College of Health, Education and Professional Studies
Exercise Science, Health, and Leisure Studies (EHLS)
Professor David Cundiff, Head
EHLS is a department within the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies committed to the development and maintenance of active, creative, health-promoting lifestyles and enhancement of skilled and aesthetic performances for both the professional and the consumer. The EHLS department encompasses three disciplines pertaining to the enhancement of the “Quality of Life”: exercise science, health promotion, and leisure studies. Six (6) distinct academic career program tracks and two (2) minor courses of study are offered:
Career Program Tracks:
- Fitness/Wellness Specialist
- K-12 Health and Exercise Science Pedagogy
- Leisure Studies
- Sports Administration
Minor Courses of Study:
- Athletics Coaching
- Leisure Studies
In addition, the EHLS department offers a diversified service program of lifetime physical activities primarily for the undergraduate students. The department also provides the UTC faculty and staff a Work Place Wellness Program.
Furthermore, campus recreation through student development provides an exemplary intramural and club sports program as well as a variety of leisure services activities for the University community.
2945 - Fitness/Wellness Specialist (B.S.)
The concentration in Exercise Science: Fitness/Wellness Specialist is designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills required to assess, educate, counsel and prescribe appropriate exercise programs for apparently healthy individuals and those individuals with controlled cardiac, metabolic or pulmonary disease. Graduates of this program are employed in worksite, commercial or hospital based-wellness/fitness programs. The curriculum includes laboratory and clinical classroom experiences which meet the recommended standards of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for health fitness programs. Students have the opportunity for two semesters of clinical/field experience in the UTC Work Place Wellness Program in addition to a full semester clinical internship in a worksite, commercial or hospital setting. Clinical affiliations for internship placement include but are not limited to: Erlanger Lifestyle Center, Memorial Center for Health, Unum Provident, Tennessee Valley Authority, East Ridge Hospital, Bradley Wellness Center, Baptist Center for Health and Wellness and St. Mary's Senior Center. Students successfully completing the concentration will be prepared for the ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Certification Exam. The program also meets or exceeds the entrance requirements for graduate study in Exercise Physiology.
Continuation Standards, Internship Admittance and Graduation Standards
Due to the nature of the practice of exercise science and the affect on the quality of life, the following standards will be applied for all individuals enrolled in the Fitness/Wellness Specialist concentration:
- 1.To continue to progress in the Fitness/Wellness
concentration, students are required to:
- Earn a minimum grade of C in all EHLS required classes and related courses;
- Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5;
- Maintain current CPR and First Aid certification;
- Maintain liability insurance for all clinical courses.
- If, in the judgment of the faculty, there is reason to question the emotional and/or cognitive readiness of the student to successfully complete the clinical internships, the faculty have the right and the obligation to exclude the student from the pre-clinical or the clinical internships.
- Students who do not successfully complete any portion of the pre-clinical course series (EHLS 310, 410) may repeat the failed course(s) one time.
- Students will not be placed in the Clinical Internship (EHLS 479, 480) until all course work is completed satisfactorily.
- Students will be required to purchase uniforms/lab attire for both pre-clinical and clinical internships. Internship placement is very competitive and based upon previous class work, clinical work, and internship site coordinator interviews. Students may need to be financially prepared for travel and living expenses outside the Chattanooga area.
