• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

Exercise physiology is broadly based on basic sciences: human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and biology. The primary goal of this field is to understand how the various cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems respond to challenges posed by exercise and physical training. Exercise physiology focuses on optimal performance such as that attained by elite and highly trained athletes. Unlike many fields, exercise physiology has remained integrative, examining how the failure or enhancement of one physiological system can influence another. The field also considers how the environment imposes limits on the body during exercise through such means as heat, cold, humidity, and altitude.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 35 credit hours is required for the exercise physiology program.  The Master of Science in Kinesiology degree must include a minimum of 20 credits from the Department of Kinesiology.  A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C– is required in each course. All electives for completing the degree must be approved by the advisor.

Complete each of the following courses (26 cr.):

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 542 Neuromuscular Control of Movement (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 634 Respiratory Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 635 Cardiovascular Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 636 Cardio-Pulmonary Assessment Lab (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 638 Biochemical Adaptations to Exercise (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 639 Laboratory Techniques for Exercise Biochemistry (2 cr.)
• SPH-K 694 Seminar in Human Performance (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 505 Principles and Foundations of Public Health (3 cr.)

Comlete Electives to reach the required minimum of 35 graduate-level credits. The following are suggested electives.

• BIOL-L 313 Cell Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
• BIOL-T 567 Cell Physiology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry Lectures 1 (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry Lectures 2 (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 485 Biosynthesis and Physiology (3 cr.)
• PHSL-P 431 Mammalian Physiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 530 Mechanical Analysis of Human Performance (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 533 Advanced Theories in High-Level Performance (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 599 Masters Thesis (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 633 Factors Affecting Human Performance (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 652 Clinical Exercise Physiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 693 Independent Study and Research (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 502 Intermediate Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, & Recreation (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels can assist in a wide variety of ongoing research experiments in the exercise physiology laboratories.

Careers

• Careers for M.S.: Preparation toward Ph.D. programs; research-related positions at research laboratories.
• Careers for Ph.D.: Graduates are qualified for research and teaching positions at universities, sports organizations, and medical centers.