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

General Education Requirements31
Major Required37
Select one of the following concentrations:18
Final Program Requirements3
Elective Requirements31
Total Semester Hours120

Degree Program Requirements

General Education Requirements (31 semester hours)

Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours)
Select 2 courses from the following: 16
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: 16
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)
COMM120Information and Digital Literacy3
ENGL110Making Writing Relevant3
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)
BIOL133General Biology I with Lab4
Total Semester Hours31

Major Required (37 semester hours)

CHEM133General Chemistry I with Lab4
PHYS133Elements of Physics I with Lab4
BIOL250Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I4
BIOL251Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab II4
SPHE295Foundations of Nutrition3
SPHE421Kinesiology3
SPHE314Exercise Physiology3
PSYC460Sports Psychology3
SPHE250Sports First Aid and Safety3
SPHE322Sports Nutrition3
SPHE420Exercise Programming and Testing3
Total Semester Hours37

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.

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 Hours18

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)

LSTD209Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation3
SPHE318Coaching Theory and Methodology3
SPHE423Advanced Strength and Conditioning3
SPHE417Leadership Concepts in Coaching3
SPHE416Athletic Programs Administration3
SPHE360Scientific Principles of Coaching3
Total Semester Hours18

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)

MATH302Statistics3
SPHE315Training and Conditioning3
SPHE317Sports Medicine3
SPHE423Advanced Strength and Conditioning3
SPHE324Biomechanics3
SPHE426Principles of Corrective Exercise3
Total Semester Hours18

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)

PBHE209Wellness: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention3
PBHE315Health Economics and Finance3
PBHE427Epidemiology3
SPHE460Business Aspects of Fitness and Wellness3
SPHE461Current Issues and Trends in Fitness and Wellness3
SPMT316Sports and Recreation Facility Management3
Total Semester Hours18

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)

PBHE209Wellness: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention3
SOCI315Food and Culture3
SOCI423Sociology of Health and Illness3
SPHE461Current Issues and Trends in Fitness and Wellness3
SPHE340Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle3
SPHE435Advanced Nutrition3
Total Semester Hours18

Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)

SPHE490Senior Seminar in Sports and Health Science (to be taken as the last course before graduation) 13
Total Semester Hours3

Elective Requirements (31 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 Hours31