Follow your passion for human performance with a strength and conditioning master's

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the anatomy and physiology of organ systems in the human body and how these systems respond to exercise, both acutely and through habitual exercise training. By detailing the structure and function of each organ system in isolation as well how each system contributes to the global functioning of the body, students are provided with the foundational knowledge necessary to build appropriate exercise programs for optimal health. The course covers organs and systems of the body, such as the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, and respiratory systems, as well as cellular physiology.

This course prepares the student to design and implement exercise prescriptions for healthy individuals and those with controlled disease. Students learn processes and decision-making strategies for pre-participation screening, risk classification, and test selection for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition assessment. Interpretation of test results and application of physiological and kinesiology principles are employed to create exercise programs for a given goal. Students also gain an understanding of professional responsibilities and facility management.

This course helps the student gain strategies to optimize adoption of adherence to exercise and healthy behaviors in daily living for all populations, as well as improve performance in sports settings for the athlete. The course introduces students to behavior change models and theories and how their application can contribute to healthy lifestyle changes. Topics such as energy management, stress, motivation, and attention, and their role in sports performance are discussed.

This course educates the student in basic nutritional guidelines for general health and nutritional strategies for optimal sports performance. Students gain an understanding of the chemical composition of and breakdown of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fluids in the body. The roles of these substances in exercise and strategies for optimal sports performance are described. Students are prepared to develop a weight management program and nutritional strategy to achieve desired goals.

The purpose of this capstone course is to allow the student to demonstrate mastery of their chosen specialty area in Exercise Science and leadership skills gained throughout the program in a professional setting. Using a combination of course activities and a practical clinical or strength and conditioning experience, students integrate and apply the theories, scientific literature, and concepts learned throughout their graduate program. Students work with qualified industry professionals during the practical experience for the number of hours required by their chosen degree specialty.

This course is the first of a two-semester sequence that prepares the student to design and implement exercise prescriptions for individuals with chronic disease. The course provides practical instruction for the student to master application of exercise physiology skills in the clinical healthcare setting. Students learn processes for assessing health history, client intake, and exercise test administration and interpretation in clinical settings. Students develop competence in electrocardiogram (ECG) placement and monitoring during rest and exercise. Proficiency in evaluating ECG tracings for rhythm abnormalities and associated pathological conditions is acquired.

This course is the second of a two-semester sequence that prepares the student to design and implement exercise prescriptions for individuals with chronic disease. Symptoms of various disease conditions are emphasized to provide the student with the knowledge to modify exercise prescriptions to best serve clinical clients in improving health and minimizing risk. The course details specific exercises and provides practical activities to prepare students to spot, cue proper technique, progress, and regress exercises for clinical populations. Students continue to master monitoring and evaluation of ECG tracings during exercise. Students also gain an understanding of healthcare professional responsibilities and clinical facility management.

This course is designed to help the practitioner understand the basics of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and major classes of drugs encountered in the clinical exercise physiology setting. The curriculum focuses on the effects of drugs on the physiology of the exercise participant and how exercise and drugs interact. Students explore the principles of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics related to diseases, symptoms, and drug side effect management during exercise.

This course provides students with the scientific basis for anaerobic and aerobic exercise programming design to produce desired adaptations. Students will understand acute and chronic exercise training responses and adaptations, in both healthy populations and in special populations, such as children and older adults. Extension of these physiological concepts to overtraining, detraining, reducing injuring risk, and rehabilitation strategies after injury are explored.

This online laboratory course provides practical instruction for the student to master design of appropriate warm-ups, cool-downs, flexibility training, core and balance training, and resistance training, including bodyweight, machine, and free-weight exercise technique. The course details specific exercises and provides practical activities to prepare students to spot, cue proper technique, progress, and regress exercises.

This course educates the student in the skills necessary to test for fitness and design appropriate exercise programs with an emphasis on anaerobic fitness, although aerobic endurance is covered as well. The course begins with anaerobic test selection and administration, then details program design and technique for resistance, plyometric, and speed and agility optimization. The course concludes by providing students with a perspective on the business side of strength and conditioning, including facility design, program administration and oversight, policies, procedures, legal considerations, and emergency planning.