited institution.
Yes, our students graduate from our program are well prepared and may be eligible for this certifications from organizations such as ACSM, NPAS, NSCA and we encourage them to apply for certifications.
We welcome any questions you might have about our program. Please feel free to send general program inquiries and admissions-related questions to Dr. Rui Li.
Specializations: Exercise Physiology, Skeletal Muscle Function and nutritional intervention
Research: Exercise and nutritional interventions on metabolic diseases prevention; Training and nutritional strategies for health fitness and sport performance
Membership: ACSM, AAAS
Courses:
Key Experiential Learning Opportunities for Students (undergraduate and graduate):
Rui Li, PhD
Program Director
617.373.2526
r.li@neu.edu