Create healthier lives through exercise
Exercise is a powerful tool to improve human performance and health outcomes. This program qualifies you to work as an exercise physiologist, and to use the science of exercise to manage chronic conditions and injuries and help people live healthier lives.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Exercise is a powerful tool to improve human performance and health outcomes. This program qualifies you to work as an exercise physiologist, and to use the science of exercise to manage chronic conditions and injuries and help people live healthier lives.
Like physiotherapists, exercise physiologists work with clients in elite sport and healthcare settings to encourage positive training, lifestyle and behaviour changes.
- Learn how to use exercise to manage chronic conditions and injuries, prevent disease and manage long-term conditions like heart disease and diabetes
- Study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition
- Test and train athletes in USC’s AIS-accredited sport science labs
- Build your professional skills through 500 hours of supervised work placement, including clinical practice in hospitals and working with athletes
- Qualify to work as an exercise physiologist in hospitals, health clinics, rehabilitation facilities, gyms and more
Career opportunities
This degree qualifies you to practise as an exercise physiologist in a range of healthcare settings, and to seek provider status with Medicare.
While Clinical Exercise Science can provide a pathway to studies in physiotherapy, it can also lead to careers in cardiac and pulmonary testing, occupational rehabilitation, case management and research.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete 500 hours of supervised placement. Students may be required to undertake some clinical placement hours outside the Sunshine Coast region in metropolitan and regional/rural areas. Before undertaking placements (eg by year 3), students must provide evidence of immunisations, first aid training, satisfactory criminal history check, and hold a current Blue Card (Working with Children Check). Students may also be required to complete QLD Health orientation package.
Accreditation and memberships
This degree is professionally accredited at the levels of Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
Graduates may also apply to become members of Sports Medicine Australia.
Note: ESSA will allow recognition of prior learning (RPL) for non-university studies to a maximum of 12.5% of program load. USC recommends, therefore, that students holding TAFE studies in fitness seek RPL for not more than four courses upon entering the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Science.
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
COR109 Introductory Counselling Skills
HLT140 Foundations of Human Behaviour
LFS100 Social Work and Human Services Practice
LFS112 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
LFS122 Group Processes and Practice
PUB104 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCI110 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SPX121 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
Developing and Graduate courses (21) 288 units
HLT221 International Community Development and Global Justice
NUT203 Working with Children, Youth and Families
PUB351 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
SPX201 Social Research
SPX202 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SPX203 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SPX211 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
SPX221 Human Services Placement 1
SPX222 Ethical Practice in the Helping ProfessionsΔ
SPX231 Developmental and Family Counselling*
SPX300 Health and Mental Health in Australia
SPX301 Community Development and Social Action
SPX302 Complexity and Social Work: Group-Based Approaches
SPX306 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and LossΔ
SPX322 Positive Psychology for Counselling
SPX331 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
SPX410 Counselling Development and Supervision 2*
SPX411 Counselling Placement 2*
SPX412 Discovering Management
SPX413 Introduction to the Creative Industries
SPX401A Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft *
SPX401B Performance 1 *
SPX401C Accounting Principles *
SPX401D Exploring Business Research *
* Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) requires students to complete 500 hours of supervised practice comprising of a minimum of 140 hours for apparently healthy clients, 140 hours for neuromuscular/musculoskeletal clients and 140 hours for metabolic/cardiopulmonary clients. These hours will be completed as part of SPX300 and SPX401 courses.
Δ refer to Program notes
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete all required components of this program, to be able to apply for accreditation as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
- Complete 500 hours of supervised practice (as per ESSA requirement), comprising a minimum of 140 hours for apparently healthy clients, 140 hours for neuromuscular/musculoskeletal clients and 140 hours for metabolic/cardiopulmonary clients. These hours can be completed as part of SPX300 and SPX401 courses
In order to commence fieldwork placement you must:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card - Working with Children Check - QLD). This is required by week 6 of the third year subject, SPX300 , and is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). The application timeline for this Card is usually in the region of 6-8 weeks, therefore it is advised that this process is initiated at the time of enrolment into SPX300 if not before
- Provide evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B (blood titre level after approved vaccination schedule)
- Hold current Senior First Aid and CPR certificates (currency of certification is to be maintained throughout the program)
- You may also be required to complete a Criminal History Check for particular placements, cost of which is borne by the student
- Some courses within this program are taught outside of the standard teaching semesters. Students should refer to the Session Timetables for dates
Program notes
- Currently SPX222 is ONLY offered via online mode
- SPX306 MUST be studied prior to enrolment into SPX301 and SPX302
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues. Students should be aware there are restrictions applicable to credit transfer in order to obtain ESSA accreditation and they should contact their Program Advisor if considering participating in the GO program
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- Students intending to seek accreditation with Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) as exercise physiologists are advised that ESSA will allow recognition of prior learning (RPL) for non-university studies to a maximum of 12.5 of program load. Therefore, USC recommends that students holding TAFE studies in Fitness seek RPL for not more than 4 courses upon entering the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Science