Exercise & Sport Science

2021 Plan of Study

Past Plans of Study:

• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015

The Program is committed to recruiting seven quality students into each cohort, retaining 80% of students each year, and graduating them four years after program admission.

1. Piedmont Goal Reference:  GOAL 8.  Piedmont University will provide students the resources to achieve their academic goals in a timely fashion and meet learning outcomes expected in their degree programs.
2. Outcome (non-student learning):  The number of students who matriculate into each cohort and persist.

2. The Program seeks to provide high quality instruction that integrates cognitive and psychomotor skills into active problem solving abilities that will culminate in 90% of students having post-graduate placements (employment or graduate school) within six months of graduation.
   1. Piedmont Goal Reference:  GOAL 1. Piedmont University will attract and retain students, faculty, and staff, and engage alumni and friends, by providing experiences with the College that inspire in them a lifelong affinity with the institution.
   2. SLO 2: Students will work collaboratively through interprofessional teams to provide or accommodate quality care to clients across the lifespan in a variety of settings, while respecting  the diversity of individuals, groups, and communities.
      2.1 Apply clinical reasoning skills throughout the physical examination process in order to assimilate data, select the appropriate assessment tests, formulate a differential diagnosis, provide care, and make appropriate referrals.
      2.2 Use psychosocial techniques to enhance patient care and determine when abnormal behaviors require referral.
      2.3 Adapt therapeutic interventions using clinician– and patient-oriented outcomes with consideration to the stage of healing and goals to maximize patient participation and quality of life.
      2.4 Implement, evaluate, and modify treatment plans for both healthy and at-risk individuals that meet their performance or wellness goals through collaboration with allied healthcare providers.
      2.5 Create, evaluate, and modify an environment conducive to safe activity participation.
      2.6 Demonstrate cultural competence in the care of clients from diverse backgrounds.

3. The Program is committed to supporting a minimum of one student in an internship or other experiential learning experience each year.
   1. Piedmont Goal Reference:  GOAL 4. Piedmont University will offer traditional and innovative academic programs that are rigorous in content and flexible in real-world application.
   2. SLO 1: Students will integrate knowledge, skills, and values from the arts and sciences to engage in critical and creative dialogue through discovery, analysis, and communication.
      1.1 Propose and apply methods of injury prevention and risk reduction for both healthy and at-risk individuals.
      1.2 Design treatment plans for both healthy and at-risk individuals that meet their performance or wellness goals.
      1.3 Demonstrate oral, written, and visual communication strategies that are organized, coherent, accurate, and professionally prepared and delivered.
      1.4 Critically evaluate research findings to develop differential diagnoses for injuries and illnesses.
      1.5 Develop promotional strategies for healthy living and injury/disease prevention.

4. The Program is committed to increasing the number of qualified full-time faculty and providing professional mentoring.
   1. Piedmont Goal Reference:  GOAL 6. Piedmont University will educate the whole student through co-curricular programs, extra-curricular activities, and experiential learning endeavors.

2. SLO 3:  Through civic engagement, personal growth, and ethical reasoning, students will demonstrate responsible, global citizenship by upholding high professional standards.
   3.1 Identify state and national regulations and demonstrate professional, moral and ethical judgment when delivering patient-centered care.
   3.2 Adapt evidence-based practice concepts when making clinical decisions and critically examining athletic training practice.
   3.3 Develop and evaluate facility design and management strategies in the context of a healthcare system (i.e. risk management, healthcare delivery mechanisms, insurance and reimbursement documentation, patient privacy, and general facility management).
   3.4 Use effective documentation to develop, participate in, and lead patient-centered care.
   3.5 Use appropriate professional guidelines to develop, implement, evaluate, and modify emergency care strategies.
   3.6 Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development.

Exercise and sport science encompasses many of the skills used in physical therapy and orthopedic medicine, as human anatomy knowledge, physical assessment skills, and movement science are core assets in all three careers. This program was designed to include a majority, if not all, prerequisite courses common to graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and medicine (graduate programs may require additional courses that are not completed routinely with this major; therefore, students should work with their undergraduate faculty advisor to ensure their course plan meets their personal goals).

Those with an exercise and sport science degree who wish to enhance their qualifications often acquire certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a strength and conditioning specialist or American College of Sports Medicine as a Fitness Specialist or Personal Trainer. Other common certifications fall within the areas of recreation, massage therapy, and nutrition.