Gannon University

Department Chair: JASON P. WILLOW, Ph. D.

Faculty: Associate Professor: Richard Bonalewicz, Ph. D.; Assistant Professor Kory Stauffer, PhD, ATC, HFI; Assistant Professor: Jason P. Willow, Ph. D.; Instructor: Mrs. Suzanne Kitts, M. Ed, ATC.

The Sport and Exercise Science major is a Bachelor of Science degree program offered through the School of Health Sciences. The program is designed to prepare students for employment and/or graduate training in many areas including, but not limited to, exercise physiology, physical and occupational therapy, health and wellness program administration, medicine and allied health professions, kinesiology, and exercise science. Students may wish to combine this major with one of any number of minors available across campus or with other courses recommended as preparation for employment or further study in the medical or alliedmedical professions. Additional coursework may be needed and can be chosen as electives to meet the requirements of a particular graduate or professional program (for example, for admission into a professional physical therapy or athletic training graduate program). Students can use their skills in a variety of health and fitness positions, including becoming a research assistant, a health/fitness technician, a personal trainer, or a fitness specialist. Additional employment opportunities may include becoming a strength and conditioning professional, an athletic coach, a physical activity project coordinator, entry level positions in pharmaceutical sales, or positions in corporate fitness. Students who do not wish to seek immediate employment may pursue advanced study in a wide array of possible disciplines such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, athletic training, sport and exercise psychology, health and fitness or kinesiology. The program also prepares the student for possible certification by national governing bodies such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Sports Education Program and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, among others.

In general, Sport and Exercise Science students take courses in the basic sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) during the first two years of the program, in addition to the humanities and social sciences (to satisfy the University's liberal arts requirements). During the final two years of study, sports and exercise science majors take advanced sequences of courses in human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, exercise physiology, sociology and psychology of sport and exercise, motor development, learning and performance, and athletic injury care and prevention. Each educational track within the program also affords the opportunity for exploration of other related courses and disciplines on campus through the completion of 12-15 credit hours of electives.

Admission into the Undergraduate program:

Recommended standards for high school students for consideration for acceptance to the undergraduate Sport and Exercise Science Program include:

1. Overall high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. SAT score of 1000 or higher or ACT score of 20 or higher.
3. Completion of college prep biology and chemistry with labs and three years of college prep mathematics.

 
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

SPRT100: Sports First Aid
Course content includes preventing, preparing for, and caring for sports-related emergencies. Coaches will learn how to prevent and care for muscle and bone and joint injuries, how to treat heat- and cold-related illnesses, and many other emergency situations they may encounter. Successful completion of the course will lead to certification by the American Red Cross in Adult CPR, Child CPR, and Sports Safety Training.
Lecture/Lab: One hour per week.
1 credit, Spring

SPRT110: First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Theory and practice of basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the acute care of athletic injuries. Successful completion of course requirements leads to certification in first aid and CPR by the American Red Cross.
Lecture/Lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Fall

SPRT120: Foundations of Sport and Exercise Science
This course will provide undergraduates with an introduction to the scientific disciplines of kinesiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, sport psychology, nutrition and others. Course topics may include an introduction to various biomechanical aspects of physical activity and sport, functional human anatomy, and biomechanical principles that underlie performance of various sports and exercise-related activities, as well as a basic knowledge of exercise physiology as it relates to physical activity.
Lecture/Lab: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT130: Nutrition for Sports and Exercise
This course is designed to introduce the concepts of proper nutrition with specific concentration given to the promotion and maintenance of optimal physical performance both at the elite as well as recreational levels. The course will discuss such topics as the role of carbohydrates, protein and fat in exercise and sport; vitamin and mineral intake and exercise; the role of fluid intake and electrolytes in physical activity; nutrition and fitness assessment; ergogenic substances in sport and exercise and the myths of the fad diet craze.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT144: Racquetball/Handball
Course covers rules and strategy of both racquetball and handball.
Lecture/Activity: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Spring

SPRT152: Alpine Skiing/Snowboarding
A course that meets for the first 7 weeks of the spring semester. Students are bused to resorts in Western New York where they take lessons at all skill levels from nationally recognized instructors. The course has a fee which covers cost of busing and lift passes. There is an additional cost for those who must rent equipment from the resort.
Activity: Five hours per week.
2 credits, Spring, Course meets until Spring Break

SPRT160: Aerobic Training
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with the opportunity to develop their own cardiovascular fitness through a variety of aerobic activities. Physiological principles and effects of aerobic training are presented. The course content includes activities that promote cardiovascular endurance and efficiency, including fitness evaluation, stretching, aerobic exercise, jogging, running, swimming, cycling, and circuit training.
Lecture/Activity: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Both Terms

SPRT161: Weight Training
This course is designed to teach the basic techniques and knowledge of Nautilus, Universal, and free weight systems. Physiological principles of fitness and their relationships to weight training are stresses. Emphasizes the development of individual muscular strength and endurance programs following instruction in the principles and techniques of weight training.
Lecture/Activity: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Both Terms

SPRT162: General Fitness & Weight Control
Content includes activities that promote cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. The course includes fitness evaluation, stretching, weight training, aerobic exercise, and circuit training. Individual exercise programs are developed. The role of cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and nutrition in controlling body weight are emphasized.
Lecture/Activity: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Both Terms

SPRT240: Sport Psychology: Theory and Application
A comprehensive introduction to the psychological factors that relate to sports involvement and performance. Issues include psychological aspects of elite athlete's motivation and performance, intervention and performance enhancement, anxiety and skill performance.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT250: Psychosocial Aspects of Exercise and Physical Activity
The primary objective of the class is to provide the student with a general overview of the reciprocal relationship between psychological parameters and exercise and health. Course topics include, but will not be limited to, exercise adherence, exercise promotion, the relationship between physical activity and depression, anxiety, positive well being, selfefficacy, cognitive functioning, distress, sleep disorders, mood, self-esteem, stress, and behavioral interventions for health promotion.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring, Odd Years

SPRT310: Research Methods in Exercise Science
An introduction to the research process to familiarize the student with basic statistical techniques in Exercise Science research both qualitative and quantitative in nature; to provide extensive writing experiences for students; to prepare students to complete the SPRT450 (Independent Study in Exercise Science) Senior Research Proposal/Project; to provide prerequisite coursework for entrance into graduate programs in school of the student's choosing.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT318: Sport in Society Part I
Examination of social and ethical issues in sport. Part one exclusively discusses Socialization to sport: who plays and why, racism, sexism and classism in sport. Course makes extensive use of mainstream media materials including popular magazines and movies.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall, Even Years

SPRT319: Sport in Society Part II
A continuation of Sport in Society Part I (that can be taken independently) in which other sociological and cultural issues are highlighted including, but not limited to, deviance in sport, violence in sport, children in sport, sport and the economy, sports and the media, sports and politics, sports and religion, sports in high school and college, and others.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall, Odd Years

SPRT322: Team Sports Organization and Management
Introduction to the study of modern techniques and practices used in the organizational and management procedures of athletic programs. Major areas of concern will include practice and game organization, purchase and care of equipment, budget and finances, recruiting, public relations, liability, psychology and motivational techniques.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT324: Physical Activity and Children
This class will address a wide variety of topics unique to participation in sport and physical activity for the youth sport participant. Topics may include growth and maturation, critical periods of growth, parental and coach behavior influences on the youth sport experience, enhancement of the developmental model of sport and others.
Lecture: Three hours per week
3 credits, Spring, Even Years

SPRT325: Physical Activity and Aging
This class will address a wide variety of topics unique to special populations in exercise and physical activity. Topics may include, but are not limited to, exercise and the elderly, exercise in diagnosed populations, exercise for persons of special needs and others.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring, Odd Years

SPRT326: Physical Activity and Women
This class will address a wide variety of topics unique to women in sport and physical activity. Topics may include the female athlete TRIAD, exercise and eating disorders, exercise and osteoporosis, and others.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring, Even Years

SPRT330: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Aquatics
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of swimming and water polo. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, situational coaching, meet management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Spring Semester, Odd Years

SPRT331: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Baseball
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of officiating mechanics and coaching techniques for the sport of baseball. Students will learn about officiating rules and mechanics, season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Fall, Odd Years

SPRT332: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Basketball
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of basketball. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Fall, Even Years

SPRT333: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Football
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of football. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Spring, Odd Years

SPRT334: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Lacrosse
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of lacrosse. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Fall, Odd Years

SPRT335: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Soccer
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of soccer. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Spring, Even Years

SPRT336: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Softball
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of softball. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Fall, Even Years

SPRT337: Coaching Techniques and Officiating: Volleyball
This class is both theory and application oriented and will prepare students for all aspects of coaching mechanics and techniques for the sport of volleyball. Students will learn about season and practice management, principles of physical training for off season and in season conditioning, instruction, development and analysis of relevant physical skills, offensive and defensive team play, situational coaching, game management, and evaluative procedures.
Lecture/lab: Two hours per week.
2 credits, Spring, Even Years

SPRT360: Kinesiology
Analysis of sport and human movement using both anatomical and biomechanical approaches. Application of the basic principles and laws of physics as applied to sport and physical activity will be presented. Recommended junior year.
Prerequisites: PHYS105/106, and Take One Group (BIOL108/109 and BIOL110/111 or BIOL365/366)
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT361: Kinesiology Lab
This course complements and enhances the Kinesiology lecture course.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in SPRT360 is recommended.
Lab: Three hours per week.
1 credit, Fall

SPRT370: Principles of Sports Management
The intention of this course is to cover, in detail, the business of sport. Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to: Ethics in Sport Management, Managing Employee Diversity in the Sport Industry, Organizational Theory and the Study of Sport, Sport Governance, International Sport Governance, Basic Law Applied to Sport, Economics and Sport, Accounting and Budgeting, Financing Sport, Sponsorship, Group Decision Making and Problem Solving, and others.
Prerequisite: BCOR251: Principles of Management Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT380: Principles of Sports Marketing
This course will discuss in detail marketing issues particularly relevant to sporting contexts. Topics may include, but not be limited to, the following: Studies of Sport Consumers, Perspectives in Sport Consumer Behavior, The role of research in sport marketing, Marketing segmentation, The Sport Product, Licensed and Branded Merchandise, Pricing Strategies, Promotional Licensing and Sponsorship, Place or Product Distribution, Electronic Media, Public relations, and others.
Prerequisite: BCOR241: Principles of Marketing Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT390: Physiology of Exercise and Sport
An examination of the physiological functions of man as they relate to stresses created by various sports and other physical activities. Acute and chronic effects of various training programs are examined for their contribution to the improvement of performance in sport and physical activity.
Prerequisites: SPRT360/361preferred and Take One Group (BIOL108/109, BIOL110/111 or BIOL122/123, BIOL124/125) Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT391: Physiology of Exercise and Sport Lab
The application of physiological principles to sport and physical activity, including adaptation responses to exercise. Both immediate and long-term adaptations are studied.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in SPRT400 recommended. Lab: Three hours per week.
1 credit, Spring

SPRT400: Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription
The assessment and promotion of physical fitness including concepts and techniques of fitness testing, principles of weight training, aerobic exercise, nutrition, and stress management as applied to health and fitness settings. Emphasis on methods and protocols for screening, evaluating, and prescribing exercise.
Prerequisites: SPRT390/391 required, SPRT360/361 preferred Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT401: Fitness Assessment Lab
This class will complement and enhance the Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription lecture course. The class will focus on the practical application of the assessment and promotion of physical fitness including concepts and techniques of flexibility and body composition assessment, strength and cardiovascular testing, principles of weight training, and aerobic exercise as applied to health and fitness settings.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in SPRT400 required Lab: Three hours per week.
1 credit, Fall

SPRT414: Motor Development across the Lifespan
This class will address a wide variety of topics within the field of motor development. Specifically, the course will discuss motor development from conception through adulthood. The class will incorporate dynamic systems theory with the hourglass model of the stages of motor development in explaining the process of human growth and associated skill proficiency development.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT415: Principles of Motor Learning and Performance
This course examines the many aspects of learning and executing motor skills. Teaching methodology, learning theories, neurophysiological phenomena, maturational and psychosocial factors are investigated as they relate to movement patterns in sport and physical activity.
Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT420: Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
General foundations and specific concepts related to injury prevention, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries are presented. This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic knowledge and skills necessary to recognize, evaluate, and treat athletic injuries of the head and face, spine and torso, and extremities.
Prerequisite: SPRT360/361 required Lecture/Lab: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT424: Biomechanics
The purpose of this course is to apply the knowledge gained in previous courses to human movement contexts. Specifically, the student will apply the principles of physics to sport and exercise settings.
Prerequisite: SPRT360/361 required Lecture/Lab: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT425: Clinical Exercise Physiology
This course will provide classroom and informal laboratory experiences that take full advantage of current knowledge and trends in rehabilitation of populations with cardiac, pulmonary and metabolic disorders through assessment and specific exercise programming. The course will also expose the student to the interpretation of electrocardiograms both at rest and during submaximal and maximal exercise bouts.
Prerequisites: SPRT390/391 and SPRT400/401 required Lecture: Three hours per week.
3 credits, Spring

SPRT430: Practicum in Sports and Exercise Science
This course is designed to provide clinical learning experiences that allow the Sport and Exercise Science student to synthesize knowledge and Sport/Exercise Science concepts in a variety of practice settings. Provides majors with clinically-based learning experiences to expand their understanding of sport and exercise science in an area of choice.
Prerequisite: Permission from instructor or program director. Permission of instructor or program director required.
3 credits, both Semesters

SPRT432: Athletic Coaching Internship
This course is designed to provide hands-on coaching experiences for those who want to continue on in this field. The internship can be at a local high school of at the collegiate level. The course is designed to introduce he student to budgeting, recruiting, inventory, purchasing equipment, NCAA rules, and athletic promoting. Students must complete a minimum of 150 hours with an assigned coach.
Prerequisite: Permission from instructor or program director. Permission of instructor or program director required.
3 credits, both Semesters

SPRT450: Independent Study in Sport and Exercise Science
The student explores an area of topical or special interest pertinent to the study of Sport and Exercise Science. The experience allows the student to explore, in depth, a subject area through a research project, advanced clinical experience, prophylactic care plan development, or other area as approved by project advisor.
Prerequisite: Permission for instructor or program director Permission of instructor or program director required.
3 credits, Fall

SPRT460: Sport Ethics
The objective of this course is to "explore broad issues in the philosophy of sport by examining the ethical presuppositions of competitive athletics and their connections to moral and ethical theory. The discussion of each topic deals with examples from the world of sport and illuminates them in light of philosophical work on such values as fairness, justice, integrity, and respect for rights. Course meets requirements of Liberal Studies Senior Seminar Requirement.
Prerequisite: Senior standing, final semester of academic preparation. Lecture: Three hours per week
3 credits, Spring

SPRT470: Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning
The objective of this course is to provide majors with theoretical and practical knowledge of the physiological, biomechanical, administrative aspects of designing and supervising strength and conditioning programs for various populations, and understanding the legal aspects of starting your own strength training facility.
Prerequisites: SPRT360/361 and SPRT390/391 required. Lecture: Three hours per week
3 credits, variable

SPRT480: Advanced Health and Fitness Assessment and Instruction
An in-depth analysis of exercise stress testing for cardiacs, symptomatics, and asymptomatics will also be presented. Traditional, as well as more recently developed stress-testing procedures will also be discussed. This class will provide structured experiences in the classroom, laboratory, and gymnasium to improve knowledge and understanding of graded exercise testing, exercise prescription, and physical activities as used in prevention and rehabilitative programs as outlined in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Guidelines.
Prerequisites: SPRT360/361, SPRT390/391 and SPRT400/401 required. Lecture: Three hours per week
3 credits, variable

SPRT490: Special Topics in Sport and Exercise Science
This course provides the opportunity to present topics of interest that are not regularly offered in the curriculum.
Prerequisites: To Be Determined Lecture: 2 hours per week
2 credits, to be determined

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Sports and Exercise Science Curriculum

Students may follow one of a number of different tracks highlighted below.

Sports Management and Marketing

The Sport and Exercise Science Program, in conjunction with the Dahlkemper School of Business, is offering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management and Marketing. This program is presented in detail in the Dahlkemper School of Business section of this publication.

Physical Therapy 3+3 Track

The Sport and Exercise Science Program is offering an early entry program in conjunction with the Physical Therapy Graduate Program here at Gannon. Under the provisions of this program, students will matriculate at Gannon University for a minimum of a hundred and two (102) semester hours leading toward the Bachelor of Science-Sport and Exercise Science/ Pre Physical Therapy tract. A guaranteed position in our 3+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will be reserved for, at least, two freshmen if the following criteria are met:

• SAT total of 1100 or higher.
• Grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Must maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in Gannon undergraduate courses.
• Must maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in the prerequisite courses (with no repeat courses).
• GPA will be reviewed at the end of each academic year.

Movement Science Track

Minors in Sport and Exercise Science
Department Chair: JASON P. WILLOW, Ph. D.

Athletic Coaching Minor

Kory Stauffer, PhD, ATC, HFI: Minor Advisor

Program Description: A minor in Athletic Coaching provides students with the didactic and practical experiences to enable them to coach athletics at the elementary, high school, and collegiate levels. The minor requires completion of 21 credits.

The following courses (15 credit hours) are required of all sutdents in the Minor:

All Coaching Minors are required to take at least 1 of the following:

Students must also complete an additional 6 credits (minimum) selected from the following list of approved electives:

Currently the State of Pennsylvania does not require a teaching or coaching certificate for those individuals desiring to coach athletics. To provide undergraduates in the Minor with opportunities to further their professional growth and development, the Minor in Athletic Coaching may lead to opportunities for certification through the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) in Coaching Principles, Sports First Aid, and Citizenship Through Sports.
 

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Exercise Science Minor

Kory Stauffer, PhD, ATC, HFI: Minor Advisor

Program Description: The minor consists of 20 credits of upper level Sport and Exercise Science culminating in an Independent Study at the end of all coursework. The independent study will be coordinated with the student's academic major in an effort to merge their major program of study with the focus of the Exercise Science minor curriculum. All prerequisites are in effect.

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Sport Behavior Minor

SUZANNE KITTS, M.Ed, ATC., Minor Advisor

Program Description: The minor consists of 20 credits of behavioral focused Sport and Exercise Science courses culminating in an Independent Study at the end of all coursework. The independent study will be coordinated with the student's academic major in an effort to merge their major program of study with the focus of the Sport Behavior minor curriculum. All prerequisites are in effect.

Take One:

Take One:

Take One:

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