Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Academic Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Sport Health Science, M.S.


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Introduction


Life University offers a 52 credit hour Master of Science degree in Sport Health Science with specialty tracks in the professional fields of Exercise and Sport Science, Sport Injury Management, Sport Coaching, Nutrition and Sport Science, and Chiropractic Sport Science. The curriculum is designed to permit graduates with an interest in these specific areas to realize their personal and professional goals. Any graduate level course offered in the Sports Health Science program except for MAT “only” (i.e., Masters in Athletic Training) courses can be used as an elective for any of the specialty tracks.

Prerequisite Courses


All students must have taken at least one college level course with a grade of “C” or better in each of the following disciplines to be admitted into the program:

  1. Anatomy and Physiology (may be a combined course)
  2. Chemistry
  3. Physics

Areas of Concentration


Chiropractic Sport Science


This specialty track is designed to integrate the disciplines of chiropractic and sport science. Program objectives include the practical application of scientific knowledge with hands-on opportunities for the chiropractor/student to work with athletes in all sports. Areas of study include research and coursework in arthrokinematics, biomechanics, exercise physiology and kinesiology. Students interested in this specialty area of should have a Doctor of Chiropractic degree or be a candidate in the chiropractic program and have a desire to integrate chiropractic and athletic performance.

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Total: 24 Credit Hours

The student may choose 16 credit hours from any of the elective courses. The Master of Science in SHS degree with a specialization in Chiropractic Sport Science requires 12 credits of core courses, 24 credits from designated required coursework, and the remaining 16 credit hours coming from elective coursework for a total of 52 credits.

Chiropractic Sport Science Student Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the theoretical basis for the relationship among the extremities, core and spine and the implications for injury and injury prevention.
  2. Perform and interpret patient screening and assessment results related to chiropractic.
  3. Design and implement patient management strategies for the extremities, including chiropractic management, rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Exercise and Sport Science


This specialty track is designed to prepare the student for a career in fields such as cardiac rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiologists, strength and conditioning coaches, health club management, preventive medicine, corporate fitness and for further study in doctoral programs. Program objectives prepare a student for a variety of demands involved in the evaluation and prescription for preventive and rehabilitation programs.

Students attracted to this program represent a number of backgrounds. These range from recent college and university graduates who majored in physical education, health, recreation, and biology to therapists, nurses, athletic trainers and paramedics. A number have strong backgrounds in the natural sciences or business where they have been involved in club or corporate fitness programs.

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Total: 24 Credit Hours

The student may choose 16 credit hours from any of the elective courses. The Master of Science in SHS degree with a specialization in Exercise and Sport Science requires 12 credits of core courses, 24 credits from designated required coursework, and the remaining 16 credit hours coming from elective coursework for a total of 52 credits.

Exercise and Sport Science Student Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the theoretical basis of exercise science utilizing the scientific principles of cardiorespiratory physiology, neuromuscular physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics as they relate to human performance.
  2. Perform and Interpret patient/client screening and assessment results.
  3. Design and implement exercise prescription plans for healthy and clinical populations.
  4. Demonstrate and summarize leadership and counseling strategies for various populations including other medical professionals.

Nutrition and Sport Science


This specialty track is designed to integrate the disciplines of Nutrition and Sport Health Science. The program objective is to prepare the graduate student for a career in Sports Health Science and Nutrition through the practical application of scientific knowledge. Areas of study include research, and coursework in nutrition, biochemistry, exercise physiology and kinesiology.

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Total: 24 Credit Hours

The student may choose 16 credit hours from any of the elective courses. The Master of Science in SHS degree with a specialization in Nutrition and Sport Science requires 12 credits of core courses, 24 credits from designated required coursework, and the remaining 16 credit hours coming from elective coursework for a total of 52 credits.

Nutrition and Sport Science Student Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the theoretical basis of nutrition the using the scientific principles of exercise biochemistry and cardiorespiratory physiology as they relate to health and human performance.
  2. Perform and interpret patient/client screening and assessment results.
  3. Design and implement exercise prescription plans for healthy and clinical populations.
  4. Demonstrate and summarize leadership and counseling strategies for various populations including other medical professionals.

Sport Injury Management


This specialty track is designed to help prepare the injury care provider (e.g. chiropractor) for sport injury management positions at the high school and college level, or in clinical and professional settings. Program objectives prepare students for the prevention, management, evaluation, care and rehabilitation of injuries along with the multiplicity of demands involved with the successful operation of injury care programs. Students attracted to this specialty have diversified backgrounds including anatomy, physical education, health sciences and biology.

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Total: 25 credit hours

The student may choose 15 credit hours from any of the elective courses. The Master of Science in SHS degree with a specialization in Sport Injury Management requires 12 credits of core courses, 25 credits from designated required coursework, and the remaining 15 credit hours coming from elective coursework for a total of 52 credits.

Sport Injury Management Student Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the theoretical basis for assessment, prevention and rehabilitation of injuries.
  2. Perform and interpret patient/client screening and assessment results related to sport injury.
  3. Design and implement patient management strategies for injury prevention, acute care and rehabilitation.

Sport Coaching


This specialty track is designed to better prepare students to become coaches that have the knowledge and understanding necessary to obtain optimal performance from their athletes. Program objectives prepare students for scientific coaching by applying the principles of physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, biomechanics and psychology to the sport or sport skill of interest. Students attracted to this specialty may have a variety of backgrounds, including a strong desire to develop world-class athletic performers. Some of these backgrounds will include physical educators or other club, high school and college level coaches, and anyone else desiring to increase their knowledge of sport and/or their own level of sport performance.

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Total: 24 Credit Hours

The student may choose 16 credit hours from any of the elective courses. The Master of Science in SHS degree with a specialty in Sport Coaching requires 12 credits of core courses, 24 credits from designated required coursework, and the remaining 16 credit hours coming from elective coursework for a total of 52 credits.

Sport Coaching Student Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the theoretical basis of exercise physiology performance utilizing the scientific principles of cardiorespiratory physiology, neuromuscular physiology, nutrition and biomechanics as they relate to human performance.
  2. Perform and interpret athlete performance screening and assessment results.
  3. Design and implement athlete performance plans.

Clinic and Field Experience Programs


A high degree of flexibility in the sport health science curriculum provides meaningful educational and technical preparation. Students are exposed to the current science and issues in injury management, coaching and sport science through classroom instruction complemented by a strong emphasis on practical experience.

It is the objective of Life University to provide its graduate students with high quality educational opportunities that fulfill their needs. The attainment of this objective may depend upon training in a specialized sports discipline, plus an interrelationship of educational content and field/clinical experience.

There are two field/clinical experience programs from which to choose (credit may only be earned for one of the following experiences):

  • Practicum – students can earn up to 12 credit hours, which may extend up to three or four quarters with credit earned each quarter.
  • Internship – the student enrolls in 12 credit hours, which are earned in one quarter.

Practicum Requirements and Policies


  1. The student must obtain approval from their academic advisor and supervising professor at least one quarter prior to registration and complete all required paperwork.
  2. The student must complete one quarter’s course work (12 credit hours) prior to registering for the practicum experience.
  3. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 to be allowed to register for an off-campus practicum experience.
  4. The student must complete a practicum proposal prior to registration.
  5. Grading for practicum is Pass/Fail to better reflect the practical nature of these courses.

The clinic/field experience hours are equated based on 30 contact hours equals one quarter hour of credit (i.e., 12-quarter hours of credit for an internship requires the student to complete 360 contact hours during the internship experience).

Internship Requirements and Policies


  1. The student must obtain approval from their academic advisor and supervising professor at least one quarter prior to registration and complete all required paperwork.
  2. The student must complete all required course work for their area of specialization prior to registering for an internship.
  3. The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 to register for an internship.
  4. The student must complete internship contract prior to registration.
  5. Grading for internships is Pass/Fail to better reflect the practical nature of these courses.

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