Curriculum

SPEX 132 Health & Wellness (5)
The course provides students with a general overview of the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and environmental dimensions of health and their application to personal wellness.

1. Identify the factors that positively and negatively affect health
2. Describe the major health risks and diseases affecting contemporary society
3. Explain the principal ways to promote health through lifestyle and behavior change

SPEX 211 Responding to Emergencies (5)
The course provides students with the knowledge and skills to respond to injury sustained during training and sport performance and to sustain life until medical help arrives following a sudden acute event as a result of training or performance.

1. Identify the pre-training factors that foster safe and injury-free training
2. Identify signs and symptoms of soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries and the methods of responding and/or treating these in emergency situations
3. Identify life-threatening circumstances and the signs and symptoms of shock and the methods of responding and/or treating these in emergency situations

SPEX 231 Sport & Exercise Physiology (5)
The course introduces students to the acute responses and chronic adaptations of the body to the stresses of training using a mechanistic approach so that students first understand the details of how response and adaptation occur so they will be more likely to predict and control the response. Includes associated lab. Prerequisites: CHEM 121 and CHEM 122, BIOL 200 and BIOL 210.

1. Understand the various methods of energy production and the conditions in which each method of energy production contributes to physical activity
2. Understand lactic acid and its role in exercise metabolism, VO2 and factors influencing VO2 and VO2 max, gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between atmospheric air and its relevance to the aerobic production of ATP
3. Understand the biological, biochemical and mechanical components involved in muscle contraction and their adaptations to different types of training

SPEX 312 Nutrition for Sport & Exercise (5)
The course addresses the nutritional requirements and practices of individuals involved in high-level human performance. Students will be develop an understanding of nutrient metabolism required for training, the principles of a healthy competitive diet, the role of ergogenic aids, and the interaction of body composition, nutrition, and performance. Prerequisites: SPEX 231

1. Discuss the effects of carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and fluids as they relate to training and performance
2. Understand the relationship between body composition, energy demand, and diet
3. Use computer diet software to collect, analyze, evaluate and summarize dietary information and to prepare dietary recommendations

SPEX 313 Biomechanics & Motor Learning (5)
The course presents the mechanical principles pertinent to the understanding of human motion and the procedures for application of Newtonian mechanics to human movement analysis through creation of biomechanical models using three-dimensional and two-dimensional video and accompanying analog data. Includes associated lab. Prerequisites: High School Physics or PHYS 105

1. Obtain and analyze kinematics and kinetics that occur during human movement
2. Calculate external and internal forces and torques acting on the body by combining kinematic, kinetic, and anthropometric variables during static and dynamic human movement
3. Use the scientific research process effectively to ask relevant questions, formulate hypotheses, collect data, present results, and evaluate the results relative to the hypotheses

SPEX 321 Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries (5)
The course develops the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, evaluate, and remedy athletic injuries using short-term treatment techniques and modalities. Students become familiar with various protective devices, preventative strategies of taping, wrapping and padding, and short-term treatment actions including massage, ice, heat, and numerous electrical and mechanical devices, all presented to prepare students for the NATA Athletic Trainer certification exam. Includes associated lab. Prerequisites: SPEX 211

1. Identify common sport and exercise injuries
2. Perform appropriate evaluation techniques with regard to sport and exercise injuries
3. Understand the principles of injury care and management

SPEX 322 Principles of Metabolic Training (5)
The course reviews and applies anatomical, biomechanical and physiological principles to develop general and sport-specific metabolic training programs that improve fitness and athletic performance. Includes associated lab. Prerequisites: SPEX 231 and SPEX 312

1. Understand and apply the principles associated with for stroke volume, capillary efficiency, oxygen transport, muscle specific lactate removal, maximum oxygen to muscle, lactate tolerance, energy delivery without oxygen, lactate buffering, maximum lactate production, creatine pool enhancement and recover
2. Understand the different purposes and modes of metabolic training for a variety of sports and exercise equipment to optimize metabolic function
3. Design a sport-specific training program to optimize athletic performance across defined macrocycle and associated mesocycles and microcyles of training

SPEX 331 Exercise for Rehabilitation (5)
The course provides students with the basic concepts of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs and the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement and asses progress of rehabilitation programs to return individuals to a healthy state, full functional fitness or athletic performance. Prerequisites: SPEX 231

1. Understand theoretical basis for disease rehabilitation and assess the scientific evidence of its effectiveness
2. Understand theoretical basis for sport rehabilitation and assess the scientific evidence of its effectiveness
3. Interpret performer information to set and prioritize realist rehabilitative goals

SPEX 411 Fitness Testing & Technology (5)
The course provides a review of the theoretical constructs of exercise physiology and the hands-on training in testing technology to enable students to competently assess levels of fitness in low-risk to high-risk individuals. The course includes use of informed consent, health and wellness screening, and protocols for body composition, resting metabolic rate, cardiovascular and muscular fitness, flexibility, aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, and numerous sport-specific fitness tests, all presented to prepare students for the ACSM Health Fitness Instructor certification exam. Includes associated lab. Prerequisites: SPEX 231 and SPEX 313

1. Use computer software and device technologies appropriate for assessing fitness and motor performance
2. Understand a range of fitness assessment protocols and sport skills tests and apply them effectively
3. Identify individuals for whom exercise would be contraindicated

SPEX 421 Sport & Exercise Psychology (5)
The course examines the relationship of psychology to sport and exercise. Topics include application of learning principles, social psychology, personality variables, psychological assessment, sport performance and exercise adherence. Includes associated practicum.

1. Understand the primary psychological and social-psychological theories of exercise, rehabilitation, and pre-performance behavior
2. Understand and use normative assessment instruments
3. Use established intervention strategies and mental skills training activities
   

SPEX 499 Professional Issues in Sport & Exercise (3-5)
Senior Synthesis
Senior students majoring in Sport & Exercise Science will select one of ten topics related to current professional issues in sport and exercise science (e.g., childhood obesity, racial and ethic presisposition to diabetes, etc.) and conduct extensive research into viable solutions for the problems incorporating. The results of the investigation will be presented as a 30 minute Power Point oral presentation that summarizes a written manuscript both of which include an introduction to the problem, a review of literature, a proposed solution, relevant data to support the proposed solution that must include experiences drawn from their internships, responses to interviews of practicing professionals, salient information form the scientific literature, and constructs or frames of reference drawn form their Core and major curricula. As separate submission, students will write and expository paper reflecting on their SU education, the problem investigated and the impact of both on their future as a professional. 

SPEX 495 Internship (1-5)
Allows for a practical clinical opportunity through assigned work experience. Assignments are arranged with local, national or international organizations and include all field specializations. Position descriptions are based on the needs of the cooperating organization. Work hours, calendar, remuneration and related benefits are negotiated. A supervisor/mentor serves as the author of specific assignments and participates in a final evaluation supported by journal and portfolio.