Exercise Science program becomes first fully accredited program in Kansas

The Baker University exercise science program recently earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), making it the first fully accredited program in Kansas. Recommended for accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences, this recognition means the program meets all educational standards and guidelines established by the allied health professions.

“We are the first university to do this in Kansas and we’re proud of that and what it’s going to do for our students,” said Dr. Chris Todden, director of exercise science. “Exercise science is changing and changing fast . . . and we want our program to be set up for that perfectly.”

Todden and Dr. Erin Holt, assistant professor of exercise science, believe that exercise science is becoming more aligned with the allied health industry and will continue to do so.

“I think it’s going to align itself with other professions like dietetics and cardiac rehab and other professions that are accredited, governed, and monitored,” Todden said. “By making sure we teach students the standards that are set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine and CAAHEP, we are helping to ensure that patients or clients that they see are being treated by people we know have this information.”

Baker is one of 46 universities nationwide accredited by the CAAHEP. This accreditation is a partnered endorsement from the CAAHEP and the ACSM, the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organization. An independent relationship between Baker and the ACSM has provided the foundation for and the development of the university’s exercise science program.