Oct 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Exercise Science and Health Promotion, MS

Location(s): Online


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PennWest offers a fully online master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion focusing on leadership, professionalism, business & entrepreneurship, high quality fitness and wellness certifications, human movement science, exercise physiology, and the most current research in the field. Choose from 10 different single concentrations or over 40 dual concentration options, with full- or part-time possibilities. Small class sizes allow our expert faculty to deliver high-quality content in a personalized manner. Exercise Science has one of a kind partnerships with national organizations and corporations that connect you to best practices in the industry.

Student Learning Outcomes


Exercise Science Program Level Outcomes

  • Describe and apply principles and applications of leadership, including persuasiveness, leading and directing teams, leading within organizations, leadership opportunities in shaping fitness policy, techniques for managing change and empowerment.
  • Analyze and apply fitness & injury prevention research, focusing on current clinical outcomes research, psychology and physical activity research, and performance enhancement research, such as research related to special populations, (e.g. athletes at opposite ends of the age spectrum.)
  • Describe the kinetic chain and proper biomechanical movement patterns and related principles.
  • Perform a comprehensive, kinetic chain assessment to identify common postural distortions, muscle imbalances, and neuromuscular dysfunctions, as well as describe proper biomechanical movement patterns.
  • Design industrial and corporate wellness programs focused on injury and illness prevention as well as decreasing health-related costs.
  • Design performance nutrition programs for pre-activity, during activity, and recovery phases of exercise.
  • Design sport specific nutrition programs for endurance, anaerobic activity, weight gain, and weight loss goals.
  • Develop an exercise prescription designed to improve health and/or fitness, and how to adjust these programs based on age, gender and individuals with disabilities.
  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply integrated, functional speed, agility, and quickness techniques including core stabilization, neuromuscular stabilization, reactive neuromuscular stabilization, integrated flexibility, integrated strength, speed training, foot training, and vision training.
  • Develop a program design project including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research.
  • Demonstrate above average skills in the launching of entrepreneurial ventures, as well as business and management practices, including: management theory, financial management, personnel management, record keeping, risk management, marketing, billing and technology issues.

Advanced Golf Performance Concentration Outcomes

  • Assess and explain the movement demands of golf on the body and common injures associated with the golf swing.
  • Recognize compensations in motor programs and create solutions that improve movement patterns.
  • Analyze data from golf skills and fitness assessments to develop programming to improve player performance.
  • Perform a comprehensive, kinetic chain assessment to identify common postural distortions, muscle imbalances, and neuromuscular dysfunctions.
  • Develop solutions to current performance challenges by applying both relevant research and principles of strength and conditioning to player performance.
  • Create and implement a comprehensive, integrated functional conditioning program for individuals in the field of Golf Performance Training and Instruction.

Applied Sport Science Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced recovery and exercise science methodology and techniques including monitoring, recovery innovations, and other applied sport science methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various recovery, monitoring, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to applied sport science.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to applied sport science with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and sport science trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping sport science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the sport science and exercise science fields.

Group Fitness Leadership Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply group fitness instruction and exercise science methodology/techniques including integrated functional group fitness and other wellness methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various fitness, group fitness, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to group fitness instruction.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to group fitness instruction. Current topics may focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and fitness trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping fitness and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the fitness and exercise science fields.
     

Nutrition Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced nutrition and exercise science methodology and techniques including nutrition performance programs and other nutrition counseling methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various nutrition and sport performance nutritional program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to their field of study.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to nutrition and sports nutrition with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and nutrition trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping nutrition and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the nutrition and exercise science fields.
     

Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced sport performance enhancement and exercise science methodology and techniques including integrated functional training and other injury prevention methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various performance enhancement, injury prevention, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to sport performance training and injury prevention.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to sport performance training with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and sport performance enhancement trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping performance training, injury prevention and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to sport performance training and exercise science fields.
     

Rehabilitation Science Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced rehabilitation science methodology and techniques including integrated corrective exercise protocols and other rehabilitation methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various corrective exercise and rehabilitation science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to rehabilitation science.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to rehabilitation science with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and rehabilitation science trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping rehabilitation science and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the rehabilitation and exercise science fields.
     

Sport Psychology Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced sport psychology and exercise science methodology and techniques including integrated counseling and other sport psychology methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various sport psychology, wellness counseling, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to sport psychology.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to sport psychology with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and sport psychology trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping sport psychology and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the sport psychology and exercise science fields.

 

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Concentration Outcomes

  • Assess for both routine and extreme demands of tactical professions that influence how to design safe and effective training programs.
  • Compile a high performance team (e.g. dietitian, physical therapist, mental performance specialist) to best optimize the tactical athlete’s effectiveness.
  • Determine biomechanical and metabolic demands placed on tactical professionals due to the unique nature of their professions.
  • Assess job relevant physical capabilities of tactical professionals.
  • Build exercise programs using warm-up, power, strength, and energy system focused training principles to enhance health and performance needs of tactical professionals.
  • Design and implement a comprehensive strength and conditioning program tailored specifically to address the unique needs of a tactical professional.
  • Construct training programs to accommodate various sized groups of trainees with variable equipment availability.
  • Develop solutions to current performance challenges by applying both relevant research and principles of strength and conditioning.
     

Wellness and Fitness Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced fitness and exercise science methodology and techniques including integrated functional fitness and other wellness methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various fitness, wellness, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to their field of study.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to their field of study with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and fitness trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping fitness and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the fitness and exercise science fields.
     

Wellness Coaching Concentration Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an above average ability to implement and apply advanced wellness coaching and exercise science methodology and techniques including integrated functional fitness and other wellness coaching methodologies.
  • Plan and develop various fitness, wellness coaching, and exercise science program design projects including program elements, rationale, innovative design, and supporting research related to their field of study.
  • Competently describe a variety of current topics and issues related to wellness coaching with a focus on a.) federal, state and organization policy, b.) current exercise science and fitness trends, c.) leadership opportunities in shaping fitness and exercise science policy, and d.) research-based initiatives new to the wellness coaching and exercise science fields.

Curriculum Requirements


Total Core Credits Required: 30


Required Advanced


Advanced Golf Performance Concentration, MS


Students will learn to assess and explain common injuries associated with the golf swing, how certain movements put a strain on the body, and ways to improve movement patterns. Students also acquire the skills needed to create and implement comprehensive conditioning programs, as well as nutrition and exercise programs that benefit golfers. Students earn their Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Concentration Credits Required: 12


Applied Sport Science Concentration, MS


Using the latest research and best practices, students explore sports recovery interventions, motion analysis, injury prevention and more. After a capstone research project and a six-credit internship, students earn their Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Concentration Credits Required: 15


Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention Concentration, MS


Students will focus on the latest research and issues in sports performance training and injury prevention. They become experts in implementing and applying advanced exercise science and injury prevention methodologies and techniques as they relate to flexibility, speed and agility. Students also learn about a variety of current topics and issues related to sport performance training, including government policy and current research. Students earn their Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Group Fitness Leadership Concentration, MS


Students not only take a scientific approach to the creation and implementation of group exercise classes, they gain insight into current fitness trends, learn how to design a fitness program for the workplace, and the practical aspects of starting and running a business related to performance enhancement and fitness training. A research-based capstone project will further their knowledge in their field of interest. 

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Nutrition Concentration, MS


This degree provides students with state-of-the-science information on advanced nutritional concepts, strategies for changing behavior, applied nutrition for special populations and more. Current topics in nutrition are analyzed and discussed.

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Sport Psychology Concentration, MS


The curriculum delivers evidence-based instruction on how to plan and develop various projects that relate to wellness, counseling and sport psychology. Students study the effects of injury, rehabilitation and recovery, explore performance enhancement and intervention methods, and learn how to incorporate referrals into their practice.

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Rehabilitation Science Concentration, MS


Students will learn evidence-based guidelines and effective strategies for musculoskeletal rehabilitation and biomechanical assessment. Highly experienced faculty will serve as mentors as students plan and develop various corrective exercises, protocols and rehabilitation methodologies. They will be expertly trained to be a valuable member of the rehabilitation team in a variety of settings, from athletic training rooms and physical therapy clinics to chiropractic offices and other treatment settings. Students earn their Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Tactical Strength and Conditioning Concentration, MS


Tactical strength and conditioning combines theory and practical application. Students learn how to operate within a high-performance team of professionals to generate holistic training solutions that optimize bio-mechanics and metabolic processes geared to the unique challenges of tactical careers. In addition to courses such as designing and implementing tactical strength and conditioning programs, students will complete a research-based course as a capstone and a research paper focused on a personalized area of interest. They will earn their Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). 

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Wellness and Fitness Concentration, MS


The program introduces students to the revolutionary exercise programming strategies of the Optimum Performance Training (OPT) model. Students learn how this systematic approach to program design uniquely blends the science of acute variables with the concepts of flexibility, core stabilization, balance, reactive training, speed, agility and quickness, and strength training to develop a safe and effective exercise program for all individuals. Students earn their Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Wellness Coaching Concentration, MS


Students build expertise in promoting healthy lifestyles through behavioral changes. Under the supervision of experienced faculty, students build evidence-based coaching competencies that are grounded in the science of positive psychology. They will study current topics in wellness coaching, review current research and develop the skills to foster well-being and prevent or treat diseases. A research-based capstone project provides students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on a particular topic. Students are prepared to earn their Certified WellCoach Certification from the WellCoaches School of Coaching, endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Concentration Credits Required: 9


Optional Electives


Total Number of Credits to Complete the Program: 39 to 45


The Advanced Golf Performance Concentration requires 42 total credits for the program and the Applied Sport Science Concentration requires 45 total credits for the program.  Dual concentrations can be achieved at 48 credits or more, depending on the concentrations.

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