Health Sciences Department

The Health Sciences Department is pleased to announce a new Exercise Science major beginning Fall 2022! The new Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise Science program integrates a foundation of developmental health and wellness concepts with rigorous training in exercise science and sports medicine.

The undergraduate Program in Health Sciences prepares students to enter a wide variety of careers in health care and related professions. Examples of careers and graduate programs our students pursue include physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, physician assistant studies, nursing, exercise physiology, nutrition sciences, clinical research, public health, health advocacy, bioethics, health psychology, and others.

Why Drexel?

Dedicated and highly-qualified faculty – Our diverse faculty hold doctoral degrees in several specialty areas including Anatomy, Physiology, Medicine, Pharmacology, Physical Therapy, Statistics, Clinical Research, Embryology, Exercise Science, and more. They have extensive experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate students in the health professions.

Curriculum choices – Our Health Science Program allows students to tailor their undergraduate degree to meet the needs of a variety of health care related graduate programs and careers. Furthermore, the integrated co-op experience provides our students the opportunity to work with health care professionals in the workplace. Qualified students may participate in accelerated dual-degree programs with Physician Assistant Studies and the Physical Therapy programs.

Employment opportunities – Health care professions are the fastest growing job sector for the upcoming decade. There is tremendous demand for trained health care providers at all levels. In the Health Science Program, the multidisciplinary faculty, flexible curriculum, and co-op experience provide students with a competitive edge in the market place and in the pursuit of graduate studies.

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News & Events

02/16/23

Student Alexis Robinson sitting with head propped in hand by a tree

Alexis Robinson understands the value of exploring your academic options. A current student in the BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option, Robinson is on track to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy in six years. While Robinson shares knew that physical therapy was the right path for her, she advocates for taking time to consider your career path. “Try a little bit of everything to find what fits your professional goals,” Robinson advises.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson began her journey at Drexel in an all-online program, when the university pivoted to remote learning. Now that she is back on campus, Robinson looks forward to exploring the community on campus and meeting with PT program alumni. Most important to Robinson is inclusion in her university and program. She is an advocate for encouraging diverse students to apply to Drexel, and she currently serves as an active member of the Board of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CNHP, where she continues her work in this mission.

As for her future career, Robinson says she wants to “be a part of the change.” She is considering pediatric physical therapy in Philadelphia as well as travel physical therapy, which would allow her to work internationally. Robinson is a passionate dancer, and she hopes to incorporate dance and movement into her future physical therapy practice. This desire is informed by her personal experience as the niece of a dance teacher, which inspired Robinson to consider the therapeutic possibilities at the intersection of medicine and dance. In addition to her academic pursuits, Robinson is a fan of science fiction and romance novels.

01/20/23

Veronica Carey, PhD, assistant dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (seated on the left) and Marybeth Gasman, PhD, author of Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring (seated on the right) having a discussion about Gasman's book. On Thursday, January 12th assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion Veronica Carey, PhD, hosted Marybeth Gasman, PhD, author of Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring. The 90-minute event welcomed more than 70 faculty, professional staff and students from across Drexel University. This frank discussion, held in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' new Health Sciences Building, focused on what CNHP can do to support the hiring and retention of faculty of color. Gasman, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair and a distinguished professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, noted, " the reason why hiring faculty of color is an issue at most academies is because excuses have been made for the hiring of white faculty who may not have been as qualified as candidates of color."

In an interview format, Carey's first question, "why this book now?" Gasman responded, "I was angry enough to know academies should not continue like this." A historian by education, Gasman continued by sharing that she wanted to research how long this practice has been happening. Gasman stated that if an academy wants to do something it gets done. "My initial response to why this book now is also because academies do not want to hire faculty of color and I am tired of them stating we just can't find diverse faculty." She passionately answered Carey's follow-up questions — "why don't academies do more when they know the problem exists?", "what can leaders do to ensure equity in hiring?" and "how did you conduct research for this book?" Then, in and open Q&A, attendees asked Gasman to address concerns stemming from quality vs. pedigree and the excuses given for not doing the right thing.

Attendee Denise Way, DNP, an assistant clinical professor in Undergraduate Nursing, stated, "This was so wonderful to have an opportunity to be in a room where this topic was addressed. So proud to hear peers' comments and suggestions to correct this issue." Board of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion student members Alexis Robinson, Charlise Williams, and Seleena Jacob celebrated being at an event targeted to support diverse educational opportunities while they matriculate at CNHP.

Written by Veronica Carey, PhD, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and associate clinical professor

11/03/22

Exercise science student Zach Jordan, wearing a baseball cap and sitting in a car. "As soon as I heard that exercise science was becoming a major at Drexel, I knew I wanted to join," shares Zach Jordan, BS exercise science '26. During his high school years, Jordan was an avid basketball player, but a series of ankle injuries led him to seek physical therapy treatment. During this difficult recovery experience, Jordan became interested in studying exercise science so he could help other players treat and prevent injury. “Everything we are learning in this bachelors’ program feels applicable to my exercise regimens, athletics and real life,” says Jordan.

For students like Jordan, CNHP's new exercise science program in the Health Sciences Department sets itself apart with a curriculum that is innovative and adapted to current trends in exercise science and sports medicine. The program includes inclusive physical activity courses to prepare students for working with people who live with cognitive or physical impairments, an aging in exercise course that focuses on special issues with this growing and key demographic and a technology and advances in exercise science course that covers many of the new and innovative ways we interface technology and physical activity. Our program also features an Exercise is Medicine course that highlights how to integrate principles of exercise in basic health and wellness care following the American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise is Medicine initiative on campus.

Jordan says he is excited to be one of the first members of this degree program and he looks forward to carving a new path for himself and others at CNHP. The practical co-op opportunities, specialized research and simulation labs and the senior research capstone course allow students like Jordan to gain real-world immersive experiences. The exercise science program is housed in the new Health Sciences Building, which features interdisciplinary labs and state-of-the-art equipment used for teaching and research. “The new building is really cool,” Jordan attests. “I am excited to use the same equipment and procedures that industry professionals use and gain that knowledge and experience while still in school.”

Throughout their program, exercise science students will receive a well-rounded experience in the many applications of physical activity and exercise lifestyle programs for the betterment of health and wellness. In collaboration with our academic advisors and exercise science faculty, who are active researchers in their field, students can tailor their exercise science degree to meet the needs of a variety of graduate programs or professional careers, as well as become certified with professional organizations and licensing agencies.

“After I graduate, I plan to pursue a career in athletic training,” Jordan shares. “I want to work for a big team, like the Phillies or Eagles. I am really happy with this exercise acience program so far because I know I am being prepared to be a leader in my field.”

Written by Izzy López

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