Course Description
Developing proficiency in clinical skills related to health and fitness assessments and design of individualized exercise prescriptions in fitness and rehabilitation settings. Focus on experiential learning and hands-on skills. Prerequisite: Grade of C- or higher in KIN 265, KIN 291 (or BIO 271) and KIN 292 (or BIO 277); KIN 375L or concurrent enrollment in KIN 375L.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Describe and discuss basic exercise testing and prescription principles for all elements of health-related physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition) and, keeping adherence issues in mind, develop comprehensive exercise programming for the average healthy adult and adults at risk of chronic conditions.
- Analyze acute and chronic physiological responses to exercise in various non-clinical populations and apply this knowledge to inform the best exercise testing practices and construct prudent exercise programming for these populations.
- Evaluate a person’s physical and mental capacity for exercise based on medical history, exercise test results, personal characteristics, as well as social, financial and environmental support.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Two case studies (20% each) | 40% |
| Two exams (15% each) | 30% |
| Five lab submissions (short answer questions; 5% each) | 20% |
| In-class participation | 10% |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90-100% | A |
| 86-89.9% | B+ |
| 80-85.9% | B |
| 76-79.9% | C+ |
| 70-75.9% | C |
| < 69.9% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance during course hours is expected, and participation is an integral part in enhancing learning of the course content. Students are expected to notify the Professor if they cannot attend class. Students’ grade for in-class participation will not be impacted if they miss class and notify the Professor ahead of time. Students who miss class are also responsible for reviewing the information covered in class or the lab on their own time.
Additional policies for labs: It is important on lab days that students wear appropriate attire for the planned laboratory session, such as athletic wear (e.g., shorts and t-shirt, running shoes). Participating in lab is also critical to everyone’s experience. This participation includes running the test, being tested, recording data, setting up the equipment and cleaning/storing the equipment.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM’s Guidelines of Exercise Testing and Prescription (12th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2025.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.