In January 2022, the Exercise Science program at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) was awarded initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The recent peer review conducted by the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) and CAAHEP’s Board of Directors recognizes the program’s compliance with the nationally established accreditation standards.
The national accreditation standards are established by CAAHEP, CoAES, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, American Kinesiotherapy Association, American Red Cross, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and National Council on Strength & Fitness.
WLC’s Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science program becomes one of only 64 baccalaureate programs nationally, and the only Exercise Science program in Wisconsin to be accredited by CAAHEP. The accreditation underscores the commitment WLC demonstrates to continuous quality improvement in education.
“Since the launch of WLC’s Sport and Exercise Science major in 2011, the program has seen curriculum enhancements, new labs and equipment, and increasing enrollment. The CAAHEP accreditation is a testimony to the students and alumni who have provided feedback and continue to stay involved, and it is also a reflection on the wonderful faculty who teach within the program,” said Prof. Rachel Kuehl, Department Head of Sport and Exercise Science. “CAAHEP accreditation recognizes that our students are well prepared for the workforce or graduate school upon finishing their baccalaureate at WLC.”
Students enrolled in the college’s Sport and Exercise Science program learn by doing, taking advantage of small, active, and hands-on lab experiences. In 2019, the college opened a new exercise science lab, which features gold-standard equipment, including a hydrostatic weighing tank for underwater weighing and body composition measurements, Watt and Monark bikes, force plates, and a force plate treadmill. In addition to extensive lab training, students engage in experiential learning through internships in Milwaukee’s medical centers and hospitals, undergraduate research projects, and dual-degree opportunities.