Over the past 3 years, approximately 220-250 students have declared Exercise Science as a first-year student each year, while the program admits a maximum of 120 students per year. Admission is competitive and based solely upon performance in the pre-requisite coursework. All students must be admitted to the major through the following process in order to proceed to upper-level coursework.
Application Procedures and Dates
Exercise Science students are admitted through two applications cycles each year. Successful admission to the Exercise Science program grants students permission to enroll in upper-level (300- and 400-level) coursework Exercise Science coursework.
Pre-requisite coursework
Students must have completed (or be completing when the application is completed) the following courses at the time of their application:
- KIN 100
- KIN 202
- 2 out of 3 of the following courses:
- CHEM 131+131L
- BIO 270+270L
- BIO 290+290L
- Students must complete the remaining CHEM or BIO requirement prior to beginning their upper-level coursework with a C- or better. Students will not be allowed to begin upper-level coursework without completing this requirement.
- Students will be allowed to have ONE repeat option considered as part of their application. They will need to indicate this on their application.
- Students must have completed the second attempt at the time of their application.
Application Deadlines
Applications are posted on this webpage at least 6 weeks prior to the application deadline.
- Fall EXS coursework start
- Applications are due by December 15th
- Admission decisions are communicated by February 1st
- Spring EXS coursework start
- Applications are due by July 31st
- Admission decisions are communicated by September 1st
View sample timelines for application here
Application to begin coursework in Spring 2026 (Due July 31st, 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
Exercise Science is a restricted concentration, which means that only students who have applied to and been accepted to the concentration can take upper level coursework.
Yes! On the application, you will have the chance to identify one course that you have already retaken for which you'd like the second grade to be considered. Students may only have one second grade considered.
If you've already completed all three science courses, your highest two will be considered as part of your application. However, all three will have to be a C- or better before you can take upper-level Exercise Science courses.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Students will need to submit a new application during the following cycle, which will result in delaying their ability to start upper-level coursework by one semester.
Students must have the official transcript (after grades are final) sent to JMU and the Registrar must have made this a part of your final record. Please note that during the summer, the Registrar processes thousands of transfer requests and this can take up to two weeks. If your credits are not part of your JMU official record, they cannot be considered as part of this application and you will have to wait until the following cycle.
Coursework transferred into JMU is considered the same as coursework completed at JMU. If you are completing a course elsewhere - you are responsible for getting it transferred to JMU by the application deadline.
We use a weighted GPA of the pre-requisite coursework to determine who is admitted to the concentration. No other factors are considered.
Dr. Edwards will review all applications and calculate weighted GPAs. Final decisions will be communicated to all applicants no later than September 1st (July 31st application) or February 1st (December 15th application). These will be the final decisions for that application cycle.
If you are admitted to the program, but do not complete your third science with a C- or better by this fall, then you will not be able to enroll in upper-level Exercise Science courses during the originally approved semester. You will not have to reapply to the program again, but you will be delayed until a C- or better has been attained in this course.
Students are allowed to apply for a second time. If you would like to complete a course to utilize as a repeat option for your next application - it will need to be completed by the time you submit your next application. Therefore, if you think this might apply to you, you may want to consider retaking that course during the following semester.
Students who are not admitted should consider alternate pathways to graduation and their career goals. Some options to consider:
- Kinesiology degree with a Physical and Health Education Teacher concentration to prepare for teaching in K-12
- Major in Health Sciences - almost all foundational sciences already taken will count toward this major. Deadlines to declare this major are September 15th and February 15th.
- Major in Sport and Recreation Management - work in sport and recreation from the business side. Deadlines to declare this major are September 15th and February 15th.
