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Southwest Virginia Community College and UVA Wise sign agreement to help students study exercise science

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The University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Southwest Virginia Community College each took a further step today in continuing to provide quality education in far southwest Virginia. The colleges, both known for enhancing the availability of and excellence of higher education to citizens of the region, signed an articulation agreement assisting SWCC graduates in attending UVA Wise for an exercise science program.

Under the agreement, students of SWCC who are pursuing an associate degree in arts and sciences in the exercise science track know the precise coursework which they can take to transfer to UVA Wise. Such students will be guaranteed admission to UVA Wise, with junior standing, and considered for financial aid, with their application fee waived.

“It’s important for our students to have a chance to, when they finish at Southwest, move on to another level of education,” said Tommy F. Wright, president of Southwest Community College. “We hope this path leads to other new opportunities for our graduates.”

Those transferring from SWCC to UVA Wise can expect to graduate in two years if they make satisfactory progress in their UVA Wise coursework, under the advice of both SWCC and UVA Wise advisors.

“We’re so thrilled that students can come to Southwest to start their studies and see a clear pathway to continue at UVA Wise,” says UVA Wise Chancellor Donna P. Henry. “Our program in exercise science gives students a strong background so they can be excellent practitioners, whether they pursue teaching or other career paths that use their talents.”

Graduates of UVA Wise with exercise science degrees enter careers in personal training, strength and conditioning, sports-based rehabilitation and clinical research. Coursework at SWCC includes a wide, solid foundation of biology, psychology, physics and physical education, among other topics. When they reach UVA Wise, exercise science students will take courses such as Nutrition, Motor Learning and Sport and Exercise Psychology, and complete an exercise science internship.

Recent graduates of the exercise science and related programs at UVA Wise, such as health and wellness, physical education, and sport management, are employed at Bristol Motor Speedway, Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and for professional sports teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Baltimore Orioles.