The Applied Exercise Science minor – available only to DNS majors (NS, HBHS, and GPHS) – is a partnership between DNS and Ithaca College’s Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Human Performance that is helpful to students seeking positions in nutrition and physical fitness or pursuing careers in sports medicine and related fields.

Students who complete all specified courses receive a certification letter from Ithaca College (IC), which is a useful credential for job and school applications. Program completion is good preparation for the examination for Fitness Instructor Certification by the American College of Sports Medicine (a certification that also requires American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification or the equivalent).

Although the Applied Exercise Science minor is only available to DNS majors, any Cornell student may complete up to 4 credits of Ithaca College coursework in a semester through the CU-IC Exchange Program in the Cornell University School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions.

For advising questions about the Applied Exercise Science minor or NS course enrollment questions, please contact dnsstudentservices@cornell.edu.

The Applied Exercise Science minor requires 6 prerequisite course credits at Cornell followed by 12 course credits at Ithaca College. Students can choose to complete all the requirements for the minor or take some courses as long as they have met the course prerequisites. Applied Exercise Science students must take both prerequisites (NS 3410 Human Anatomy and Physiology and NS 3420 Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory) before enrolling in three required Ithaca College courses:

  1. Kinesiology: Examines the anatomical structures and mechanical aspects of human movement. Emphasis is placed on the functional anatomy of the musculoskeletal and articular systems.
  2. Exercise Physiology: Examines physiological changes during exercise, after exercise, and during a training period. Also considers efficiency, needs, and limitations of body systems, and their interrelationships.
  3. Biomechanical Principles of Human Movement: The study of biological and mechanical factors that affect humans as they move in exercise and sport. Kinematic and kinetic descriptions of selected motor skills receive careful consideration. Note: Prerequisite is Physics (was formerly Kinesiology).

Further information about the program and courses may be found at the Ithaca College Course Catalog; search for Exercise and Sport Sciences. In addition, a physics sequence is required for advanced study in most related areas.

Students should take the IC courses as early as possible once pre-requisites are completed (see sequence below), and check for conflicts between Cornell and Ithaca College courses in advance and plan accordingly. Careful planning of course schedules is required to complete both the minor and major, and students are responsible for ALL logistical arrangements (e.g. city buses or carpooling arrangements)

YEAR

COURSES

FIRST YEAR

Introductory biology courses (Cornell)

SOPHOMORE

NS 3410 Human Anatomy and Physiology (Spring, 4 cr) (Cornell)

NS 3420 Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (Spring, 2 cr) (Cornell; also counts as advanced NS elective or HBHS selective)

JUNIOR / SENIOR

Kinesiology (F/S, 4 cr) (Ithaca College)

Exercise Physiology (F/S, 4 cr) (Ithaca College)

Biomechanical principles of Human Movement* (Ithaca College) (Fall/Spring, 4 cr; prerequisite: Physics [formerly Kinesiology])

Advanced Biomechanics also available (Spring, 4 cr; prerequisites: Kinesiology and Physics)

 

Class Registration:

  • Review the information provided by Cornell and Ithaca College to enroll through the CU-IC Exchange, and complete the steps of the process as required by the CU-IC Exchange. Please email dnsstudentservices@cornell.edu if you have questions about the process.
  • Students must have the required prerequisites to register for a course. Ithaca College is very strict about prerequisites, and you must indicate how you have met them on the form you file at pre-registration. Please note that spaces are limited; not all requests can be met.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to find out when classes start at Ithaca College—sometimes before Cornell classes begin—and to accommodate their schedule to fit with Ithaca College and Cornell fall/spring breaks. You are required to be there during these times, unless you personally make other arrangements with the Ithaca College course instructors.

Minor Intent Form: Applied Exercise Science Minor Intent Form
This form should be submitted once a student determines they intend to complete the AES Minor.

Transfer IC Credits to Cornell:
Upon completion of course requirements at Ithaca College, students must request that transcripts be sent to Cornell and notify DNS Student Services at dnsstudentservices@cornell.edu that transcripts have been sent. For more information about official transcripts, please see the Ithaca College Office of Extended Studies website

If a student will complete requirements at Ithaca College in their last semester at Cornell, they should reach out to DNS Student Services to coordiinate final verification of the minor before their final transcript is issued.

Minor Completion:  Minor Completion Form

Students should submit a minor completion form after completion of requirements or in their last undergraduate semester, whichever comes first.The Division of Nutritional Sciences reports minors to College Registrars only once they are complete, including all relevant forms. 

The student’s College Registrar then adds the minor to the student’s transcript when the degree is conferred (it will not appear on the diploma). 

If you do not see the minor on your transcript after your degree is conferred, please contact your College Registrar’s Office to inquire.

Policies

The minor in Applied Exercise Science is possible through a long-standing exchange agreement between Ithaca College and Cornell through which students may take up to 12 credits at Ithaca College (and vice versa) without additional cost during the school year. Within this agreement, Ithaca College courses:

  1. Count toward 120 Cornell graduation credits as elective credits, but only if a grade of “C” or above has been achieved. However, CALS students who start but do not finish the minor must petition to count the credits.
  2. Count toward the 12 needed in a semester for full-time status and good academic standing.
  3. Do not appear on the Cornell transcript and are not included in the Cornell GPA. Students must obtain separate transcripts from Ithaca College to reflect courses completed at this college.
  4. Count toward the 60 credits that external transfer students need to take at Cornell to earn a Cornell degree. 

Applied Exercise Science Minor Intent Form: This form should be submitted once a student determines they intend to complete the AES Minor.

Applied Exercise Science Minor Completion Form: Students should submit a minor verification form after completion of requirements or in their last undergraduate semester, whichever comes first.The Division of Nutritional Sciences reports minors to College Registrars only once they are complete, including all relevant forms. 

Please reach out to DNS Student Services at dnsstudentservices@cornell.edu with any questions or concerns about the AES Minor forms.