What Can You Do with a Degree in Aquatics?

A major in aquatics can provide opportunities to gain employment with various institutions, including:

  • educational institutions
  • health and fitness facilities
  • recreation natatoriums
  • waterparks
  • private clubs and fitness centers
  • government entities.

What Are Our Graduates Doing?

United States Marine Corps, Headquarters, Quantico, VA.

Ms. Kari Hemund is the Aquatics Program Specialist for the United States Marine Corps, ensuring the aquatics departments throughout the Corps worldwide operate consistently and safely. She has overseen the operations and management of aquatic centers, SCUBA programs, and open-water areas throughout her career.

Kari received her Bachelor of Science from Ball State University in Exercise Science with a specialty in Aquatics; and a Master’s of Arts from American Military University in Emergency and Disaster Management. Hemund was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Aquatics Maximum Power-Intense Training (AMP-IT) program, the Marine Swim Advancement Training (MSAT), and the Community Mastering Aquatics (CMA) program. She holds multiple Instructor and Instructor Trainer certifications.

Program Manager EZPRO® / APi Water, Indianapolis, Indiana

Brett Peterman is currently the Commercial Program Manager for APi Water. His journey in aquatics began at Ball State University as a lifeguard and an undergrad in the Exercise Science Aquatics program graduating in 2006. Following graduation he attained a master’s degree in Recreation Studies through a Teaching Assistantship at Ohio University in Athens in 2007.

Following graduate school he relocated to Chicago and worked as a regional director then vice president of operations for Chicagoland Pool Management, seeing to the daily operations of 30-40 pools and approximately 300 staff annually until moving back to Indianapolis in the winter of 2013. Then beginning work for a local POOLCORP sales center as In-Ground Pool and Liner specialist he assisted pool builders with the design and logistics of residential pool construction, following this he was promoted to Business Development Representative, where he could visit customers and assist by suggesting products, programs, or other ways that they could get the most out of their business.

He continued this role until 2016 when promoted to Sales Center Manager and directly oversaw a 40,000 sq ft warehouse and staff that was solely dedicated to the pool industry. He performed this role until spring of 2019 when wanting to be out in the field he left POOLCORP. Several months later he began work at APi Water where he assists aquatic professionals with specific facility water quality issues. Often consulting aquatic designers, operators, builders and service professionals on ways to proactively treat the causes of common water quality issues before they have a chance to manifest as problems.          

Aquatic Supervisor, Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina / Owner: Top Deck Aquatics

Tanner Deisch, Aquatics Supervisor for the Town of Chapel Hill North Carolina has recently been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) as a “30 Under 30” leader in the field. He earned his master’s degree from Western Kentucky University in Recreation & Sport Administration. His work history includes facility management, staff training and development, collegiate class instruction, and risk management.

With over five years in municipal government, Deisch has a passion for helping make communities better. Deisch holds several instructor and instructor trainer certifications.