Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Mission Statement

The Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major prepares individuals for careers in health and wellness, movement and performance training, education or management within the field of kinesiology. Individuals in our program gain knowledge and skills through evidence-based learning, serving diverse populations, researching relevant topics and engaging in leadership while maintaining high ethical standards.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Program

Upon completion of the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of foundational knowledge, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings;
  • Apply conceptual knowledge that reflects best practice in a variety of settings;
  • Apply leadership skills (reflection, management, critical thinking, ethics & collaboration) to career preparation in practical settings;
  • Utilize technology effectively;
  • Exhibit professional dispositions as future leaders in the field of health, exercise, and sport science;
  • Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research;
  • Acquire the broad base of knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to pursue lifelong learning.

The Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in the health and kinesiological sciences, or who wish to seek further specialization through graduate school. Students are provided with opportunities to integrate, reflect, and apply disciplinary concepts and principles in the field of health, exercise, and sport sciences. Graduates may seek entry-level positions in college, community, or corporate wellness centers, health informatics, medical technology, community recreation programs, strength and conditioning performance centers, hospitals and rehabilitation centers or schools. With additional education students may seek careers in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, exercise or sports psychology, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical therapy, sports medicine or health and physical education teacher education, as well as many other areas of specialization.

The Health and Wellness Concentration program of study is designed for students who wish to promote quality of life through prescribing and promoting healthy lifestyles and pursue careers in areas of clinical based rehabilitation, fitness and wellness, health and medical research or who wish to seek further specialization through graduate study. In addition to the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences core curriculum of 36 credit hours, the student will complete 27-36 credit hours including clinical laboratory and professional practicum experience.

The Health and Physical Education Concentration program of study prepares students as health and physical educators in school settings. Students may prepare as candidates for North Carolina K-12 licensure; see specific requirements in the teacher education section of this catalogue. In addition to the core curriculum of 36 credit hours, the student will complete 22-29 credit hours, including skill acquisition, physical education methods, and professional education classes. Additional coursework is required to obtain licensure.
 

Policies Related to the Health and Physical Education Learning Component

In meeting her general education requirements, a student may choose from any of the activities offered. Some activity classes are taken automatically pass/fail and some are taken automatically for a letter grade. A student may elect to change how a course is graded for her according to the following policy. Grade change requests of this nature must be received in the Office of the Registrar according to pass/fail election policies.

All PED activity classes and DAN activity classes at the 100 level are taken pass/fail. Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education may elect to take them for a letter grade.

Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education and who need these courses to fulfill major requirements must take them for a grade.

The PED/DAN for a grade option must be checked on the Drop/Add form, signed, and submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

DAN activity courses at the 200, 300, and 400 level are taken for a grade. Students may take these courses as pass/fail to fulfill the Health and Physical Learning Component of General Education.

No more than eight credits may be counted in the 124 hours required for graduation except for students majoring/minoring in dance or exercise and sports science.

Students may receive a maximum of two credits for Intercollegiate Athletics (PED-470) or performance groups (DAN-456) toward their health and physical learning requirement. An additional two hours of physical education/dance activity credits remain to fulfill their requirements for General Education. The course related to sports team participation (PED-470) is eligible for Pass/Fall grading only.

Pre-approved permission granted by the department head is required for students to repeat a physical education course for credit.

Health, Exercise, and Sports Science majors are required to take all activity courses (note PED prefix) which fulfill the requirements for the Health, Exercise, and Sports Science major for a grade. Dance majors/minors are required to take all dance activity courses which fulfill the requirements for the Dance major for a grade. All dance and physical education activity courses taken to fulfill requirements for the Dance and Health, Exercise, and Sports Science majors may count toward Graduation.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

ESS-110: Introduction to Functional Human Movement

An introduction to the study of functional human movement with emphasis on the musculoskeletal system to include muscle and skeletal structure identification and function, joint structure and actions, planes of motions, axes and levers and analysis of movement patterns. Provides an orientation to the scientific basis of the health and motor-related components of physical fitness and medical terminology.

ESS-200: Foundations Physical Education, Sport and Fitness

An overview of the field of physical education, sport and fitness with emphasis placed on historical, and socio-psychological foundations and their implications on today's society. The course includes the study of sub-disciplines in the field, career opportunities and future directions. Issues and ethical concerns are introduced.

ESS-221: Principles of Strength Train & Conditioning

This course is designed to provide practical application of fitness, wellness and conditioning concepts. The course provides a comprehensive, comparative overview of the physiological responses and adaptations of resistive training and aerobic and anaerobic exercise. A comprehensive study of training theory and methodologies is included.

ESS-225: Leadership in Lifetime Physical Activity

This course examines various leadership considerations related to conducting lifetime physical activities. Emphasis will be on appropriate development and implementation of community and school-based activity programs, effective use of communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, understanding needs and characteristics of varied participant groups, and demonstration of specialized activity content knowledge.

ESS-283: Prevention and Care of Movement Injuries

A course designed to provide instruction in the prevention and care of movement injuries. This course will include an introduction to athletic training, fundamentals of injury prevention and evaluation, and the management of the most common dance and sport-related injuries. Emphasis will be placed on providing practical opportunities to develop evaluation skills and taping techniques.

Required Prerequisites

Open to Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences, and Dance Majors only.

ESS-299: Introduction to Research in ESS

In conjunction with a faculty mentor, the student will formulate an original research problem that will culminate in a review of the literature and proposed methods for the research problem selected.

ESS-300: Issues/Management: Sport & Physical Education

The study of the organization and administration of physical education, sport and fitness programs with emphasis on facility and personnel management as it relates to curricular, financial, physical, social, legal, and medical issues.

ESS-310: Exercise Leadership

This course is designed to prepare the student through active participation to develop practical knowledge and skills necessary to instruct group fitness programs. Students will learn teaching methodologies for the following types of training: basic aerobics and step aerobics, circuits, stability ball, medicine ball, tubes and bands, light free weights, flexibility, and floor exercise.

ESS-325: Exercise and Fitness Assessment

The purpose of this course is to provide students with information about exercise testing and prescription. Students will develop the skills and technical procedures necessary to conduct exercise and sport fitness testing using a variety of technologies. Hands on experience will be available for a variety of different fitness and health related tests.

ESS-375: Motor Learning and Development

This course is designed to provide an examination of principles and practices that affect the learning and development of motor skills; theories of motor learning, motor control, and development; lifespan motor development perspective related to performing motor and sport skills; and professional applications of the motor learning and development in exercise science-related fields. Laboratory and field-based experiences will be included.

ESS-383: Exercise Physiology and Lab

A course designed to examine the body's response and adaptation to exercise and sport and the implication of these changes for physical education and fitness programs. The course includes muscular adaptation, energy systems, and the effects of environmental factors, diet, gender, and the methods of physical training. Laboratory experiences will enable students to explore and integrate this knowledge through practical application of exercise for health and human performance. 

Required Prerequisites

For H&W concentration: BIO-338/BIO-348 and BIO-339/BIO-349.
For H&PE concentration: BIO-106/BIO-136

ESS-399: Research Design and Analysis

This course is designed to provide students with information about the analysis, and interpretation of research in the fields of exercise and sport science. Emphasis will be placed on comparing different research methods, statistical analysis techniques and interpretation as they relate to course topics in exercise and sport science.

ESS-451: Practicum: Exercise/Sports Science

A supervised field experience in a fitness, sport, or wellness-related agency. Students will meet regularly with a college supervisor to integrate exercise and sports science knowledge with their practicum experiences.

Required Prerequisites

ESS-383 and ESS-486
This course is limited to Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences majors who have completed their junior year.

ESS-460: Senior Seminar

This course provides a culminating experience for students. The seminar format will assist students in summarizing and reflecting on experiences learned and demonstrated through their program of study. Each student will prepare and present a professional portfolio to the department as an exit requirement.

Required Prerequisites

Senior Standing only.

ESS-482: Kinesiology

A study of the neuromuscular and mechanical principles of movement. This course examines the way bones and muscles work in all types of dance and sport-related activities. Content also includes understanding muscular imbalances, physiological support systems, body types, movement behavior, and movement efficiency. 

Required Prerequisites

ESS-486: Exercise Prescription

This course will provide an introduction to the physiological basis of health and fitness assessments, methods of assessment, and exercise prescription plans required to bring about changes in the health and fitness of both healthy individuals as well as those requiring accommodation for special needs or medical conditions. Course content will also include the business management aspects of a career in fitness program development. 

Required Prerequisites

ESS-742: Methods of Healthful Living Education

Study of the role health and physical education plays in child development, school curriculum, and society. Prospective teachers will learn basic knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the fields of health and physical education to allow them to prepare developmentally appropriate lessons using the Healthful Living Curriculum. Course includes observations and teaching experiences in a school setting during school hours.

ESS-743: Teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School for PE Majors

A course designed to offer prospective physical education teachers with experience in instructional methodology appropriate at the elementary level. Emphasis is placed on the synthesis of theory and practice in physical education at the elementary level and understanding the role of physical education in the development of children. Emphasis on the "movement approach" to learning motor skills, creative dance, rhythms, stunts and tumbling, movement games, and physical fitness activities is provided. Content includes curriculum design, planning and implementing units and lessons, teaching approaches, assessment and evaluation appropriate at the elementary school level. Extensive field experiences are required.

ESS-746: Teaching Physical Education Special Needs K–12

This course provides students with experiences in teaching and examining policies, practices, principles, instructional methodologies, and programs related to meeting the physical education needs of special populations. Includes field experiences.

ESS-747: Teaching Physical Education in the Middle and Secondary Schools

This course will provide prospective physical education teachers with opportunities to learn about, plan, and implement instructional, motivational, management, and assessment strategies to develop the healthful living curriculum, with primary focus on physical education, in the secondary school environment.

HESS-498: Honors Thesis in HESS

This course introduces the design and application of research methodologies in exercise and sport science. The student will formulate an original research project that will culminate in a research paper and presentation.

Required Prerequisites

Senior Standing, Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences majors and minors, and others with instructor permission.

HESS-499: Research in HESS

In conjunction with a faculty mentor, the student will formulate an original research project that will culminate in a research paper and presentation.

Required Prerequisites

MAT-175 or MAT-181 or MAT-191
Senior Standing, Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences majors and minors, and others with instructor approval.