Our Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences is a scientific study of human movement and human behavior relative to exercise, fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. This degree is designed to prepare you to meet challenges in these dynamic and emerging fields of study. You will engage in core issues and concepts in areas such as anatomy and physiology, nutrition, kinesiology, and exercise programming and testing. The degree provides practical skills often required for entry-level positions in the fitness industry, corporate wellness programs, and strength and conditioning of athletes.
This B.S. degree in Sports and Health Sciences is affiliated with the guidelines of the American Sport Education Program (ASEP).
Note: Material for lab courses will only be provided once. If you need replacement lab equipment for any reason or need to retake the course later, you will need to purchase your own lab refills.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Apply fundamental concepts of human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health, and kinesiology to applications in sports and fitness.
- Perform motivational strategies and tactics designed to guide practice and performance in physical activity.
- Design a healthful diet for varying populations based off sound nutritional principles and concepts generated from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Critically analyze steroids usage on athletic performance including associated muscle reaction and medical risks.
- Illustrate appropriate procedures for treating upper and lower body sport injuries.
- Construct exercise programs applicable in fitness, rehabilitation, and athletic training settings.
- Evaluate suitability of common exercises based on muscle action for exercise program design.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 31 | |
| Major Required | 37 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 18 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 31 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
Degree Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (31 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours) | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Arabic I | ||
| Arabic II | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Survey of Photography | ||
| Film and Literature | ||
| Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop® | ||
| French I | ||
| French II | ||
| German I | ||
| German II | ||
| Introduction to Japanese | ||
| Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion | ||
| From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature | ||
| British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland | ||
| Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period | ||
| Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Jazz and Rock | ||
| World Music and Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese | ||
| Introduction to the Study of Religion | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Russian I | ||
| Spanish I | ||
| Spanish II | ||
| Thinking and Acting Ethically | ||
| Civics, Political and Social Sciences (6 semester hours) | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| Practical Food Safety and Awareness | ||
| International Relations I | ||
| Forgotten America--Under Represented Cultures in American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American Government I | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Death and Dying | ||
| Race & Religion | ||
| Hope and Resilience | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| American Popular Culture | ||
| Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction | ||
| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) | ||
| COMM120 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL110 | Making Writing Relevant | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Proficiency in Writing | ||
| Argumentation and Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Effective Business Communication | ||
| Human Relations Communication | ||
| Information Literacy and Global Citizenship | ||
| Introduction to Information Technology Writing | ||
| Human Relations | ||
| History (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| American History to 1877 | ||
| American History since 1877 | ||
| World Civilization before 1650 | ||
| World Civilization since 1650 | ||
| Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War | ||
| Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War | ||
| African-American History before 1877 | ||
| African-American History since 1877 | ||
| History of the American Indian | ||
| History of Science | ||
| The History and Context of STEM | ||
| Mathematics (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| College Trigonometry | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Natural Sciences (4 semester hours) | ||
| BIOL133 | General Biology I with Lab | 4 |
| Total Semester Hours | 31 | |
| 1 | All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110 - Making Writing Relevant. |
Major Required (37 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM133 | General Chemistry I with Lab | 4 |
| PHYS133 | Elements of Physics I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL250 | Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I | 4 |
| BIOL251 | Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab II | 4 |
| SPHE295 | Foundations of Nutrition | 3 |
| SPHE421 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| SPHE314 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| PSYC460 | Sports Psychology | 3 |
| SPHE250 | Sports First Aid and Safety | 3 |
| SPHE322 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| SPHE420 | Exercise Programming and Testing | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 37 | |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a General Concentration, Concentration in Coaching Studies, Concentration in Exercise Science, Concentration in Fitness and Wellness Professional Studies, Concentration in Nutrition for Health and Fitness.
General Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
This general concentration allows you to select from all concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 courses from the following: | 18 | |
| Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Wellness: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | ||
| Health Economics and Finance | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Training and Conditioning | ||
| Sports Medicine | ||
| Coaching Theory and Methodology | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Scientific Principles of Coaching | ||
| Athletic Programs Administration | ||
| Leadership Concepts in Coaching | ||
| Advanced Strength and Conditioning | ||
| Principles of Corrective Exercise | ||
| Business Aspects of Fitness and Wellness | ||
| Current Issues and Trends in Fitness and Wellness | ||
| Sports and Recreation Facility Management | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Coaching Studies (18 semester hours)
Explores strategies of effective communication with athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and parents. The curriculum evaluates technical and tactical sport skills, as well as leadership strategies and their application to coaching principles. A focus on coaching leadership can also be applied to other business endeavors and personal life.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Identify strategies to effectively communicate athletes, fellow coaches, officials, school administrators, and parents.
- Examine methods for teaching and evaluating technical and tactical sport skills.
- Analyze and evaluate leadership strategies and apply them to coaching principles.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LSTD209 | Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation | 3 |
| SPHE318 | Coaching Theory and Methodology | 3 |
| SPHE423 | Advanced Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| SPHE417 | Leadership Concepts in Coaching | 3 |
| SPHE416 | Athletic Programs Administration | 3 |
| SPHE360 | Scientific Principles of Coaching | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Exercise Science (18 semester hours)
Offers scientific knowledge used to train athletes and clients in fitness and athletic performance, including exercise prescription principles for training variation, injury prevention, and reconditioning. Examines sports nutrition and supplementation, lower and upper extremities function during exercise, and mental training strategies aimed at improving athletic performance.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply scientific knowledge to train athletes and clients for the primary goals of improving athletic performance and fitness.
- Apply exercise prescription principles for training variation, injury prevention, and reconditioning.
- Analyze sport movements and design movement-oriented exercise prescriptions.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH302 | Statistics | 3 |
| SPHE315 | Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| SPHE317 | Sports Medicine | 3 |
| SPHE423 | Advanced Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| SPHE324 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| SPHE426 | Principles of Corrective Exercise | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Fitness and Wellness Professional Studies (18 semester hours)
Examines health care financing and economic principles, as well as environmental, sociocultural, and other factors that influence fitness and wellness practices. Topics include the physical, intellectual, and social components of wellness, as well as sports facility and event management and other business aspects, including risk management, marketing, leadership, and personnel.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the structure of healthcare financing and economic principles.
- Evaluate environmental, sociocultural, and economic factors that influence fitness and wellness professional practices throughout society.
- Integrate healthy lifestyle and behavior practices for improving overall well-being.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PBHE209 | Wellness: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| PBHE315 | Health Economics and Finance | 3 |
| PBHE427 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| SPHE460 | Business Aspects of Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| SPHE461 | Current Issues and Trends in Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| SPMT316 | Sports and Recreation Facility Management | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Nutrition for Health and Fitness
Nutrition and physical activity are essential components of health and well-being. The Nutrition for Health and Fitness concentration extends the core nutrition theories beyond basic sports nutrition concepts taught in the Sports and Health Sciences curriculum. Students will learn to apply cultural food practices, advanced nutrition topics, wellness and disease prevention principles, and skills to integrate nutrition coaching/well-being techniques to health and fitness programs.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply fundamental principles and concepts of nutrition science (e.g., nutrients, hydration, and alcohol consumption), cultural food practices, and disease prevention to essential health and fitness principles.
- Evaluate current fitness and wellness topics using appropriate nutrition and physical activity principles.
- Develop strategies that help clients select appropriate foods, manage cultural food restrictions, and overcome life/training hurdles to build healthy eating habits that improve their well-being.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PBHE209 | Wellness: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| SOCI315 | Food and Culture | 3 |
| SOCI423 | Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| SPHE461 | Current Issues and Trends in Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| SPHE340 | Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle | 3 |
| SPHE435 | Advanced Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPHE490 | Senior Seminar in Sports and Health Science (to be taken as the last course before graduation) 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. |
Elective Requirements (31 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select any courses not already taken to fulfill the requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. | 31 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 31 | |