Human Performance Courses and Curriculum

Exploration of various rehabilitation professions within the United States health care system, including educational requirements, professional expectations, practice sites, professional ethics, rehabilitation philosophies and inter professional education (IPE). Rehabilitation professions career planning with review of current employment opportunities and workforce trends. Introduction to linguistic and cultural diversity and the influence of socio-cultural factors on the role of health care professionals.

A regional approach to the study of human structure. Emphasis is on the basic structural organization of the human body, underlying anatomical principles and the anatomical details appropriate for allied health students. Laboratory work in identifying anatomical structures in humans. Emphasis on musculoskeletal, circulatory and nervous systems.

Students will develop skills in coordinating, organizing and leading group strength and conditioning performance training. Focus on training progressions, sport specificity, leadership and good communication. Students will analyze skills and select appropriate testing for specific team sports and training.

An introductory to practical performance training experience in strength and conditioning as well as teaching. Students will have the opportunity to organize, coordinate and perform group strength and conditioning performance training.

Students will develop skills in coordinating, organizing and leading individual or dual strength and conditioning performance training. Focus on training progressions, sport specificity, leadership, and good communication. Students will focus one on one training with athletes and clients to analyze skills and select appropriate testing.

The second practical experience in performance training and teaching. Students will have the opportunity to organize, coordinate and perform strength and conditioning performance training with one-on-one or dual clients.

A lecture/laboratory course which investigates basic principles of safe and effective exercise prescription for all age levels. Students will identify strengths and weaknesses of existing fitness testing programs and will field test selected programs with appropriate age groups including self-testing. Students design suitable exercise programs based on test results.

An introduction to the basic principles of human physiology. Emphasis is on the basic functional mechanisms operating at the cellular, organ and system levels as well as the integrative control process that regulate each system. Laboratory work supplements the investigation of the systems covered.

An introduction to human nutrition and metabolism. This course will equip students to understand how nutrients are absorbed and transported throughout the body to support optimal health throughout the life cycle. Course topics will introduce weight control, performance nutrition, eating disorders, and common issues in nutrition, the professional role of dietitians and scope of practice boundaries.

An overview of basic techniques and procedures involved in coaching at the elementary through secondary level. Administrative, scientific, and psychological concepts facing the coach are discussed.

A course investigating the various physiological adaptations which occur in the human body because of physical activity. The functions of various organs and systems involved in these adaptations will be reviewed. Commonly used physical training techniques and the physiological bases for their use are presented. Laboratory experience in collection and analysis of human physiological responses to both acute and chronic exercise.

The study of exercise techniques used for assessment and exercise prescription. Students will explore and practice the teaching of resistance and cardiovascular training techniques, current research, exercise trends, and motivational techniques. Students will apply the use of kinesiology, anatomy, physiology and exercise prescription for both healthy and special populations in fitness.

A course that qualitatively investigates the principles of mechanics as they relate to the performance of motor skills. Special emphasis is placed on skill analysis through visual observation, video-taping and musculoskeletal anatomy.

Management and leadership techniques for diverse careers in health and physical activity programs are presented. Topics include program design and evaluation, fiscal administration, risk management, human resources, public relations, facility design and other relevant issues.

Observation of and participation in a health, fitness, or wellness setting. The focus is on allowing the student to observe and participate in the activities related to the setting. Practical application of previous learning is expected without a high level of professional responsibility.

Work experience around health, fitness, or wellness. This experience links classroom instruction to actual career responsibilities. The student is supervised by a professional employed by the specific agency. Open only to juniors and seniors.