Day in the Life of an Exercise Science Major

You’re looking for your future major—but let’s be honest, you don’t know what half of them actually entail. This series fills you in on what these majors mean at a liberal arts college, so you can decide for yourself what’s most interesting to you. Here’s what an exercise science major looks like from the perspective of an actual student.

An exercise science major is surprisingly broad, and branches students off onto two paths: allied health, which includes clinical rehabilitation as a career path, as well as graduate school; and performance and fitness, which includes coaching, training, and wellness paths. This is Abigail’s experience as an exercise science major (allied health concentration, with a goal of becoming a physical therapist) at Luther College. POV: You’re an exercise science major.

6:30 a.m. Up and Lift

The women’s tennis team in 2025 with their conference champions banner.

I’m up early to get ready for my 8 a.m. class. Some days, I’m up even earlier for my morning lift as a tennis player for Luther College. And I’m busy all day.

Still, this semester I have a much lighter schedule than my usual. As a senior, I’m taking Social Policy, Physics 152, as well as a directed reading (specific readings on a topic, directed by one of my professors) and a senior project. Because I’ve gone with the allied health route, I tend to take more science-based classes. During past semesters, I’ve taken a biology class, exercise physiology, and medical terminology (all things that you can expect as an exercise science major), as well as statistics to fulfill a general college requirement. Many of the courses come with a lab, which can be time-consuming for my schedule. My favorite lab was Exercise Physiology, where we got to see the effects of exercise on our own classmates!

8 a.m. Class and Note Taking

I came to college without any idea of what I wanted to do or study. My mom suggested exercise science because I loved weight training in high school and was interested in lifting and fitness routines. Without knowing anything about the major, I started to take classes in that field and ended up really liking them.

Exercise science classes require a lot of note taking. Classes move quickly, so I take my notes on the lecture slides before I get to class so I can follow along easier, and then take notes on what the professor says. I then use the textbook after class to clarify difficult concepts that we talked about. There’s not a lot of homework for these classes, but there’s a lot of studying to make sure that you don’t fall behind.

It’s not too difficult to get all the general requirements and my major done, but it is busy! I got a lot of my general requirements done in my first year so that I could focus on my exercise science classes. I have taken four classes every semester, in addition to the labs that come with them.

12 p.m. Lunch, Organization, and Self Care

After all of my morning classes, I go to my intern meeting, and then lunch. I do love a coffee from Mill Street when I’m off campus!

It all can be overwhelming, sometimes, especially when taking more intense classes. The most helpful thing for me was to have a planner to write down when I would have time in my day to do homework, and also to do things for myself! For example, I enjoy doing yoga, going on walks with a podcast, having dinner with friends, and getting coffee. It’s important to take care of yourself!

2 p.m. STUDYYYYY

“When I’m back on campus, I spend my time studying before I have tennis practice. ” Photo and text by Abigail Ostermann ’26

When I’m back on campus, I spend my time studying before I have tennis practice. My future career of being a physical therapist relies a lot on this discipline of studying, as well as being able to know the location and function of the muscles of the body. My anatomy classes have been extremely helpful for learning both of these skills.

Some of the most challenging concepts have been learning the energy systems of the body. The order of when each system of the body takes place (and why) can be confusing, but all the studying has helped a lot! My favorite thing I’ve experienced as an exercise science student is the human anatomy lab, where we dissected a cadaver and learned from the real thing.

4 p.m. Extracurriculars

Tennis practice at four! Other than sports, I participate in Luther College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the ABY sorority board. I also work in the weight room, as well as intern with the Luther gym to support and learn from various sports teams about different training techniques for my future career as a physical therapist. Participating with multiple groups outside of class helps me to broaden my skills and strengthen my experience in the things that apply to my major and future career.

8 p.m. Worth the Effort!

Human Anatomy class in fall 2025

As a first year, it can feel overwhelming to receive all this academic information from your classes right away, but staying calm and confident is key! Do a little bit of homework every day to stay on top of your studies, and draw out illustrations of what you’re learning to be sure you really understand everything. And most importantly, don’t forget to make time to enjoy the things that make you happy!

The most rewarding part of being an exercise science student for me is learning how the human body actually works. As an athlete, I’m especially intrigued by everything our bodies are capable of and enjoy understanding what allows me to move, train, and perform the way I do. Looking ahead to my goal of becoming a physical therapist, this major feels even more meaningful because it gives me the tools to help others regain control of their bodies. Being able to help patients move more freely and take back parts of their lives is what makes this field so fulfilling to me.

Thank you for following Abigail’s day-in-the-life! Being an exercise science major is hard work!

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