BS in Exercise Science - Health Fitness Major
The health fitness major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Health fitness professionals plan, implement, and evaluate health fitness and health promotion programs for individuals and groups. Students majoring in health fitness learn to integrate scientific research, education, and practical applications of exercise science to maintain and enhance physical fitness, health, and quality of life.
Change of Major
Students enrolled in other USM programs of study desiring to enroll in the Health Fitness major through the change of major process must have a 2.50 USM GPA to do so.
Retention and Progression Requirements
Students will be retained within the health fitness major providing the following criteria are maintained throughout their undergraduate experience:
- Meet the published "technical standards" for the health fitness major. Technical standards will be addressed and completed during SPM 260.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Present proof of current American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for the Professional Rescuer certification, or its equivalent, prior to enrolling in the following courses: SPM 260, SPM 385, SPM 395, SPM 495.
- Present proof of health insurance coverage equal to the USM Student Health Insurance Plan (basic) prior to enrolling in the following courses: SPM 385. Documentation should include a copy of current health insurance card with the name of an insurance carrier, policy number, etc.
- Documentation of receiving the first two of three required Hepatitis B immunization injections prior to enrolling in SPM 385. Documentation should include copies of the laboratory reports that the student received the injections. If the student chooses not to be Hepatitis B immunized, he or she must read, complete, and sign the form entitled "Hepatitis B Vaccine Declination Assumption of Risk and Release" prior to enrolling in SPM 385.
- Documented proof of receiving the third injection of the Hepatitis B Immunization series prior to enrolling in SPM 495. Formal documentation indicating the aforementioned CPR, health insurance, and Hepatitis B immunization requirements have been met must be on file with the Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences.
Probation
Students with less than 60 accumulated credits will be placed on academic probation for failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Students failing to rectify the GPA deficiency within a one-year probation period will be removed from their declared major and from their status as a student within the Department. Upon rectifying the GPA deficiency, students can reapply for admission into a Departmental major.
Graduation Requirements
Students will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in exercise science with a major in health fitness when the following are satisfied:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Completion of all University Core curriculum requirements.
- Completion of all exercise, health, and sport sciences core required coursework.
- Completion of all health fitness major coursework.
- Completion of 120 credit hours.
Major Requirements
The major consists of 120 credit hours, which includes the University's Core curriculum.
| University Core Courses | Credits (43-46) |
| *EYE Experience | 3 |
| College Writing | 3 or 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (MAT 120 or PSY 105) | 3 or 4 |
| Science Exploration (PHY 101/102 or PHY 111/114) | 4 or 5 |
| Creative Expression | 3 |
| Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
| Socio-cultural Analysis | 3 |
| Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility and Citizenship | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Capstone (SPM 495) | 3 |
| International | 3 |
| Diversity | 3 |
| *EYE 125 Getting Down to Business recommended | |
| EHSS Required Core Courses | Cr (33) |
| CHY 107 Chemistry for Health Sciences | 3 |
| or CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I | |
| PHY 101/102 Introduction to Physics and Lab | (4 or 5) |
| or PHY 111/114 Elements of Physics I and Lab (credits included in Core Science Exploration requirement) | |
| MAT 120 Intro to Statistics | (3 or 4) |
| or PSY 105 Statistics in Psychology (credits included in Core Quantitative Reasoning requirement) | |
| BIO 111 Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIO 112 Practical Human Anatomy and Phys I | 1.5 |
| BIO 211 Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| BIO 212 Practical Human Anatomy and Phys II | 1.5 |
| CON 216 Emergency Response | 3 |
| CON 252 Human Nutrition | 3 |
| CON 352 Nutrition for Physical Performance | 3 |
| SPM 100 Introduction to Exercise, Health and Sport Sciences | 3 |
| SPM 330 Physiology of Exercise | 3 |
| SPM 381 Kinesiology | 3 |
| SPM 430 Exercise Testing, Assessment and Prescription | 3 |
| Health Fitness Major Requirements (39 credit hours) | Credits |
| BUS 200 Introduction to Business | 3 |
| or *EYE 125 Getting Down to Business recommended | |
| PSY 101 General Psychology I | 3 |
| SPM 230 Psychology of Physical Activity and Sport | 3 |
| SPM 260 Introduction of Personal Training | 3 |
| SPM 315 Group Exercise Instruction | 3 |
| SPM 325 Methods of Resistance Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| SPM 350 Health Promotion Programs | 3 |
| SPM 385 Health Fitness Practicum I | 3 |
| SPM 395 Health Fitness Practicum II | 3 |
| SPM 450 Exercise for Special Populations | 3 |
| SPM 481 Fitness Facility Management | 3 |
| SPM 495 Clinical Internship/Co-op | 6* |
| *plus 3 from Capstone requirement | |
| Electives | Credits |
| (select courses from this list so total number of credits at the time of graduation equals 120) | |
| SPM 235 Lab Techniques in Nutrition and Exercise | 3 |
| SPM 302 Pharmacology for Athletic Training and Exercise Science | 2 |
| SPM 398 Independent Study | 1-3 |
| SPM 431 Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| SPM 460 EKG Interpretation | 3 |
| SPM 485 Senior Thesis I | 3 |
| SPM 486 Senior Thesis II | 3 |
| CON 219 Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| CON 270 Holistic Approach to Reproductive Health | 3 |
| *CON 280 Holistic Health I | 3 |
| *CON 281 Holistic Health II | 3 |
| *CON 283 Healing and Spirituality | 3 |
| *CON 284 Botanical Therapies | 3 |
| *CON 285 Perspectives on Animal-Assisted Therapy | 3 |
| *CON 288 Reiki: Energy Medicine | 3 |
| CON 302 Pharmacology | 3 |
| *CON 311 Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults | 3 |
| CON 314 Wellness Education and Counseling | 3 |
| CON 321 Health-Related Research | 3 |
| *CON 490 Therapeutic Touch | 3 |
| ITS 300 Ergonomics/Time Study | 3 |
| ITS 320 Occupational Safety and Health | 3 |
| PSY 102 General Psychology II | 3 |
| PSY 340 Behavior Modification | 3 |
| PSY 368 Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 390 Health Psychology Institute | 3 |
| PSY 390 Sports Psychology Institute | 3 |
| RHF prefix course (any two different 1.5 credit courses) | 3 |
| BIO 201 Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 281 Microbiology and Human Disease | 3 |
| BIO 345 Pathophysiology | 3 |
| CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I | 1 |
| #ACC 110 Financial Accounting Information for Decision Making | 3 |
| #ACC 211 Managerial Accounting for Decision Making | 3 |
| #BUS 190 Personal Finance | 3 |
| BUS 210 Introduction to Sports Management | 3 |
| #BUS 260 Marketing | 3 |
| #BUS 280 Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| #BUS 340 Managing Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| #BUS 345 Information Technology/Management Info Systems | 3 |
| #ECO 101 Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| #ECO 102 Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| #RMI 220 Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
Other courses per advisor permission.
* Along with the required Department course (CON 252), students who successfully complete CON 280, CON 281any other 2 * courses, and (CON 219, CON 270, or 3 credits of RHF-prefix courses), will satisfy requirements for the holistic and integrative health minor (HIH). Consult with the coordinator of the HIH minor in the School of Nursing to declare the HIH minor.
#Along with required health fitness course (BUS 200), students who successfully complete any 6 # courses satisfy requirements for the minor in business administration offered through the School of Business Consult with the School of Business to declare a business minor.
Faculty Research
In this video highlighting faculty research at USM, Dr. Christopher Scott discusses his research regarding consumption of oxygen during exercise.
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