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Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

The Sports and Health Sciences degree is a study of the human, physical, psychological, and related issues concerning sports, recreation, health, and wellness. Students study a core of issues central to this growing field and also have the opportunity to concentrate in specific areas of sports and health interest, to include: athletic performance, coaching, sports management, and pre-sports medicine. This degree is applicable in the various sports and health professions, and it is also a foundation degree for general purposes and further academic interests in a variety of areas.

Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of sports and health sciences, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health, and kinesiology to applications in sports and fitness.
  • Apply training, conditioning, and psychology to applications in sports and wellness.
  • Articulate and interpret the legal and regulatory issues associated with recreational, officially sanctioned, and professional sports.
  • Apply the management principles, concepts, and practices associated with the operations and maintenance of sports and recreation facilities.
  • Address the sociological, historical, political, and philosophical aspects of sport.
  • Discuss human behavior with respect to sport and fitness.
  • Pursue a career in the disciplines of sport coaching, sport management, or health and fitness management. 
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours
  • RQ295 / COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (38 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
  • EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing [Required]
  • EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing
  • EN202 / ENGL200 - Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
  • SS101 / ECON101 - Microeconomics
  • SS102 / ECON102 - Macroeconomics 
  • SS111 / GEOG101 - Introduction to Geography
  • SS133 / SOCI111 - Introduction to Sociology
  • SS134 / PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology 
  • SS190 / ANTH100 - Introduction to Anthropology
  • SS210 / CHFD220 - Human Sexuality  
  • SO220 / SOCI220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 8 semester hours including the required 1 hour lab
  • SC100 / SCIN100 - Introduction to Biology
  • SC198 / SCIN101 - Introduction to Biology Lab
  • SC101 / SCIN102 - Introduction to Chemistry
  • SC199 / SCIN103 - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
  • SC102 / SCIN104 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
  • SC122 / SCIN105 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
  • SC103 / SCIN106 - Introduction to Physics 
  • SC123 / SCIN107 - Introduction to Physics Lab
  • SC104 / SCIN108 - Introduction to Astronomy
  • SC124 / SCIN109 - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
  • SC106 / SCIN110 - Introduction to Oceanography 
  • SC126 / SCIN111 - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
  • SC107 / SCIN112 - Introduction to Meteorology
  • SC127 / SCIN113 - Introduction to Meteorology Lab
  • SC108 / SCIN114 - Introduction to Physical Geology
  • SC128 / SCIN115 - Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
  • SC105 / SCIN116 - Introduction to Forestry
  • SC125 / SCIN117 - Introduction to Forestry Lab
  • SC110 / SCIN118 - Introduction to Human Ecology
  • SC120 / SCIN119 - Introduction to Human Ecology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
  • MA112 / MATH110 - College Algebra
  • MA113 / MATH111 - College Trigonometry
  • MA125 / MATH125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors
  • MA225 / MATH225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
  • HS101 / HIST101 - American History to 1877
  • HS102 / HIST102 - American History since 1877
  • HS111 / HIST111 - World Civilization before 1650
  • HS112 / HIST112 - World Civilization since 1650
  • HS121 / HIST121 - Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
  • HS122 / HIST122 - Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
  • HS215 / HIST223 - History of the American Indian
  • HS217 / HIST221 - African-American History before 1877
  • HS218 / HIST222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
  • HM101 / SPAN100 - Spanish I 
  • HM102 / SPAN101 - Spanish II [Prerequisite: HM101] 
  • HM103 / FREN100 - French I
  • HM104 / FREN101 - French II [Prerequisite: HM103] 
  • HM105 / ARAB100 - Arabic I 
  • HM106 / ARAB101 - Arabic II [Prerequisite: HM105] 
  • HM107 / RUSS100 - Russian I
  • HM108 / RUSS101 - Russian II [Prerequisite: HM107] 
  • HM109 / CHIN100 - Chinese I (Mandarin)
  • HM110 / CHIN101 - Chinese II (Mandarin) [Prerequisite: HM109] 
  • HM111 / GERM100 - German I
  • HM112 / GERM101 - German II [Prerequisite: HM111] 
  • HM200 / MUSI200 - Music Appreciation
  • HM230 / RELS201 - Introduction to World Religions  
  • HM240 / ARTH200 - Art Appreciation  
  • HM277 / PHIL200 - Introduction to Ethics
  • PH101 / PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
  • GM200 / COMM200 - Public Speaking

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing

  • HM201 / LITR220 - American Literature before the Civil War
  • HM202 / LITR221 - American Literature from The Civil War to Present
  • HM221 / LITR210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
  • HM222 / LITR211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
  • HM211 / LITR201 - World Literature through the Renaissance
  • HM212 / LITR202 - World Literature since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
  • SS121 / POLS210 - American Government I
  • SS131 / IRLS210 - International Relations I
Core Courses (34 semester hours)
  • SC102 / SCIN102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology [Required]
  • SC122 / SCIN102L - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab [Required]
  • GM382 / LSTD209 - Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation
  • GM390 / SPMT320 - Nutrition
  • MC360 / SCIN360 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology [Prerequisite: SC102 / SCIN120]
  • MC379 / SPHS379 - Contemporary and Social Issues in Sport
  • MC380 / SPMT315 - Training and Conditioning
  • MC381 / SPMT316 - Sports and Recreation Facility Management
  • MC430 / SPHE421 - Kinesiology [Prerequisite: MC360 / SCIN360]
  • PY342 / CHFD342 - Human Life Span Development
  • PY460 / PSYC460 - Sports Psychology
  • GM383 / SPHE314 - Exercise Physiology
Major Courses (18 semester hours)

General Concentration
Note: Students can select any 6 courses that they wish in the area of Sports and Health Sciences for a General concentration.

  • GM373 / SPHE312 - Liability
  • MC323 / SPHE323 - Sports Conditioning
  • MC321 / SPHE324 - Biomechanics
  • MC325 / SPHE325 - Gender Issues in Sport
  • MC381 / SPHE316 - Sports and Recreational Facility Management
  • MC385 / SPHE317 - Sports Medicine
  • MC386 / SPHE318 - Coaching Theory and Methodology
  • MC395 / SPHE319 - Sports and Drugs
  • MC407 / SPHE412 - Sports Finance
  • MC408 / SPHE413 - Sports Marketing
  • MC411 / SPHE416 - Athletic Programs Administration
  • MC421 / SPHE400 - Sports Management Foundations
  • MC431 / SPHE420 - Exercise Programming and Testing
  • MC432 / SPHE417 - Leadership Concepts in Coaching
  • MC433 / SPHE418 - Coaching Strategy Concepts
  • MC434 / SPHE402 - Sports Psychology for the Injured Athlete
  • MC435 / SPHE401 - Prevention of Catastrophic Injuries
  • MC474 / SPHE419 - Recovery and Rehabilitation
Concentration in Exercise Science
  • MC385 / SPHE317 - Sports Medicine
  • MC395 / SPHE319 - Sports and Drugs
  • MC431 / SPHE420 - Exercise Programming and Testing
  • MC474 / SPHE419 - Recovery and Rehabilitation
  • MC323 / SPHE323 - Sports Conditioning
  • MC321 / SPHE324 - Biomechanics
Concentration in Coaching Studies
  • MC386 / SPHE318 - Coaching Theory and Methodology
  • MC411 / SPHE416 - Athletic Programs Administration
  • MC432 / SPHE417 - Leadership Concepts in Coaching
  • MC433 / SPHE418 - Coaching Strategy Concepts
  • MC325 / SPHE325 - Gender Issues in Sports
  • MC323 / SPHE323 - Sports Conditioning


Concentration in Sports Management
  • GM306 / BUSN310 - Business Theory
  • GM373 / SPHE312 - Liability
  • MC407 / SPHE412 - Sports Finance
  • MC408 / SPHE413 - Sports Marketing
  • MC421 / SPHE400 - Sports Management Foundations
  • GM404 / BUSN316 - Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
Concentration in Pre-Sports Medicine
  • MC385 / SPHE317 - Sports Medicine
  • MC395 / SPHE319 - Sports and Drugs
  • MC474 / SPHE419 - Recovery and Rehabilitation
  • MC321 / SPHE324 - Biomechanics
  • MC435 / SPHE401 - Prevention of Catastrophic Injuries
  • MC434 / SPHE402 - Sports Psychology for the Injured Athlete


Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
  • MC487 / SPMT490 - Senior Seminar in Sports and Health Sciences
    Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
Electives (27 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 123 semester hours

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

American Public University System (APUS) is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.

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