Required Coursework

Required Courses & Descriptions (59 hrs):

HL 150 Critical Issues and Decisions in Society (3 hrs)

Critical Health Issues and Decisions in Society examines underlying health and wellness issues and recommendations and the theory and practice of implementing health enhancement strategies. In addition, the relationship between health and larger cultural and societal issues are analyzed. This course encourages students to confront the broad issues that link health to political and social policies. Risk assessment and behavior change strategies will be addressed.

HL 155 First Aid and Personal Safety (2 hrs)

Theory and practice in the American National Red Cross Standard, First Aid, Personal Safety, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

HL 250 Introduction to Health & Human Performance (3 hrs)

This course is designed to provide students with the foundational concepts and processes used to plan successful health education and health promotion programs in corporate, clinical, private, community and academic settings.

HL 344 Modifying Health Behavior (3 hrs)

This class targets professionals who are interested in health behavior change as a technique in the overall prevention or treatment of health problems. Emphasis is given to definitions and origins of traditional behavior change, behavior change theory and techniques for making changes in behaviors. An integration of educational, organizational and environmental interventions will be presented that are designed to enhance individual and community health.

HL 355 Health Promotion Protection Management (3 hrs)

(Prerequisite, HL 150.) This course is an overview of the most common chronic and preventable diseases currently in the United States. A significant amount of time will be devoted to learning the most effective methods of preventing these diseases and how to effectively educate assorted at-risk populations regarding these methods.

HL 356 Health Fitness Instruction & Leadership (2 hrs)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed to lead group exercise sessions. A variety of topics will be covered including rhythm and cuing, stretching and toning, floor aerobics, and step aerobics as well as other forms of group exercise. Information on training principles, safety issues and contra-indicated exercises is also included. Students will participate in a variety of teaching and observation experiences.

HL 370 Practicum in Health & Human Performance I (1 hr)

This health promotion practicum is designed to familiarize the health promotion major with the diverse settings in which health promotion professionals practice and potential career paths they can pursue for Practicum II (HL570), internship (HL580) and jobs upon entering the workforce. This practicum experience offers the student an opportunity to become cognizant of the scope of knowledge, skills and responsibilities often expected of health promotion professionals in a variety of work settings, including hospitals, school districts, corporations and fitness facilities. It offers the students a glimpse into what they will be assisting with or performing during their Practicum II experience.

HL 435 Strength and Conditioning for the Personal Trainer (2 hrs)

(Prerequisites, ZO200, ZO201 and PE320) This course examines advanced methods and techniques associated with the design of strength and conditioning programs to enhance human performance. This course is intended to build upon students’ current level of knowledge in preparation for a career in personal training.

HL 465 Worksite Wellness Programs (3 hrs)

This course provides an introduction to worksite health promotion with an emphasis on program development and design. The focus will be on planning, defining, implementing and evaluating corporate and community interventions for health including behavioral/educational, organizational and environmental change strategies.

HL 524 Ergogenic Issues in HPER (3 hrs)

(Prerequisites, HL 150, GB 385, ZO 200 and ZO 201.) The purpose of this course is to allow students to gain insight into dietary ergogenic issues related to physically active populations. Students will interact with physically active populations to assess dietary, physical and performance standards in order to develop alternative plans for healthy, active lifestyles. This course will also assist the student in becoming a critical thinker, creative planner, and effective practitioner.

HL 565 Strategies in Health & Human Performance (4 hrs)

(Prerequisites, HL 465 and HL 250.) This course is designed as a laboratory for improving the organization, delivery and evaluation skills of the students in the following levels of interventions found in community and worksite health promotion: 1) Communication and awareness programs; 2) Screening and assessment programs; 3) Education and lifestyle programs and 4) Behavior change support systems.

HL 566 Exercise Testing and Prescription (4 hrs)

(Prerequisite, HL 435 and PE 360.) This course is designed to prepare students to accurately assess apparently healthy individuals and those with controlled disease in a variety of areas of physical fitness. Students will practice interpreting and applying the results of these assessments for the purpose of exercise prescription/programming. Testing and programming for special populations will also be addressed throughout the course.

HL 570 Practicum in Health & Human Performance II (2 hrs)

(Prerequisite, HL 370.) The health promotion practicum is designed to prepare the health promotion major with skills and abilities to successfully compete in the quest for an internship and a professional job. The practicum experience offers the student an opportunity to gain further insight into health education content, problems, issues and skills previously studied. It offers the student opportunities to apply these during this practicum experience. A well-conducted practicum can be mutually rewarding for the student as well as the supervising organization.

HL 580 Internship in Health & Human Performance (12 hrs)

(Prerequisites, HL 570, HL 344, HL 465, HL 565, and HL 566.) The internship course provides experience in health-related agencies to enable the student to utilize basic knowledge and demonstrated ability of health promotion skills within a health promotion setting. A minimum of 480 hours and/or 12 weeks at the internship site is required. In addition the student is required to submit a midterm and final report, including an intern portfolio.

GB 385 Nutrition (3 hrs)

(Prerequisite, one laboratory science in chemistry or biology.) A study of the relationship of nutrition to health of the individual as related to food and the ability of the body to utilize it. Emphasis is on normal nutrition and the interrelationships of nutrients. Application is made to nutritional requirements of infancy, childhood, adolescence, the reproduction period, and later years. Emphasis on nutrition problems of the college student is made through a personal dietary and activity record planned and evaluated by each student.

PE 266 Technology in HPER (3 hrs)

This course is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively implement technology in health, physical education and recreation. This course will cover computer technology as well as exercise and physical fitness assessment technology. Students will have the opportunity for practical applications of technological skills in health, physical education and recreation.

PE 360 Physiology of Exercise (3 hrs)

(Prerequisite, ZO 200.) The purpose of this course is to provide future HPER professionals with opportunities to develop basic knowledge and skills pertaining to adaptations made by the human body during exercise. Specific topics will include physical fitness and basic training principles, muscular and neurological control of movement, cardiorespiratory adaptations, nutrition and environmental influences as well as others. Students will participate in and conduct physical fitness assessments, write an exercise prescription and complete lab assignments related to course topics.

PE 362 Kinesiology (3 hrs)

(Prerequisite, ZO 200.) This course is designed to introduce the student to movement concepts as applied to various sports activities. Laws of motion, principles of force, equilibrium concepts, and laws governing projectiles will be introduced and applied. The student will develop the ability to analyze skill movements in specific sport activities. The anatomy and function of the musculoskeletal system and the concept of levers will be reviewed.

HL 454 Strength & Conditioning for Team & Sport (3 hrs)

This course will provide the student with an advanced understanding of the principles and methods necessary to design and implement comprehensive strength and conditioning programs that enhance fitness and performance for athletes and teams.