Exercise Science
Shawn Arent, Ph.D., Chair
The mission of the Department of Exercise Science is to expand and disseminate the body of knowledge concerning the relationship between exercise participation and human health.
Programs of Study
The undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in exercise science is a science-based program designed primarily to prepare students for entry into post-baccalaureate/graduate programs in health-related fields. A departmental core curriculum provides comprehensive mastery of exercise science.
Entrance Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to the degree program offered by the Department of Exercise Science. Transfer admission requires department approval as well as prerequisites.
Transfer Admission
- Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and must have at least 12 USC credit hours.
- Students from other USC campuses must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and must have taken at least 12 USC credit hours. Additionally, students from other USC campuses who have fewer than 30 semester hours must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.
- Transfer students from regionally accredited institutions must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all college work taken. Students who have fewer than 30 semester hours of college work must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.
Retention and Progression Standards
- If the semester, yearly, or cumulative grade point average of a student is below 2.00, the student will be notified in writing.
- An exercise science major must receive a grade of C or higher in any course in order for it to serve as a prerequisite.
- A student in exercise science must earn a grade of C or higher in all EXSC departmental course work (EXSC) and in required cognates.
- An exercise science major may attempt an EXSC course and any prerequisites a maximum of two times to fulfill the requirement. A grade of W will be included as an attempt.
- An exercise science major may repeat a maximum of three EXSC courses.
Attendance Requirements
Students enrolled in the Department of Exercise Science are subject to attendance regulations of the University described elsewhere in the bulletin. When a student enrolls in a particular course, the student is obligated for all the work which may be assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is vital to the discharge of this obligation. The student is responsible for all assigned work in a course, and absences, excused or not, do not absolve the student of this responsibility.
Minors
Students majoring in Exercise Science may pursue minors offered by other units. In completing a minor, students may apply advisor-approved courses to both the minor and cognate, or elective requirements.
Courses
Introduction to the historical evolution of athletic training with an emphasis on program development including basic athletic training principles/skills associated with common sports injuries/illnesses.
Knowledge, skills, and values associated with prevention, care, treatment, and rehabilitation of common injuries/illnesses.
Basic knowledge and skill in athletic injury prevention, care, and recognition; medical terminology; fulfillment of athletic training clinical proficiencies.
Supervised clinical experience in an athletic training setting. Integrates cognitive learning in conjunction with psychomotor skill development and assessment. Restricted to athletic training majors. Special permission required by department. Accepted into ATEP.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships
Supervised clinical experience in an athletic training setting. Integrates cognitive learning in conjunction with psychomotor skill development and assessment Restricted to athletic training majors. Special permission required by department.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships
Knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of situations when emergency care is critical. Includes American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid certification. Encompasses skills for adult, child, and infant CPR/AED, breathing emergencies, and first aid procedures for emergency situations.
Skill development to meet guidelines for certification. Skills include AED, adult, child, and infant CPR, breathing emergencies, and first aid.
Knowledge acquisition necessary to work as an emergency medical responder (EMR) to help sustain life, reduce pain and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until more advanced medical help takes over. Appropriate decisions about the care to provide in a medical emergency. Understanding the role of an EMR as a crucial link in the emergency medical services (EMS) system.
Clinical applications necessary to work as an emergency medical responder (EMR) to help sustain life, reduce pain and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until more advanced medical help takes over. Appropriate decisions about the care to provide in a medical emergency. Skills an EMR needs to act as a crucial link in the emergency medical services (EMS) system.
Knowledge and skills for orthopedic/physical assessment of common injuries to the lower body; study of the lower extremities as they relate to the prevention, recognition, evaluation and assessment, immediate care, and treatment; rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuring and illnesses to athletes and others engaged in physical activity.
Knowledge and skills for orthopedic/physical assessment of common injuries to the cervical spine, head, face, abdomen, and thorax. Study of the cervical spine, head, face, abdomen and thorax as they related to the prevention, recognition, evaluation and assessment; immediate care, treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of injuries and illnesses to athletes and others engaged in physical activity.
Integrates cognitive learning in conjunction with psychomotor skill development and assessment on the application of modalities in laboratory situations.
Supervised clinical experience for athletic training students. Integrates cognitive learning in conjunction with psychomotor skill development and assessment.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships
Techniques and skills of therapeutic exercise used in the development of rehabilitation programs for various injuries.
Supervised clinical experience for athletic training students. Integrates cognitive learning in conjunction with psychomotor skill development and assessment.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships
Preparation for the BOC examination for athletic trainers; advanced skills and integration of athletic training principles and development of athletic training research; professional research and current literature pertaining to relevant topics in athletic training.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships, GLD: Research
Concepts of exercise, nutrition, behavior changes, and skills to promote lifelong physical activity and health.
Introduction to the profession and practice of physical therapy detailing the functions, disorders, and therapies of the major organ systems in applied context.
Hands-on activities covering micro- and macroscopic anatomical topics including identification of tissues, bones and markings of the skeletal system, the joints, and the skeletal muscles of the body.
Human anatomy for allied health professions. Focus on anatomy relevant to providing health services; knowledge and skills of orthopedic anatomy relative to muscle, ligament, and tendon; muscle origins, insertions, innervations, and actions pertaining to joint motion.
Novel and emerging themes in exercise science. Content varies by instructor and title. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours as content varies by title.
Supervised experience in a field, clinical, or research setting. EXSC majors only.
Students will learn how to perform pre-exercise assessments, develop appropriate exercise training programs based on these assessments, as well as lead and demonstrate safe and effective methods of exercise by the application of the primary theories and principles of exercise science.
Supervised experience in the administration of community-based fitness programs. Concurrent seminar with the supervising instructor.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships
Investigation on the physiological basis for strength and conditioning. Principles of strength and conditioning through lecture based learning, demonstrations, and through laboratory activities.
Content varies by title. Course may be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours.
Role of motor development in the growth and development of individuals exhibiting impaired motor control.
Sex differences in diseases, physiological function of sex hormones, hormonal changes in a woman’s life, specific women’s health issues, and role of physical activity and exercise in prevention and treatment of conditions and diseases specific to women or related to sex hormones. Restricted to 30 students, Special Permission by Instructor.
The course will increase students’ understanding of the theoretical foundations, scientific evidence and practical application of technology-assisted lifestyle interventions, with an emphasis on behavioral weight control for adults.
Examination of the interrelationships that link human nutrition to the immune system in health and disease. Topics will include basic immunology, overview of nutritional sources, deficiencies and excesses, and the impact on public health issues such as exercise, disease and aging.
Examination of the anatomy and function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the exercising human organism, including acute adjustments and chronic adaptations to the systems.
Students in this course will analyze everyday activities to gain insight into how humans plan, initiate, execute and refine motor skills. Students will also learn how to evaluate research on motor behavior and how to create novel studies aimed at advancing our understanding of everyday motor behavior.
This course is designed to provide students a survey of physiological responses to a variety of environments, such as heat, cold, altitude, and microgravity environments, and how the body acclimatizes to these environments with regards to exercise training.
Examination of the anatomy and function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the exercising human organism, including acute adjustments and chronic adaptations to the systems.
The research process in Exercise Science through participation, presentation, and discussion of current research.