Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the contact list and find the Professor advisors.
If you are a transfer student and want general advising about the Exercise Science program, please contact Ms. Dyan Atkins at 718 960 1971 (Shuster Hall, Room 280) or at dyan.atkins@lehman.cuny.edu.


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This degree is great to provide entry-level positions as fitness instructors, program directors in health and wellness, physical therapy aide, physical education teachers, and athletic coaches. 

Absolutely, if you wish to pursue a Masters degree you have several options. Within the department of Exercise Science and Recreation you can pursue these two majors:

  1. Masters in Human Performance & Fitness
  2. Follow the B.S. in Exercise Science and Recreation Physical Therapy track. This track is dedicated to physical therapy. The pre-health professional advisor can give you more information about the various Physical Therapy Programs.

If you are interested in furthering your career once you finish your B.S. in Exercise Science and want to pursue Physical Therapy, please contact Pre-Health Professions advising, Dr. Scott Calvin at 718 960 8091 (Shuster Hall, Room 280) or at scott.calvin@lehman.cuny.edu.
Schedule an appointment here.

A great question and YES. Our B.S. in Exercise Science can provide a seamless transition to our Masters of Science in Human Performance and Fitness. In fact, the BS to MS pathway allows you to take at least 12 credits of master’s level courses while you are still an undergraduate student. The 12 credits are counted for both your undergraduate and master’s degree, which saves you money and time.

Lehman College has one of the oldest Recreation Education and Therapeutic Recreation programs in the New York City area. According to the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation it is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. The goal of this profession is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life. Services are provided or directly supervised by a “Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist” (CTRS). Recreational therapy includes, but is not limited to, providing treatment services and recreation activities to individuals using a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings.

Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients by seeking to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively. Recreational therapists should not be confused with recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment. https://www.nctrc.org/

Graduates with a BS degree in Recreation Education or Therapeutic Recreation can work with clients who are mentally or physically challenged to assist in restoring the client to functional health. Students who pursue the BS in Therapeutic Recreation and fulfill the internship requirements are eligible to sit the CTRS examination and able to work in clinical or hospital settings.