Program Description

This program is designed to prepare students in the skills necessary to develop, supervise, and evaluate exercise programs for individuals with chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Students will learn about medications and co-morbidities that may complicate an exercise prescription and will also learn basic research skills.

The program will prepare individuals to take the American College of Sports Medicine Registry Exam. Upon completion, students will be prepared to work as exercise physiologists in hospital-based rehab programs, physical therapy clinics, company wellness programs, community fitness facilities, health coaching capacities, research, and further graduate work.

The Clinical Exercise Physiology program consists of a two-year, 36 credit hour curriculum. The core curriculum consists of 12 credit hours (or 15, if completing the thesis option), and the focused core is 15 credit hours. Students will complete 6 to 9 credit hours of elective work (6 credit hours of elective courses, if completing the thesis option). The culminating experience will consist of 6-9 credit hours of internship experience in clinical settings, and the completion of a research project.  A poster presentation will be completed based on research project in the HHP 5998r Research option.  A thesis will be completed based on a research project for the HHP 5999r Thesis option.

Departmental VISION

To create nationally engaged programs of excellence that advance active living and healthy eating

Departmental MISSION

With a focus on active living and healthy eating, we prepare students for professional careers, conduct applied research, and engage our communities and professions to enhance health-related quality of life.

The vision of the Department of Health & Human Performance (HHP) is to create nationally engaged programs of excellence that advance active living and healthy eating.

The Department is housed within the College of Health, Education & Professional Studies.

Again focusing on active living and healthy eating, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers, conduct applied research, and engage our communities and professions to enhance health related quality of life. HHP offers a M.S. degree in Health & Human Performance with concentrations in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Public Health/Active Living.

If you are interested in a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training, please see the HHP program in Graduate Athletic Training.

Admission to HHP – Clinical Exercise Physiology  concentration:

You must complete the admissions procedures to be accepted into the Graduate School. These requirements are listed below. (The Graduate School’s Admission requirements may be found on the Graduate School website.)   However, the department has additional requirements. The list below is the list you should be following. Submit the required documents. (If you are presently an undergraduate student, you must submit an additional transcript when your degree has been completed.) (If English is not your native language, you must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.)

• Completed and signed application form provided by UTC. (https://ssb.utc.edu/cbanpr/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon)
• Payment of $30 domestic; $35 international nonrefundable application fee.
• Graduation from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
• A minimum grade point average of 2.75 on all undergraduate work taken prior to receiving the baccalaureate degree or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours.
• Transcripts. Students must request that one official copy of each transcript be sent directly to The Graduate School office from all colleges and universities attended.
• An official report of the applicant’s score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken within the last five (5) years, must be sent directly to The Graduate School.
• Copy of current CPR and first aid certification cards.
• Three letters of reference (with at least one from an academic instructor or advisor).
• A résumé
• Cover letter/letter of interest
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Proof of ACSM-HFS or NSCA-CSCS certification (or equivalent if completed)
• Transcript showing that you have taken the following courses (You should also write a list of the courses you took, the semester the course was take, the requirement it fulfilled [if not obvious] and the grade)

 

• Anatomy and Physiology (4 credit hours)
• Exercise Physiology (3 credit hours)
• Nutrition (3 credit hours)
• Exercise Prescription (3 credit hours)
• Kinesiology or Biomechanics (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• ADDITIONAL COURSES that are not required, but will help admissions (if grade attained is a “B” or better)
• Biology I & II
• Chemistry I & II
• Exercise Testing and Prescription as 2 separate courses
• Clinical/Practical exercise physiology courses
• Biomechanics and Kinesiology (2 separate courses)
• Organic Chemistry I & II
• Pathophysiology
• Health Behavior Psychology
• Application based course/internship
• Anatomy and Physiology as 2 separate courses
• Physics I & II

A departmental committee is responsible to peruse the prospective student's file, and that committee makes the decision of accepting or declining entry into the degree program. The student must be accepted into both the Graduate School and the concentration program. If a student has not taken all of the above prerequisites, he/she may be admitted to the program with the stipulations that he/she must take prerequisite courses either before or concurrent to taking graduate courses. Acceptance into the program is based on a composite score determined by prerequisite GPA, cumulative GPA, and undergraduate curricula, GRE scores, certification, work experience, cover letter and letters of recommendation. Additional materials may be requested or required. Candidates will be screened using the MS Health & Human Performance Admission Criteria Screening Instrument.

Note: Although not required for admission to the program, eligibility for internships sites may require a background check, drug test, orientation session, liability insurance (which can be purchased through UTC) and signing site specific documents.

Core Courses (12 or 15 credit hours)

• HHP 5550 - Introduction to Epidemiologic Methods
  
  (3) Credit Hours
  This course is designed to teach students about solid epidemiologic research, both how to conduct research and how to analyze research reports. It is designed to help students understand how epidemiologic methods can be used to evaluate public health programs and policies.
  
  
• HHP 5780r - Internship in Health & Human Performance
  
  (3-9) Credit Hours
  Supervised internship in leadership and administrative positions in clinical exercise physiology sites. Full time contact, minimum eight weeks, concurrent integrative seminars. Every semester. Prerequisites: 9 credit hours and advisor approval. Note: Internship sites often require CPR certification, liability insurance, background check, drug screen, orientation session and signing of site-specific documents.
  
  
• HHP 5830 - Research Methods in Sports Medicine
  
  (3) Credit Hours
  Overview of conceptualization, design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of research, including critical analysis of published research in the field and preparation of a literature review.
  
  

• HHP 5998r - Research
  
  (3) Credit Hours [ or (6) Credit Hours of HHP 5999r {see below} ]
  Enables students to conduct independent research. Credit hours allowed toward the degree may be limited. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Records Office at the time of registration. Prerequisite: department head approval.
  
  
• HHP 5999r - Thesis
  
  (6) Credit Hours
  The development of a project of thesis magnitude and quality. Oral defense required. Maximum of six hours graded credit to be applied toward degree. Must register for course until thesis is completed. Prerequisite: approval of department head.
  

Focused Core (15 credit hours)

• HHP 5170 - Advanced Clinical Exercise Physiology
  
  (3) Credit Hours
  An analysis of the complex interrelationships of organ systems relative to exercise training with an emphasis on athletes and the role of exercise in rehabilitation. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HHP 3160, 3170, or equivalent.
  
  

• HHP 5180 - Advanced Exercise Prescription
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Comprehensive overview of the physical, physiological, and metabolic responses of the human body to exercise testing and training both in health and disease. An overview of environmental and legal considerations in the prescriptive process will also be discussed. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HHP 3160, 3170, or equivalent.
  
  

• HHP 5250 - Advanced Fitness Assessment
  
  

  (2) Credit Hours
  This course will address topics of pre-testing procedures and screening to maximize safety. The different methods of completing fitness testing in a laboratory, clinical, and commercial settings will be discussed.
  
  

• HHP 5250L - Advanced Fitness Assessment Laboratory  
  
  

  (1) Credit Hour
  This course will be a laboratory component associated with HHP 5250 Advanced Fitness Assessment. In this course, different fitness testing methods will be completed to assess cardiorespiratory, strength, flexibility, body composition, muscular endurance, functional status, and neuromuscular balance.

  
  

• HHP 5450 - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 
   
  (3) Credit Hours
  The functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems emphasizing pathophysiology and treatment. Special reference will be made to exercise as a mode of therapy. Topics concerning basic electrocardiogram interpretation will also be addressed.
  

  
  
• HHP 5780r - Internship in Health & Human Performance 
   
  

  (3-9) Credit Hours
  Supervised internship in leadership and administrative positions in clinical exercise physiology sites. Full time contact, minimum eight weeks, concurrent integrative seminars. Every semester. Prerequisites: 9 credit hours and advisor approval. Note: Internship sites often require CPR certification, liability insurance, background check, drug screen, orientation session and signing of site-specific documents.

Electives to complete 36 credit hours

• HHP 5050 - Management of Exercise Science, Health & Leisure Studies
      
  (3) Credit Hours
  A comprehensive overview of the management of sport. Its content (organizational theory of sport, group decision making, labor relations, sport politics and ethics, sport licensing, budget, and finance) is presented through case study and practical application.

   

• HHP 5060 - Legal & Ethical Issues in Sports Medicine   
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  A comprehensive overview of ethics and the law as they apply to sport. Fundamental legal and ethical principles that most directly affect the actions and activities of sports professionals will be presented by selected case studies.
  
  

• HHP 5070 - Sociology/Psychology of Sport
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Emphasis upon exercise science and leisure sport as a socio-cultural psycho-cultural force; psychological/sociologic concepts applied to exercise science, leisure studies, and sport. Seminar setting.
  
  

• HHP 5100 - Advance Interpretation of EKG  
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Further study of EKG interpretation including myocardial infarction, stress testing and clinical implications for the rehabilitative process.
  
  

• HHP 5350 - Promotion of Worksite Health & Human Performance  
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  An integrated, step-by-step approach to planning for, implementing, and evaluating worksite health and human performance programs in a variety of settings.
  
  

• HHP 5410 - Exercise and the Older Adult 
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Examination of the scientific evidence concerning the relationship between physical activity level and physical, mental, and social-psychological well being during aging.
  
  

• HHP 5470 - Thermal Physiology
  
  (3) Credit Hours
  This course will cover, in-depth and evidence-based physiological basis of human thermal physiology related to exercise and sport.
  
  
• HHP 5490 - Physical Activity & Public Health
  
  (3) Credit Hours
  This course addresses the principles and concepts of public health and epidemiology related to physical activity behaviors and selected health outcomes. The student will be prepared to understand the link between physical activity and chronic disease and begin to develop the capacity to assess evidence-based interventions designed to promote physical activity. Students will be instructed on the use of Epilnfo epidemiologic investigational software and carry out limited field testing. Biological mechanisms for healthy adaptations to physical activity and the behavioral determinants of exercise participation will also be highlighted. Prerequisite: approval of department head.
  
  
• HHP 5560 - Healthy Living by Design
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  This course will address the interrelationship between health, environment, energy, and transportation, and how these factors affect, enhance, or deter active living in a community. An emphasis will be placed on the built environment and its influence on our behavioral norms.
  
  

• HHP 5600 - Cadaver Anatomy of the Trunk and Extremeties 
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Prosection of human cadavers with emphasis on the musculoskeletal, articular, nervous, and vascular systems. Prosection experiences will be supplemented with classroom lectures. The role of anatomical structures as they relate to athletic injury mechanism, evaluation, and rehabilitation will be emphasized.
  
  

• HHP 5650 - The Psychological Impact of Injury, Illness, and Chronic Disease
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  The exploration of how an adult copes with an acute injury, illness, or chronic disease. Critical review of the psychological, vocational, and the social implications involved in such conditions as chronic pain, coronary artery disease, orthopedic trauma, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and a range of functional somatic disorders.
  
  

• HHP 5650 - Health Behavior Change in Clinical and Community Settings
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  This is a 3-unit course designed to introduce students to the basic principles of behavior analysis and their application to various health behaviors in diverse community settings. Topics include health behavior change theory, principles, predictive models, and their application to health behavior change programs. In addition, the course will review behavioral research methods related to individuals and communities and an analysis of major health behavior change programs.
  
  

• HHP 5780r - Internship in Health & Human Performance
  
  

  (3-9) Credit Hours
  Supervised internship in leadership and administrative positions in clinical exercise physiology sites. Full time contact, minimum eight weeks, concurrent integrative seminars. Every semester. Prerequisites:  9 credit hours and advisor approval. Note: Internship sites often require CPR certification, liability insurance, background check, drug screen, orientation session and signing of site-specific documents.
  
  

• HHP 5810 - Graduate Seminar
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  Basic theory related to nutritional requirements and pharmacological aspects for all levels of athletic performance. Course content includes pharmacology, energy systems, hydration, pre- and post-event nutrition, weight management and body composition and ergogenic aids. Prerequisite: department head approval.
  
  

• HHP 5850 - Graduate Seminar for Community and Environmental Health
  
  

  (3) Credit Hours
  This course will address the empirical findings involving home, public health, non-official organizations/agencies for improved public health and health care delivery.
  
  

• HHP 5997r - Individual Studies
  
  

  (1-9) Credit Hours
  Every semester. Prerequisite: department head approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Records Office at the time of registration.
  

**Graduate level courses that are not on this list may be approved toward the MS degree in Health & Human Performance. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Total: 36 hours (minimum)