Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences

This course exposes the student to legal cases from the individual perspective of the player, coach, fan, owner, agent, and medical staff, in addition to leagues and administrative bodies, dealing with captivating subjects as varied as drug testing, gender discrimination, player violence and criminal conduct, breach of contract, player eligibility, product liability, endorsement contracts, and television broadcasting.

This course prepares students with an interest in pursuing a career in the fast growing industry of sports facility or event management. During the course, students will acquire professional skills that can be applied in a wide variety of career positions. A range of topics include facility financing, alcohol management, crowd management and box office management. Upon completion students will have basic fundamentals to comprehend the field of facility and event management.

Students will examine morality and ethical issues pertaining to sport. During this course, students will become involved with discussions on sportsmanship, fan behavior, performance-enhancing drugs, gender equity in sport, deviant behavior in athletics, and issues related to youth sports participation. Students will be required to examine their current rules, morals, and philosophies to their career aspirations and reflect on them in an ethical as well situational manner. Students will be immersed in ethical situations through the use of videos and relevant current event articles.

Students in this course will use analytical techniques to examine the scope and effect of sport on society. They will explore sociological concepts on how sports and sport participation impact the lives of individuals and groups in a society. Students will explore several significant contemporary issues. These contemporary sport sociology issues will include drug abuse, race, ethnicity, gender inequity, ethics, gambling, and violence. To increase their sociological understanding of sport, students will identify and discuss sociological perspectives about the components of sport and physical activity.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles associated with the structure and function of the human body. The course will begin with a general introduction to anatomy and physiology, an overview of organic chemistry, and a study of cellular and tissue structure and function and then move on to survey each of the following 11 organ systems of the human body: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive. Online laboratory experiences and exercises are incorporated, which will provide the student with a deeper and practical understanding of the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology by using laboratory simulation software.

Students will examine human behavior in a sport and exercise setting. They will understand that enhancing individual performance is a primary objective of sport psychology. Students will learn how to create a psychological skills training program, which incorporates theories of anxiety reduction, imagery training, and self-efficacy. Current theoretical perspectives of personality factors in exercise and sport, why people exercise, what motivates an individual, exercise/sport adherence, stress, anxiety, and arousal, and the psychological effects of exercise and sport will be investigated. Students will learn the key features of effective goal-setting, and apply this understanding to their own professional development.

This course is custom-designed for the student with little or no science background who wishes to go into or improve his or her understanding of the body as to sports or any of the allied health fields. The emphasis is on how the body is constructed and how it operates, with special applications to the maintenance and improvement of health and fitness. Therefore, it is not "overly detailed" as other courses that are taken by medical students; rather, it is a course that will help you understand your own body and why it acts and reacts the way it does to both internal and external stimuli.(Prerequisite: SCIN132).

Pre Reqs: Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab(SCIN132)

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge of the inner workings and physiological changes that occur in the body during exercise, after exercise, and during a training period. Topics include efficiency, needs and limitations of body systems and their interrelationships, gender roles in exercise, and developing a personalized exercise routine to meet your needs.

This course concentrates on the science, planning, management, and analysis of training and conditioning as it relates to the human body. Through a series of assignments and case studies, you will learn the theory of muscle growth and how muscle growth applies to your body. The course will answer many questions including how can you build an impressive, muscular physique using free weights? How, for example, can you customize your workouts according to your body type? And how should diet, including food supplements, factor into your fitness goals?

This course in sports medicine explores the causes and prevention of common sports injuries. You will learn the prognosis and treatment of injuries by examining the anatomy of the injured area of the body through diagrams and interactive websites. Each section of the course covers a certain category of injuries; you will learn what sport or particular athlete is more at risk. Each student will be required to submit a course paper on a specific injury that includes case studies from appropriate references. It is recommended that students complete SPHE 421 Kinesiology before enrolling in this course.

This course is a broad investigation into the types and categories of pharmacological and nutritional performance enhancing substances used by athletes throughout history to present date. Students will use analytical techniques to identify, compare, and categorize the five major groups of performance enhancing drugs and nutritional supplements. They will discover the origins, physiological effects, prevalence, and usage trends of drug families, and from the information, the student will be able to formulate an understanding as to why certain drugs are used for specific sports, despite illegal consequences. Students will be able to list, define, explain, and fully understand therapeutic drugs, naturally produced hormones, nutritional supplements, cardiovascular enhancements, and stimulants, through individual and collaborative research, discussion, and presentation opportunities. Engaging debate and exploratory discussion options will provide students the chance to critique, appraise, and ultimately formulate individual conclusions surrounding the moral, ethical and social aspects of drug use in sport. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to examine the legal aspects of drugs in sports, the administrative and political drug control processes, and how organizations have evolved over time, through increased awareness of the need to control or eliminate the use of drugs in sports performance. Students will investigate and explore the numerous current event issues, as well as the athletes, and professionals associated and implicated in the illegal use of drugs in athletic performance.

What should you eat? When should you eat it? Why? Nutrition plays an integral part of our daily life. A healthy diet can protect us from a number of diseases including heart disease and cancer. Nutrition also plays an integral part of the athlete’s success; often making a difference between success and failure. Improper use of diet and/or ergogenic aids can result in poor performance. Students in this course will explore basic nutrition concepts, gaining an appreciation of the contribution of macro and micronutrients to a healthy diet and gaining an understanding of the importance of these nutrients as performance enhancers. They will identify a number of strategies for making healthy food selections, for integrating these selections into their lives, and for successfully maintaining a healthy diet. These concepts will be reinforced through the analysis of their own diets and the development of several new diets. The impact of excessive or deficient caloric intake on health and body composition will be determined. Finally, dietary supplements and performance enhancers are used by many people. Improper use of these can be detrimental to one’s health as well as adversely impact athletic performance. Strategies for identifying and for using good and bad supplements/enhancers will be developed

This course will provide the student with the skills necessary to develop an annual training program for athletes of all levels. Emphasis will be placed on the principles of periodization and how to determine the appropriate training program for each sport. The topics of plyometrics, speed, agility, strength and power will be demonstrated in videos and through other course materials. Students will be required to complete a 52 week training plan for an athlete based on the principles of periodization.

Students in this course will use qualitative and quantitative analysis to understand the biomechanics of human movement. This course will focus on biomechanics in sports and how biomechanical evaluation can improve performance and prevent injuries. Through the use of videos and personal observations, students will learn to apply mathematical equations to various sports skills to develop an understanding of how the laws of physics affect performance. Linear and angular kinematics and kinetics will be applied to sport skills. Students will complete a course project which will require the student to observe a sport skill, qualitatively analyze the athlete performing the skill and make recommendations for improvement. It is highly recommended that students complete College Algebra and Physics before taking this course.

THIS COURSE WILL REQUIRE A PROCTORED EXAM. Students in this course will learn how to apply treatment interventions during the recovery and rehabilitation process related to the injured athlete. This class will cover the prevention, recognition, and treatment of injuries and other medical conditions sustained during the participation in sporting events. Students will learn about the pre-participation exam and the importance of screening for pre-existing medical conditions. They will focus on acute, chronic, and overuse injuries commonly seen in sports. Students will gain an understanding of basic anatomical and physiological principles as they pertain to the treatment of sports injuries. Focus will placed on the etiology and therapeutic techniques used to treat these injuries during the rehabilitation process.

This course is designed for the undergraduate degree in Sports and Health Sciences. Students will combine knowledge from prior classes such as Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Training and Conditioning and will be prepared to implement their knowledge in a professional setting. Application of basic exercise training principles will be expanded as the course progresses, allowing the student to execute a wide range of personal fitness training principles such as fundamentals of human movement science, client/athlete assessment, exercise training concepts, program design, nutrition and supplementation. This course incorporates advanced exercise programming techniques utilizing the Optimum Performance Training Model (OPT Model) and prepares students for the Certified Personal Training examination offered by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT). Upon successful completion of this course and with a valid CPR certification students are eligible to sit for this examination.

Kinesiology develops a practical understanding of the neuromotor system in relation to anatomical structures responsible for human movement along with their respective functions. Students will learn how to analyze movement and determine specific muscles responsible for a particular movement along with the associated joint action and neural control mechanisms. Students will contrast movements and exercises to determine their appropriateness and fit for specific and common goals in real world settings. Additionally, students will discuss Kinesiology principles and critical concepts as they relate to athletics, rehabilitation, and recreational exercise. The course will also explore how to improve human performance through effective exercise and training program design. Students learn concepts in this course which apply in coaching, athletics, rehabilitation, and fitness settings. (Prerequisite: MC360).

Pre Reqs: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology(SCIN360)

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This senior capstone class is the final course in the degree sequence for students majoring in Sports and Health Sciences. In this dynamic and interactive course, learners will review, assess and then apply many of the concepts they have researched during undergraduate studies through the creation of a customized graduation portfolio. This portfolio can be used for future career or academic goals and serve as a tangible job aid that houses previously acquired knowledge. Real life, hands on tools for career advancement will be examined and then applied, including the creation of a professional resume. An investigation of the job market in the field of sports and health will also take place through case study analysis and lively, career focused discussions. Alternative career paths for sports and health sciences degree holders will also be explored. Student must have SENIOR standing to register.