Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences

This course exposes the student to legal cases from the individual perspective of the player, coach, fan, owner, agent, and medical staff, in addition to leagues and administrative bodies, dealing with captivating subjects as varied as drug testing, gender discrimination, player violence and criminal conduct, breach of contract, player eligibility, product liability, endorsement contracts, and television broadcasting.

This course prepares students with an interest in pursuing a career in the fast growing industry of sports facility or event management. During the course, students will acquire professional skills that can be applied in a wide variety of career positions. A range of topics include facility financing, alcohol management, crowd management and box office management. Upon completion students will have basic fundamentals to comprehend the field of facility and event management.

Students will examine morality and ethical issues pertaining to sport. During this course, students will become involved with discussions on sportsmanship, fan behavior, performance-enhancing drugs, gender equity in sport, deviant behavior in athletics, and issues related to youth sports participation. Students will be required to examine their current rules, morals, and philosophies to their career aspirations and reflect on them in an ethical as well situational manner. Students will be immersed in ethical situations through the use of videos and relevant current event articles.

Students in this course will use analytical techniques to examine the scope and effect of sport on society. They will explore sociological concepts on how sports and sport participation impact the lives of individuals and groups in a society. Students will explore several significant contemporary issues. These contemporary sport sociology issues will include drug abuse, race, ethnicity, gender inequity, ethics, gambling, and violence. To increase their sociological understanding of sport, students will identify and discuss sociological perspectives about the components of sport and physical activity.

Students will examine human behavior in a sport and exercise setting. They will understand that enhancing individual performance is a primary objective of sport psychology. Students will learn how to create a psychological skills training program, which incorporates theories of anxiety reduction, imagery training, and self-efficacy. Current theoretical perspectives of personality factors in exercise and sport, why people exercise, what motivates an individual, exercise/sport adherence, stress, anxiety, and arousal, and the psychological effects of exercise and sport will be investigated. Students will learn the key features of effective goal-setting, and apply this understanding to their own professional development.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles associated with the structure and function of the human body. The course will begin with a general introduction to anatomy and physiology, an overview of organic chemistry, and a study of cellular and tissue structure and function and then move on to survey each of the following 11 organ systems of the human body: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive. Online laboratory experiences and exercises are incorporated, which will provide the student with a deeper and practical understanding of the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology by using laboratory simulation software.

This course is custom-designed for the student with little or no science background who wishes to go into or improve his or her understanding of the body as to sports or any of the allied health fields. The emphasis is on how the body is constructed and how it operates, with special applications to the maintenance and improvement of health and fitness. Therefore, it is not "overly detailed" as other courses that are taken by medical students; rather, it is a course that will help you understand your own body and why it acts and reacts the way it does to both internal and external stimuli.(Prerequisite: SCIN132).

Pre Reqs: Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab(SCIN132)

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge of the inner workings and physiological changes that occur in the body during exercise, after exercise, and during a training period. Topics include efficiency, needs and limitations of body systems and their interrelationships, gender roles in exercise, and developing a personalized exercise routine to meet your needs.

This course concentrates on the science, planning, management, and analysis of training and conditioning as it relates to the human body. Through a series of assignments and case studies, you will learn the theory of muscle growth and how muscle growth applies to your body. The course will answer many questions including how can you build an impressive, muscular physique using free weights? How, for example, can you customize your workouts according to your body type? And how should diet, including food supplements, factor into your fitness goals?

Students in this course will review Coaching Theory and Methodology within the coaching profession. They will examine theories specific sports teams, including the development of methodologies and the development of a team, principles for coaches to follow and pass on to teams, and the end of competitive careers in organized sports. Guiding questions include: What sport has done for the player and coach? Why is theory and methodology in sport important? How does leadership and strategy play a role? Students will develop a coaching philosophy that will drive their coaching theories and methods. Students will discover that teaching life lessons through sport is vital to the success of their athletes.

What should you eat? When should you eat it? Why? Nutrition plays an integral part of our daily life. A healthy diet can protect us from a number of diseases including heart disease and cancer. Nutrition also plays an integral part of the athlete’s success; often making a difference between success and failure. Improper use of diet and/or ergogenic aids can result in poor performance. Students in this course will explore basic nutrition concepts, gaining an appreciation of the contribution of macro and micronutrients to a healthy diet and gaining an understanding of the importance of these nutrients as performance enhancers. They will identify a number of strategies for making healthy food selections, for integrating these selections into their lives, and for successfully maintaining a healthy diet. These concepts will be reinforced through the analysis of their own diets and the development of several new diets. The impact of excessive or deficient caloric intake on health and body composition will be determined. Finally, dietary supplements and performance enhancers are used by many people. Improper use of these can be detrimental to one’s health as well as adversely impact athletic performance. Strategies for identifying and for using good and bad supplements/enhancers will be developed

This course will provide the student with the skills necessary to develop an annual training program for athletes of all levels. Emphasis will be placed on the principles of periodization and how to determine the appropriate training program for each sport. The topics of plyometrics, speed, agility, strength and power will be demonstrated in videos and through other course materials. Students will be required to complete a 52 week training plan for an athlete based on the principles of periodization.

Students in this course will use qualitative and quantitative analysis to understand the biomechanics of human movement. This course will focus on biomechanics in sports and how biomechanical evaluation can improve performance and prevent injuries. Through the use of videos and personal observations, students will learn to apply mathematical equations to various sports skills to develop an understanding of how the laws of physics affect performance. Linear and angular kinematics and kinetics will be applied to sport skills. Students will complete a course project which will require the student to observe a sport skill, qualitatively analyze the athlete performing the skill and make recommendations for improvement. It is highly recommended that students complete College Algebra and Physics before taking this course.

Sports First Aid is the recognition and emergency treatment of sports injuries sustained during the participation in a sporting event. Students in this course will learn basic first aid principles in order to provide emergency care to injured athletes. Students will develop a basic knowledge of common sports injuries to be able to administer appropriate sports first aid. This course will introduce the role of the coach as well as other medical professionals that provide first aid to athletes. Focus will placed on techniques and concepts used to treat these sports injuries. Students taking this course will become a competent first aid responder for basic athletic injuries

Athletic programs administration focuses on the coach, and their administrative responsibilities of their profession. Coaching goes beyond knowledge of the game, strategies to win or practice design. Coaches and administrators, much like managers in the business world, are decision makers and resource allocators. They make sure player to player and coach relations are operating smoothly. Their duties also include fundraising, facility management, scheduling and maintaining budgets much like any business manager. This course examines the key concepts and skills to becoming an effective sports manager that includes program promotion, leadership, personal organization, public relations and risk management.

Kinesiology develops a practical understanding of the neuromotor system in relation to anatomical structures responsible for human movement along with their respective functions. Students will learn how to analyze movement and determine specific muscles responsible for a particular movement along with the associated joint action and neural control mechanisms. Students will contrast movements and exercises to determine their appropriateness and fit for specific and common goals in real world settings. Additionally, students will discuss Kinesiology principles and critical concepts as they relate to athletics, rehabilitation, and recreational exercise. The course will also explore how to improve human performance through effective exercise and training program design. Students learn concepts in this course which apply in coaching, athletics, rehabilitation, and fitness settings. (Prerequisite: MC360).

Pre Reqs: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology(SCIN360)

This course will help you learn how to teach the skills and strategies and techniques and tactics of baseball. You’ll learn about approaches to coaching, including the games approach (an alternative to drills-based coaching), you’ll develop a season plan and a series of practice plans; and you’ll improve your ability to coach during games. This course is suitable for high school coaches and for serious club coaches, and college coaches.

This course will help you learn how to teach the skills and strategies, and techniques and tactics of basketball. You’ll learn about approaches to coaching, including the games approach (an alternative to drills-based coaching), you’ll develop a season plan and a series of practice plans; and you’ll improve your ability to coach during games. This course is suitable for high school coaches and for serious club coaches, college coaches, and advanced coaches at the youth level.

Students in this course will explore the techniques and tactical skills within the sport of American Football. Basic offensive, defensive, and special team skills are taught while exploring various teaching strategies for effective implementation. Football is a game that goes well beyond the obvious physical struggle on the field of play. Below the surface is a complex game which calls for strategic learning and specific methods of movement in accordance to the basic laws of physics. Coaching football calls for an understanding of these concepts in addition to strong organizational and instructional abilities. This course is designed for coaches at all levels. For coaches just beginning in the profession or looking to begin in the future, this course will discuss a number of basic areas that are essential to being successful such as coaching philosophy, practice planning, and game preparation. For those individuals that have been coaching for some time, this course will give you a chance to re-evaluate your philosophy, technique, style, and communication ability. In summary, the approach is toward teaching the student the theory, principles, concepts, and practices that can be applied in the dynamic, ever changing, challenging, and rewarding field of coaching football.

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This senior capstone class is the final course in the degree sequence for students majoring in Sports and Health Sciences. In this dynamic and interactive course, learners will review, assess and then apply many of the concepts they have researched during undergraduate studies through the creation of a customized graduation portfolio. This portfolio can be used for future career or academic goals and serve as a tangible job aid that houses previously acquired knowledge. Real life, hands on tools for career advancement will be examined and then applied, including the creation of a professional resume. An investigation of the job market in the field of sports and health will also take place through case study analysis and lively, career focused discussions. Alternative career paths for sports and health sciences degree holders will also be explored. Student must have SENIOR standing to register.