Exercise Physiology

Exercise Physiology is the identification of physiological mechanisms underlying physical activity; the comprehensive delivery of treatment services concerned with the analysis, improvement and maintenance of health and fitness, rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and/or disabilities; and the professional guidance and counsel of athletes and others interested in athletics, sports training and human adaptability to acute and chronic exercise. Results from exercise physiology research help to discern the psychophysiological effects of systematic exercise, and the extent to which exercise may help in developing and maintaining cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal integrity.

The Department of Exercise Physiology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology. During the spring semester of the senior year, students choose to do either an internship in cardiac rehabilitation or any number of other job-related internship opportunities (EXP 4555) or stay on campus to do research associated with four courses (EXP 4430, EXP 4437, EXP 4439, EXP 4441).

Tommy Boone, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.E.P., E.P.C. Professor and Chair

Entrance Requirements

Students should apply for admission to the department at the beginning of the fall semester of their third year in college. Applicants must have at minimum a 2.7 cumulative grade point average. Application and information about the interview can be obtained from the chair of the department.

Upon completion of the academic degree in Exercise Physiology, the student will:

1. Be prepared to communicate the role of nutrition in health and athletics
2. Demonstrate knowledge and competencies fundamental to understanding and communicating advanced physiology concepts and laboratory skills.
3. Demonstrate an understanding and ability to compare and contrast health, fitness and exercise related research methods, designs, statistics and implications for healthy lifestyle.
4. Demonstrate requisite professional knowledge and competencies fundamental to assuming different exercise physiology jobs in the public sector.
5. Demonstrate requisite anatomical knowledge and cardiovascular physiology competencies fundamental to the exercise physiology profession.
6. Demonstrate requisite knowledge and application of biobehavioral interventions in promoting healthy lifestyles.
7. Be motivated to become a professional member of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP).
8. Develop professional attitudes and value driven responses to disciplinary connections between relevant content areas from liberal arts (psychology), biology, and chemistry to research application, scope of practice, and career opportunities in exercise physiology.
9. Demonstrate requisite communication skills fundamental to leadership positions in the profession of exercise physiology.
10. Demonstrate critical thinking skills fundamental to articulating personal and professional values.

Major

All Exercise Physiology majors take the following prerequisite courses: CHM 1020, CHM/BIO 1030, MTH 1111, BIO 2110, 2120, PSY 2208, PSC 2001 and the following departmental core courses: EXP 1110, EXP 3321, EXP 3322, EXP 3323, EXP 3330, EXP 3331, EXP 3332, EXP 3334, EXP 4431, EXP 4436, EXP 4438, PSY 3331.

EXP/HSC 1110 C.P.R. and First Aid 2 cr.
Principles and techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid. Training in artificial respiration and artificial circulation by one and two persons, and immediate procedures and standard care for injuries and emergencies are covered. Competency in skills leading to American Red Cross C.P.R. and Standard First Aid Certification.

EXP 3321 Kinesiology 4 cr.
This course consists of an in-depth study of the origin, insertion and function of major muscles of the upper and lower extremities. Neurological analysis of normal muscle function and basic dysfunction is covered. Kinesiological concepts related to human movement and athletics will be presented throughout the course. Prerequisite: BIO 2110

EXP 3322 Biomechanics 4 cr.
Emphasis is on fundamental principles, calculations and applications of biomechanical analysis to the human body at rest and during movement. Special attention is given to the relationship of biomechanics to kinesiology and exercise physiology in order to understand the role of physical stressors as they influence significant clinical changes in the body. Prerequisite: EXP 3321

EXP 3323 Sports Nutrition 4 cr.
Emphasis is on the role of diet in sports and athletic programs with particular attention paid to ergogenic aids in enhancing athletic performances. Prerequisite: EXP 3331

EXP 3330 Psychophysiology of Stress and Exercise 4 cr.
This course examines the psychological and physiological dimensions of the stress response at rest and during exercise. Attention is given to a critical consideration of lifestyle factors and the extent to which society at large is responsible for (or victimized by) disease. Various stress reduction techniques will be practiced and physiologically evaluated using the metabolic analyzers in the exercise physiology laboratory. Prerequisite: EXP 3331

EXP 3331 Exercise Physiology 4 cr.
This course emphasizes an understanding of the basic principles of human physiology with direct application to acute and chronic exercise. Particular attention is paid to managing lifestyle risk factors related to heart disease. The role of the cardiovascular system in human performance, and the various submaximal and maximal ergometric test protocols used in exercise physiology laboratories are covered. Prerequisite: BIO 2110

EXP 3332 Physiological Assessment 4 cr.
Emphasis is on basic to advanced instrumentation used to evaluate flexibility, body composition, muscular strength and endurance, as well as exercise test protocols used to evaluate individuals ranging from the elite athlete to middle-aged and elderly adults. Application of various stress test protocols and exercise programs with individualized exercise prescriptions for both healthy and diseased individuals. Emphasis is on progression, safety and legal ramifications of exercise as a therapeutic intervention. Prerequisite: BIO 2120

EXP 3334 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 4 cr.
This course examines the multi-disciplinary factors considered responsible for coronary artery disease. Administrative, financial and program development decisions, stress test protocols, exercise principles and legal concerns, and common psychosocial issues are covered as they relate to the post-myocardial infarction and pulmonary patients. Prerequisite: EXP 3331

EXP 4430 Exercise and Immunology 4 cr.
This course addresses the relationship between exercise and susceptibility to illness, particularly with reference to the mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced changes in immune function. Prerequisite: EXP 4431

EXP 4431 Advanced Exercise Physiology 4 cr.
This course examines the human cardiovascular response at rest and during exercise, as well as to various stressors. Applications and calculations include acute central, peripheral and metabolic adjustments and adaptations to biophysiological stressors. Prerequisite: EXP 3331

EXP 4436 Exercise Physiology Research I 4 cr.
This course presents the experimental designs and data analysis procedures used to conduct and report scientific research. Emphasis is on correctly reading and interpreting scientific articles, and on the student's ability to substantiate research discussions with hands-on research activities in the laboratory. Prerequisite: EXP 3331

EXP 4437 Exercise Physiology Research II 4 cr.
Focuses on the ethics of scientific research, data reduction, writing, and publishing in exercise physiology. This course also examines issues of scientific fraud, "publish or perish," plagiarism, critiquing research studies and accuracy of references. The student will be expected to propose and independently carry out a research project, reduce the data, develop a research manuscript, and produce a document consistent with the published format of a specific exercise physiology journal. Prerequisite: EXP 4436

EXP 4438 Exercise Electrocardiography 4 cr.
Students read electrocardiograms of individuals at rest and during exercise, with special attention paid to the electrocardiograms of post-myocardial infarction patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Emphasis is also placed on cardiac medications, emergency procedures and the legal issues associated with clinical settings. Prerequisitesite: EXP 3334

EXP 4439 Seminar in Exercise Physiology 4 cr.
Centers on the presentations of exercise physiology topics by students and faculty. The course examines the specificity of what constitutes professional development, exercise physiology as a profession, exercise physiology professional organizations, certification, licensure and accreditation. Prerequisite: EXP major and/or consent of the department chair

EXP 4441 Advanced Laboratory Research 4 cr.
Emphasizes student use of exercise physiology instrumentation to study currently important laboratory techniques. Special attention is given to theanalysis of the exponential and equilibrium methods for determining cardiac output and its relationship to oxygen consumption. The student's ability to plan for and engage in an intensive laboratory study of a specific research problem is also important in this course. Prerequisite: EXP 4431

EXP 4555 Internship 4-16 cr.
A supervised off-campus internship that allows the student to apply theoretical knowledge and handson laboratory skills to "real life" situations. Prerequisites: EXP major and consent of the chair

EXP 4777 Topics in Exercise Physiology 4 cr.
Courses not a part of the regular Exercise Physiology curriculum but taught because of a special need, interest or opportunity. Prerequisite: EXP major and/or consent of the chair

EXP 4999 Independent Study 1-4 cr.
Emphasis on initiating and completing an independent research project. The department chair must approve the topic.

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