Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation

Purpose

The Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation (EXSC) offers various degree options designed to prepare students for careers in healthcare, exercise, sport, and ministry while also guiding students who wish to pursue graduate school. The students in this concentration of study are shaped to care for the human body in a holistic manner challenging them to learn about methods related to mind, body, and spirit.

The Pre-Allied Health Track prepares students pursuing advanced degrees and clinical careers in Exercise Physiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training, Physician Assistant, and other Allied Health fields.

The Human Performance Track prepares students to pursue a career in fields such as: strength & conditioning, human movement, wellness specializations, and provides multiple avenues for certifications. The purpose of the degree is to examine how physical activity, nutrition and lifestyle afect health, exercise capacity and optimal sport performance.

The Sports and Recreation program prepares students for careers in sports management, athletic coaching, outdoor & adventure recreation, camp administration, and sports ministry. Possible professions offer a wide array of industries from professional sports, collegiate athletics, public/private schools, youth sports, churches, non-profits, and public parks and recreation.

The mission of the Division of ESSR is to educate, train, and develop future exercise, fitness, and recreational business professionals and leaders that are grounded in evidence-based practice, practical application, and exemplary Christian principles.

Dean of Business, Health Science, and Education

Larinee Dennis
Co-Interim Provost
B.S.E., Hannibal-LaGrange College, 2001
M.S.E., University of Missouri, 2003
Ph.D., New Mexico State University, 2013

Chair, Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation

Chad A. Payn
Chair, Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation
Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation
B.A., Oklahoma Baptist University, 2002
M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009
Ed.D., United States Sports Academy, 2019
Joined the OBU faculty in 2016.

Faculty

Meredith Bailey
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Sport and Recreation
B.S., Oklahoma Baptist University, 2011
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 2014
COMT, Evidence in Motion, 2016
Joined the OBU faculty in 2021.

Jeffrey M. Hogan
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation
B.S., University of Oklahoma, 1999
M.S., Texas Women’s University, 2005
Doctorate, Evidence in Motion of Health Professions, 2017
Joined the OBU faculty in 2021.

Career Possibilities

The following is a list of possible career opportunities for those who choose a major or minor in the Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation.

Pre-Allied Health Track

Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Exercise Physiologist
Athletic Trainer
Physician Assistant
Nutritionist
Dietician
Prosthetist
Cardiac or Cancer Rehabilitation
Bariatric/Weight Management
Researcher/Professor

Human Performance Track

Corporate Fitness
Sport-Specific Training
Wellness Coach
Strength Coach
Sport Psychologist
Exercise Equipment Sales
Sport Nutrition Sales
Nutrition Coach
Personal Training

Sports & Recreation

Professional Sport Organizations
Athletic Director
Athletic Coach at various levels
Church Minister in Sport, Recreation, and Fitness
City Parks and Recreation
Intercollegiate Athletic Administrator
Facility & Event Management
Community Youth Sports from Recreational to High Performance
Campus Recreation
Camp Director
Outdoor Adventure Recreation
Sport Marketing
Sport & Event Tourism
Sports Agent

Majors, Minors, and Areas of Concentration

The Division of Health and Human Performance offers majors and areas of concentration in the following: