The Exercise Science 4 + 1 MPH track begins preparing students to work one-on-one with individuals performing health assessments, fitness testing, and writing exercise prescriptions for a variety of populations (BSA) and continues to prepare the student to improve the health of entire populations (MPH).
The undergraduate degree in Exercise Science prepares students for careers that include:
- medically based wellness programs
- corporate wellness programs
- strength and conditioning
- clinical rehabilitation programs such as cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation
- public and private fitness clubs
The master's degree in Public Health prepares students for careers that include:
- health informatics specialist
- healthcare administrator
- epidemiologist
- public health project manager
- healthcare consultant
The following are KSS courses required in the major for this degree:
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math | ||
| STAT 2625 | Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning | 3-6 |
| or STAT 2601 | Introductory Statistics | |
| or STAT 2625C | Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning with Co-Requisite Support | |
| Gen Ed NS | ||
| BIOL 1551 & 1551L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Anatomy and Physiology 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 1552 & 1552L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| Gen Ed Social Science (Select 1 Course) | 3 | |
| PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts and Humanities (Select 2 Courses) | 6 | |
| Gen Ed Electives | ||
| FNUT 1551 | Normal Nutrition | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| PHLT 1568 | Healthy Lifestyles | 3 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| KSS 1595 | Introduction to Kinesiology and Sport Science | 2 |
| KSS 1559 | Aerobic Conditioning Activities | 1 |
| KSS 1560 | Resistance Training | 2 |
| KSS 15XX Activity Elective | 1 | |
| KSS 2605 | Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention | 3 |
| KSS 2625 | Pedagogical Aspects of Exercise Science | 3 |
| KSS 3700 | Exercise Evaluation and Testing | 4 |
| KSS 3710 & 3710L | Physiology of Exercise and Physiology of Exercise Laboratory | 5 |
| KSS 3720 | Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy | 4 |
| KSS 3730 | Exercise Prescription | 4 |
| KSS 3760 | Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| KSS 4805 | Administration of Exercise Programs | 3 |
| KSS 4810 | Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription | 4 |
| KSS 4875 | Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies | 4 |
| KSS 4880 | Internship | 8 |
| Additional Courses Needed | ||
| PHYS 1506 | Physics for Health Care | 3 |
| MATH 1513 | Algebra and Transcendental Function | 4-6 |
| or MATH 1510 | College Algebra | |
| or MATH 1510C | College Algebra with Co-requisite Support | |
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| PHLT 5804 | Multicultural Health (Offered Spring only) Counts toward graduate credit | 3 |
| MPH 6901 | Public Health Concepts (Offered Fall/Summer only) Counts toward graduate credit | 3 |
| MPH 6904 | Biostatistics in Public Health (Offered Fall/Summer only) Counts toward graduate credit | 3 |
| Elective courses | 10 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-127 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| BIOL 1551 & 1551L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Anatomy and Physiology 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 1513 | Algebra and Transcendental Function or College Algebra or College Algebra with Co-requisite Support | 4-6 |
| KSS 1595 | Introduction to Kinesiology and Sport Science | 2 |
| Semester Hours | 14-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 1552 & 1552L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| KSS 1559 | Aerobic Conditioning Activities | 1 |
| KSS 3710 & 3710L | Physiology of Exercise and Physiology of Exercise Laboratory | 5 |
| Semester Hours | 13 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| KSS 1560 | Resistance Training | 2 |
| KSS 2625 | Pedagogical Aspects of Exercise Science | 3 |
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
| FNUT 1551 | Normal Nutrition | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| KSS Activity Elective | 1 | |
| PHLT 1568 | Healthy Lifestyles | 3 |
| STAT 2625 | Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning or Introductory Statistics or Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning with Co-Requisite Support | 3-6 |
| PHYS 1506 | Physics for Health Care | 3 |
| KSS 2605 | Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 13-16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| KSS 3700 | Exercise Evaluation and Testing | 4 |
| KSS 3720 | Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy | 4 |
| KSS 4805 | Administration of Exercise Programs | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| KSS 3760 | Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| KSS 3730 | Exercise Prescription | 4 |
| Arts & Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| KSS 4810 | Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription | 4 |
| MPH 6901 | Public Health Concepts | 3 |
| MPH 6904 | Biostatistics in Public Health | 3 |
| Elective course | 1 | |
| Arts and Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| KSS 4875 | Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies | 4 |
| KSS 4880 | Internship | 8 |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| PHLT 5804 | Multicultural Health | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-127 | |
Learning Outcomes
The student learning outcomes for the BSA in exercise science are as follows:
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills in health, fitness and performance assessment
- Students will demonstrate skills in risk factor and health risk identification and the ability to prescribe and implement exercise safely in healthy individuals, special populations (i.e. older adults) and individuals with controlled cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases and other clinical populations.
- Students will demonstrate competency in effectively educating, exercise counseling and using behavioral strategies in individuals regarding lifestyle modification.
- Students will demonstrate competency in the legal and professional tasks related to the field.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of implementing management policies related to the field.
The student learning outcomes for the MPH are as follows:
Core Competencies
- Use basic techniques and statistical software to access, evaluate, and interpret health data.
- Apply analytic reasoning and methods.
- Interpret scientific and statistical results, including the strengths and limitations of scientific articles.
- Explain characteristics, strengths and limitations of epidemiological study design types.
- Apply behavioral health theories/models in developing community health promotion and intervention programs, and applications for research funding.
- Apply principles of strategic planning to public health, including continuous quality improvement, leadership, teamwork, systems thinking, and social marketing.
- Assess associations found between environmental hazards and health outcomes to influence environmental policies designed to protect populations.
- Apply principles of program planning, development, implementation, management, and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives.
- Use collaborative strategies in the design of policies, interventions, and programs.
- Communicate public health information to lay and professional audiences, using appropriate channels and technologies and with linguistic and cultural proficiency.
- Demonstrate ability to use credible evidence and rationale to guide well- reasoned decisions, proposals, and attitudes.
- Use individual, team and organizational learning opportunities for personal and professional development.
Generalist Competencies
- Prepare proposals for funding from external sources.
- Demonstrate the ability to design, implement and execute a research protocol.
- Consider the role of cultural and social factors in the planning and delivery of public health services and interventions.
- Demonstrate critical evaluation of ethical values, theories, and principles that guide public health inquiry and decision-making.
- Analyze the public health information infrastructure used to collect, process, maintain, and disseminate data in order to allow for decision-making at an administrative level.
- Apply theory and strategy-based communication principles adapted to different contexts.
- Explain how biological, chemical, and physical agents affect human health.