Department of Public Health and Exercise Science

Kelly J. Cole, Chair

The Department of Public Health and Exercise Science educates students in the science of human movement and performance, and in the core disciplines of public health including biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and environmental health to prevent disease and protect the public’s health and wellbeing. The department provides instruction, conducts research, delivers services, mentors students, and engages with the local community to enhance the educational experience for the student. Following graduation, the student is prepared to develop programs in a variety of professional settings and with diverse populations.

Exercise Science (ES)

The Exercise Science degree prepares students for advanced study in the fields of exercise physiology, biomechanics, biomedical research, and for advanced study in health professional fields such as medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, chiropractic, dentistry, and more. The degree also prepares students to be qualified professionals for employment in athletics programs, exercise/fitness centers, hospital wellness programs, corporate fitness programs, rehabilitation centers, and other allied health areas.

Students must be a declared Exercise Science major or minor in order to enroll in Exercise Science courses at the 3000-level or above.

ES GPA requirements: 2.0 cumulative GPA required for declaration, and 2.0 cumulative and 2.0 major GPA required for graduation. There are no GPA retention requirements.

Minor in Exercise Science (519/31.0505) (17-21 semester hours)

Honors Program in Exercise Science

The Department of Public Health and Exercise Science offers an honors program in Exercise Science to undergraduate students with distinguished academic records. Students must complete 9 hours of honors credit consisting of 3 hours of senior honors thesis (ES 4510 ) under the guidance of their thesis supervisor. The remaining 6 hours of credit can be attained by negotiating an honors contract in certain exercise science courses at the 3000 level and above. Credit earned in courses taken for honors credit can be applied towards the undergraduate degree in Exercise Science. For admission into the honors program, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.45 in all coursework and complete a departmental application to the honors program.

To graduate with an “Honors in Exercise Science” the student must complete the above honors sequence with a minimum grade of “B” in courses taken for honors credit and a cumulative GPA of 3.45 in all coursework at the time of graduation.

Public Health (PH)

Students earning a Bachelor of Science Degree, Major in Public Health will have the competencies needed to understand human health from a socioecological framework, identify health-related needs, and to be able to use personal, social and physical environment, and policy related interventions to improve the health and well-being of populations. Students will be trained to provide leadership in local and state public health agencies, non-profit agencies, worksite and student health and wellness programs, and in health education within fitness, medical, and hospital settings.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health (830A/51.2201)

P H GPA requirements: 2.5 cumulative GPA required for declaration, and 2.5 cumulative and 2.0 major GPA required for graduation. There are no GPA retention requirements.

P H grade requirements: All P H majors must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in all P H courses.

Minor in Public Health (830/51.2201)

(18 semester hours)

Honors Program in Public Health

The Public Health program within the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science offers an honors program to students who exhibit academic excellence, a commitment to community engagement, and a desire to conduct public health research. The purpose of the Public Health Honors program is to foster independent and creative thinking, community engagement, and personal integrity. In order to be considered for the honors program, Public Health majors must (1) have an overall GPA of 3.45 or higher, (2) commit to engage in substantive service learning, and (3) develop an honors research project in collaboration with a faculty member in Public Health. Students must apply for the program. Honors distinction requires 9 credit hours of honors coursework in Public Health: one 3000- or 4000-level Public Health honors course (3 hours), the honors section of Seminar in Rural Public Health (P H 4650; 3 hours), and an honors thesis chaired by a Public Health faculty member (P H 4510; 3 hours). Students must earn a minimum grade of “B” (3.0) in honors courses in order to receive credit as honors.

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Public Health and Exercise Science offers the following degrees at the graduate level: Master of Science in Exercise Science with concentrations in Clinical Exercise Physiology, Research, and Strength & Conditioning. Persons interested in these degrees are requested to consult the Graduate Bulletin for further information.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Courses

Exercise Science

Public Health