Sport and Exercise Physiology Major and Learning Outcomes

Sport and Exercise Physiology Mission Statement

The mission of the Sport and Exercise Physiology major is to develop board-certified exercise physiologists with the critical thinking, oral, and written communicative skills and practical knowledge necessary to serve confidently in a wide variety of fitness, exercise, and sport-related occupations. The Sport and Exercise Physiology program supports the University mission by providing men and women with quality higher education according to the philosophy of Christian humanism as developed by St. Francis de Sales. The Sport and Exercise Physiology program prepares students for employment in commercial, athletic, and clinical settings or for advanced study in professional and graduate schools.

Sport and Exercise Physiology Major Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from DeSales University with a major in Sport and Exercise Physiology will be able to:

1. demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of functional anatomy, applied physiology, and qualitative and quantitative movement sciences, and be able to apply this knowledge to a wide variety of health, fitness, sport, and daily movement activities;
2. access, generate, and critically evaluate scholarly research and be able to communicate scientific information in written and oral form to diverse audiences;
3. assess a client’s current fitness, nutrition, and health behaviors, and, consistent with the principles of evidence-based practice, be able to assist the client in developing a more active and healthy lifestyle;
4. demonstrate a Christian understanding of the human person in the Salesian tradition by ethical and professional interaction with patients, clients, and colleagues that respects their personal dignity and sacred nature;
5. demonstrate a commitment to professional activity and lifelong learning by active student participation in professional meetings, seminars, grand rounds, and extra-curricular learning opportunities.

The Sport and Exercise Physiology major is designed to provide students with both a theoretical foundation and a practical experience in a scientific approach to human activity in sports and physical fitness. A wide variety of course experiences will give students an understanding of the role of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the biological mechanisms by which activity affects the exercising person, and the social, psychological, and economic factors that affect sport and fitness activity. Specific classroom and laboratory experience will give students working foundations in biomechanics, nutrition for activity, methods of fitness evaluation, approaches to exercise prescription, and the physiology of sport and exercise. The internship requirement of the program is designed to ensure that students acquire practical experience in working with a wide range of clients, from a clinical population to trained athletes. In addition to board certification by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, students are prepared for certifications administered by other professional organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Students graduating in the Sport and Exercise Physiology major are exempt from the University requirement to complete the PE 100 course.