Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline
ISSN 1099-5862
February 2013 Vol 16 No 2
American Society of Exercise Physiologists
The Professional Organization of Exercise Physiologists
The Quagmire of Exercise Science
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, MBA
Professor of Exercise Physiology
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
Quagmire – a situation from which extrication is very difficult.
-- http://www.thefreedictionary.com
W
ith the founding of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists in 1997, my first
dream about exercise physiology came true. Finally, exercise physiologists have the
opportunity to become a member of their own professional organization. However difficult
this thinking may be, it was then and still is today a blessing.
The ASEP organization was just the beginning of capturing the
vision of something better for everyone interested in exercise
physiology. Yet, strange as it may be, I spent the first 20 years
of my 40 years as a college teacher without realizing that the
The main attraction of
getting a college degree is
the belief that the time and
expense will be paid back
with increased career
opportunities.
American College of Sports Medicine is not an exercise
physiology organization.
However, when I look back, I didn’t realize the huge difference between exercise science
and exercise physiology. Rather than taking the time to analyze the effects of the differences
on the students’ opportunities to find credible jobs in the public sector, I spent most of my
time thinking about my next research paper and getting ready for the next annual regional
and/or national sports medicine meeting. Everything I did was consistent with what I had
learned while a member of sports medicine. I, too, thought exercise physiology was all about
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the acute and chronic adaptations to exercise. Not once did it occur to me that the definition
then, which is still popular today, is wrong and terribly misleading. It has nothing to do with
exercise physiology as a healthcare profession. Rather, it is about research that is rewarding
for the doctorate prepared exercise physiologists who must compete for promotion and tenure.
The college teachers’ research has little value for the undergraduate students who are hopeful
of landing a financially great job when they graduate.
Students simply do not understand that they are being misled by college advisors, faculty
members, and department chairs across the United States. On one hand, the students are told
that they can call themselves an exercise physiologist with an exercise science degree. On the
other hand, they are told that they must get a master’s degree. While the first statement is
foolish, the second statement argues that the undergraduate degree is meaningless. Under no
circumstances at today’s tuition cost should the undergraduate
The professionalization of
exercise physiology is a
complicated process
because the historical
influence of physical
education, sports science,
and exercise science are
highly competitive and
attractive for students with
an interest in athletics.
degree fail to help college graduates get a job. But that is the
case all too often. There are ~40 similar undergraduate degree
programs are offshoots of the physical education degree of the
60s and 70s.
Rather than tell the students that the academic degree in
exercise science is not a degree that helps them land a job with
healthcare benefits, the faculty from the departments describe
the degree on their web pages as helpful in applying to
physical therapy or some established healthcare profession.
The faculty and academic degree and, therefore, the department exist to feed students to other
programs. It is an extremely well defined disaster plan for the students who are paying large
tuition fees. For example, the tuition and related costs to attend the College of St. Scholastica
for one year is ~40,000. That means students will be ~$160,000 in debt when they graduate.
If this amount does not blow your mind, take a moment to think about paying it back on a
salary that a fitness instructor or personal trainer makes.
Strangely enough, no one in academia is talking about this financial disaster. Students
are glad to be in school. They are convinced that no one has misled them. So, they are not
thinking about the reality and value (if any) of certain degree programs. They are aware of
the subtle signs that a financial crisis is in the making. To make matters worse, the faculty
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members come across as having their heads buried in the sand. They are looking out for their
own jobs. As one professor said to me, “Why should I do anything different? We have all the
students we need to keep the department going? I’m teaching what I want to teach and doing
the research that I want to do.”
The critical lesson here is simple and bears repeating. Those who are responsible for the
college degrees at the undergraduate level are accountable for their failure to properly advise
students about credible career opportunities. It does not matter what the faculty members
think about research, promotion, and tenure. What matters is
the care that their students receive. In fact, getting the students
involved in research is meaningless if there are no jobs in
which they can use the research skills. Convincing students
that they need to attend regional and/or national meetings to
The issue glossed over in
the academic departments
of exercise science is the
fact that there are no
credible exercise science
jobs in the public sector.
hear researchers present their work helps the faculty members
and not the students.
Unfortunately, most college teachers are clueless when it comes to their responsibility to
evaluate the credibility of an academic degree. Simply stated: is the academic degree helpful
in finding good jobs? If it isn’t, then, it is useless, meaningless, and a fraud. Why is this
thinking so hard to understand? Why the academic exercise physiologists are not actively
doing what they can to upgrade the exercise science major to an accredited exercise
physiology major is equally difficult to understand? There is no excuse for the exercise
physiologists’ failure to promote professionalism in exercise physiology. Similarly, there is
no excuse for exercise physiologists to promote physical therapy? When was the last time
you heard physical therapy professors encourage their students to apply to medical school? It
is pastime to start thinking right about exercise physiology as well as the strengths and
weaknesses of different academic degrees.
The decision to pursue a particular college degree should be based on an informed
understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. Students must be provided all the facts,
including the alternatives and possible consequences. Certainly the decision not to disclose
the fact that there are few credible jobs for exercise science majors is contrary to the standards
of full disclosure and truthfulness. This begs the question, “What is the most prevalent reason
for not sharing the truth with students?” The answer is simply to preserve the department
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unit. After all, without students departments are left unsupported and even closed. The same
line of reasoning supports the 21st century contention that the majority of the academic
institutions are clearly a business. The bottom line of most administrative decisions is driven
by money and yet, students and their parents are not given full disclosure.
College administrators and faculty have a duty to fully care for the students. This caring
arises out of an implied contract based on trust and obligation
to teach special knowledge and skill required in locating a
credible job. It is linked to respecting the rights of students
and their parents. In other words, just as lying to patients
would be extremely detrimental to trust in the medical
profession, society expects the administrators, faculty, and
staff of academic institutions to be trustworthy.
The
Picture an exercise
physiologist as a
healthcare professional,
not as a fitness instructor.
Think embracing exercise
medicine and not using
sports supplements for
bigger muscles.
overwhelming consensus is that a college degree is promoted
on the principle it provides for a better life based on a better
salary and chances of success. If you are a parent or someone who considering the exercise
science major, why not ask questions about the quality of the major?
After all, teachers are responsible for keeping the students fully informed. Disclosure of
the fact that the exercise science degree is not a healthcare profession should help prevent
students from worrying needlessly about being hired as a healthcare professional. Telling
students the truth may help resolve their uncertainty about the
The important factor that
leads to professionalism in
exercise physiology is
honest interactions with
students and society at
large.
fact they cannot locate a job in healthcare, possibly allowing
them to figure out what they need to do. This is important
because disclosure may ultimately strengthen a teacher-student
relationship because of the ancillary psychological effects such
behavior has on the students’ mental-emotional state. In short,
as with most relationships, it is important for those involved,
especially the students, to feel their teachers care for their well-being.
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References
1. Boone, T. (2012). Exercise Physiology as a Healthcare Profession. Lewiston, NY: The
Edwin Mellen Press.
2. Boone, T. (2009). The Professionalization of Exercise Physiology: Certification,
Accreditation, and Standards of Practice of the American Society of Exercise
Physiologists (ASEP). Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.
3. Boone, T. (2007). Ethical Standards and Professional Credentials in the Practice of
Exercise Physiology. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.
4. Boone, T. (2006). Career Opportunities in Exercise Physiology. Lewiston, NY: The
Edwin Mellen Press.
5. Boone, T. (2005). Exercise Physiology: Professional Issues, Organizational Concerns,
and Ethical Trends. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.
6. Boone, T. (2001). Professional Development of Exercise Physiology. Lewiston, NY: The
Edwin Mellen Press.
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