Graduate Curriculum

Overview

This Masters level program requires a total of 30 hours of graduate course work that includes six hours of thesis research. All students in the program are required to take HES 715, 721, 761, 763 during the fall semester of the first year and HES 660, 675, 733, and 765 during the spring semester of the first year. A seminar course, HES 783/784, is taken each semester while enrolled in the program.

Students can normally expect to spend approximately two years in this program.

The first year is devoted to required course work and the identification of a thesis topic. The research, data collection and writing of the thesis are usually completed in the second year.
The second year also allows an opportunity for elective course work outside the department and students may elect a variety of more specialized courses in areas of particular interest.

Fall semester

Course	Credits	Description
HES 715: Experimental Design	3	A study of the various types of research relevant to health and exercise science. While attention is given to topics such as statistical treatment of data, the primary emphasis involves discussion concerning threats to internal and external validity for experimental and quasi-experimental designs. In conjunction with a sound methodological approach, practical experiences are provided in the preparation and presentation of thesis proposals.
HES 721: Data Analysis and Interpretation	3	The application of basic statistical techniques in the analysis and interpretation of data in scientific research. Topics include descriptive statistics, simple linear and multiple correlation/regression analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance and co-variance, and non-parametric statistics.
HES 761: Cardiopulmonary Disease Management	3	A lecture/laboratory class that examines the physiologic, pathologic, and pharmacologic considerations of managing patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Special emphasis will be placed on learning diagnostic procedures, interventions, and therapies, particularly models for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
HES 763: Advanced Biomechanics	3	An in-depth study of the mechanical principles which influence human movement. Topics include the study of kinetics, kinematics, cinematography, sport shoe design, and skeletal biomechanics. (Prerequisites: anatomy, kinesiology, physics, or permission of instructor).

Spring semester

Course	Credits	Description
HES 660: Epidemiology	3	An introduction to basic determinants of the incidence of chronic disease in the population, and development of an understanding of individual, community, and environmental approaches to promoting healthful lifestyles in youth, adults, and elderly populations. Issues will be analyzed by formal statistical modeling.
HES 675: Advanced Exercise Physiology	3	A lecture course which deals with the study of physiological and biochemical adaptations of the human body to exercise with special emphasis on substrate metabolism, ventilation and respiration, oxygen transport, and muscle physiology.
HES 733: Health Psychology	3	A seminar course on current topics in health psychology with a focus on wellness programs and rehabilitative medicine.
HES 765: Graded Exercise Testing and Exercise Prescription	3	The study of the rationale for the use of graded exercise testing in the evaluation of functional work capacity. Lectures include the analysis of different modes of evaluation, (treadmill, bicycle ergometer, arm ergometer, and field testing), with the application of the results in the evaluation of normal and cardiac patients and prescription of exercise for special populations. Laboratory experiences include the use of electrocardiographs, ergometers, and metabolic analyzers in the assessment of functional capacity.
HES 783, 784: Seminar in Health and Exercise Science	1, 1	A seminar class designed to bring graduate students and faculty together on a regular basis to discuss research proposals, research design and studies, results of research, and current topics in health and exercise science. Talks by invited or visiting speakers will be included as seminar sessions. Graduate students will receive reading and work assignments related to the material presented in the seminar. May be repeated for credit.

Additional courses

Course	Credits	Description
HES 780: Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Science	3	This course is divided into two or more content areas to allow an in-depth treatment of selected topics which are not a regular part of required course work. Topics are chosen from the following areas: anatomy, biomechanics, computer analysis, multivariate statistics, and physiology of exercise. Seminar and/or laboratory approach. TBA.
HES 782: Independent Study in Health and Exercise Science	1-3	Literature and/or laboratory research performed on an individual basis under the supervision of a faculty member.
HES 791, 792: Thesis Research	1-9