Exercise Sports Science

This course provides an introduction to the field of exercise and sport science, and is recommended for anyone considering a career in this area. Students will be exposed to the history of sport, philosophy of sport and other issues and challenges related to exercise and sport sciences. Exploration of career opportunities and pathways will be emphasized.    

This course introduces students to a variety of topics related to health and wellness. Topics include, but are not limited to, wellness and lifestyle management, basic principles of physical fitness, nutrition, weight management, stress management, sexually transmitted diseases, substance use and abuse, and chronic diseases.

This course will teach students to respond to emergencies and give first aid. Students will learn to recognize and respond to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies by learning the skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to decide whether advanced medical care is needed.

This course emphasizes the fundamental concepts of nutrition with a focus on the relationships of nutrients to health, fitness, and athletic performance. Topics include basic dietary constituents, principles of body function, considerations for disease prevention and management, dietary regulation, dietary myths, food safety and weight management.

Principles of Resistance training introduces theoretical concepts and scientific principles of strength and conditioning to improve overall fitness and wellness. This course will provide introductory knowledge, and the hands-on application, of basic skills needed to perform and/or supervise safe and effective strength training activities. Additionally, this class will reinforce basic anatomy and physiology and safe strength training techniques to start the preparation for the student to sit for a nationally recognized certification exam (CSCS).

A study of the functional anatomy and basic biomechanics, focused on musculoskeletal system and its efficiency in various human movements (sports activities).

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to lead a variety of styles of group exercise classes. Upon completion of this course, the student should feel confident in leading their own group exercise class. In addition, this course will prepare students to take the ACE group exercise instructor certification exam, which is one kind of certification that would be accepted in a health club setting for employment as an instructor.

This course provides the foundation for coaching sports at any level of performance.  It reviews differences in the levels of competitive sport, emphasizes professional and personal development, and offers methods for constructing plans for meeting coaching goals.  It addresses issues specific to child, youth, and collegiate coaching. 

This course will examine a special topic of interest within the field of Exercise Science. 

This course builds upon the foundational concepts of nutrition to apply specific nutritional needs required by special populations such as athletes, women, children, and the elderly.  Topics such as the relationship between nutrition and exercise performance, nutritional supplements, hydration, and the effect of nutritional needs on the environment will be addressed. 

This course studies basic principles of human physiology and metabolic processes used to produce and store energy with direct application to acute and chronic exercise. Students will develop an understanding of the structure, function, and measurement of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuromuscular systems with respect to human activity and athletic performance. The course and lab utilize this information to focus on how the body and its systems respond to the differing types of intensities of exercise. Understanding the interactions of metabolism, circulation, and structural adaptations in response to exercise and training are required to be an effective exercise sports physiologist.

This course investigates principles, techniques, and useful applications of developing, managing, and maintaining a successful health facility and/or personal training business. By examining the functionality of program implementation, managing clients and co-workers, and promoting fitness-related strategies among various business models, the student will obtain the basic elements to design, develop, and present successful business endeavors.

This course provides students the opportunity to study advanced techniques in the analysis of mechanical factors related to human movement. Specific areas of human movement include: sports, aquatics, ergonomics, rehabilitation, disability sport, exercise/fitness, and gait. Students gain an understanding of the mechanical and anatomical principles that govern human motion and develop the ability to link the structure of the human body with its function (motion, rotation, force, etc.) from a mechanical perspective.

This course incorporates laboratory and field tests used to assess physical fitness components as well as principles of exercise prescription. Test results are used to develop individualized exercise prescriptions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body weight and composition, and well as flexibility and stress levels

This course is intended to prepare future professionals in various fitness fields to apply scientifically sound principles to strength and conditioning programs. We will study strength, speed, cardiovascular, and flexibility training through the use of concepts learned in physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, and psychology. You will learn appropriate exercise program design, safe exercise techniques, and ways to assess physical improvement in your clients. This course is designed to prepare students for the nationally accredited Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification exam.

This course is designed to develop the knowledge necessary to safely design and implement an effective and individualized strength and conditioning program for various individuals. Emphasis for this course will be given to the topics of periodization and program design methods and strategies to maximize, strength, speed, and power and further prepare the student to sit for the nationally recognized CSCS exam offered through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. 

This course is designed to further the readiness of students who intend to take the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification exam. Each week, students will practice exam questions related to physiology, program design, and exercise techniques as they relate to strength and conditioning. This course is pass/fail.

This first phase of the internship component introduces Exercise Sports Science majors to real-world applications of what they have learned through coursework in the program, providing comprehensive practical experience in a selected Exercise Science environment. At least 160 hours at the internship site is required.

This internship experience is the second phase of the internship program designed to provide the student with an immersive learning experience in an environment that was not practiced in EXSC 451. The student will have the opportunity to further develop and refine their skills in a new setting, expand professional networking opportunities, and solidify their career aspirations in a given field of Exercise Science. At least 160 hours at the internship site is required.