The College of St. Scholastica Duluth, MN  Department of Exercise Physiology Master of Arts Degree in Exercise Physiology The College of St. Scholastica is committed to preparing exercise physiologists who will promote life-long optimum health, fitness, and rehabilitative policies and procedures. In addition, students will be prepared to complete advanced graduate work if desired.  PHILOSOPHY The Master of Arts degree program in Exercise Physiology is designed to: prepare students to access key positions in the health, fitness, rehabilitation, and research fields. empower students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to make a successful transition into post-graduate work.  PROGRAM DIRECTOR Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Master of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology is a concentrated one-year academic degree. Students begin the program in the Fall Semester and are scheduled to complete their degree at the end of the second summer session. The program consists of complimentary classroom and laboratory courses designed to develop exercise physiologists as critical thinkers, clinicians, and researchers. Students will be prepared to assist in the ongoing development of programs in health and wellness, cardiac rehabilitation, hospital-based clinical research, and fitness programs that evaluate athletes and human performance activities. The program also prepares students for advanced graduate work. Fall Semester EXP 6521 Functional Anatomy EXP 6531 Applied Exercise Physiology EXP 6538 Exercise Testing and Electrocardiography EXP 6540 Psychophysiology of Health and Exercise Spring Smester EXP 6522 Biochemistry, Nutrition and Exercise EXP 6532 Muscle Testing EXP 6535 Cardiovascular Physiology EXP 6536 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Summer Semester (June) Internship Option EXP 6555 Internship Thesis Option EXP 6888 Thesis Summer Semester (July) Internship Option EXP 6555 Internship Thesis Option EXP 6888 Thesis GOALS OF THE PROGRAM The graduate program in Exercise Physiology seeks to: encourage critical and reflective thinking in students. promote entrepreneurial creativity as it relates to the complexity of life's health and fitness issues and concerns. facilitate professional growth in research and scientific writing and oral communication. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS The program requires satisfactory completion of 32 credits. Students enroll on a full-time basis and all courses must be completed successfully in sequence. Part-time students must consult with the Department Chair to identify appropriate course(s) each semester. Following completion of the academic component of the program, the student chooses either the Research or the Applied track. Internship experiences will be arranged through the program at local and regional sites. ENTRANCE INTO THE PROGRAM Students must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A major or concentration in exercise physiology is preferred but not required. A student is expected to have undergraduate course work in the science areas including statistics, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and exercise physiology. If such work is lacking, it is expected that the students will make up deficiencies. Otherwise a student may be admitted to the program contingent upon successful completion of undergraduate deficiencies. It is strongly recommended that applicants have academic background in introductory chemistry, mathematics through college algebra, physics, statistics, and research. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS/PROCEDURES Applications are accepted until July 1 for the following Fall Semester. Students must: complete prerequisite coursework. hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. have a 2.7 GPA overall or a 3.0 for the last two years. complete the application form. submit the $50 non-refundable application fee. submit two letters of recommendation. submit a statement of intent, which describes career goals, previous experience, and research interests. NOTE: The GRE is not required!    Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology  For an updated webpage about the graduate degree in exercise physiology, click here.  This page is also full of information about the academic program, college, financial aid, online application and more.   Financial Aid Information Applications may also be obtained by contacting: Graduate Studies Office Exercise Physiology Admissions The College of St. Scholastica 1200 Kenwood Avenue Duluth, MN 55811 (218) 723-6285 800-447-5444 or contact: Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP Professor and Chair (218) 723-6297 FAX (218) 723-6472  COURSE DESCRIPTIONS EXP 6521 Functional Anatomy This course emphasizes the functional relationships between origin, insertion and actions of muscles of the upper and lower extremities.  Emphasis is placed on the related nerves, vascular and lymphatic components, particularly as they relate to the dysfunction of a joint or limb.  Special attention is given to the cadaver dissection experiences, both from a dissection technique as well as a means of enhancing the student's understanding of the three-dimensional approach to ascertaining anatomical relationships. EXP 6522 Biochemistry, Nutrition and Exercise This course examines the biochemistry of humans in relation to nutrition and exercise.  It emphasizes the basic elements of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, the role of nutrition in providing energy, building/repairing tissues and regulating metabolic processes during sports and the degree to which nutrition may enhance fitness.  Emphasis is also placed on the clarification of the most prevalent ergogenic aids (based on reputable research) and how they are thought to increase anaerobic and aerobic power (fitness) and athletic performance. EXP 6531 Applied Exercise Physiology This course examines the body's adaptation to acute and chronic exercise and rehabilitation programs, the role of exercise testing in physiological assessment of human performance and the extent to which exercise can be used to cope with stress, obesity and coronary artery disease.  The Exercise Physiology Laboratory is used to collect data to physiologically profile the human response to selected treatment stressors. EXP 6532 Muscle Testing and Function This courses emphasizes the practical and scientific aspects of manual testing.  Topics include: (1) muscle imbalance and the effects of mucle weaknesses and soft tissue contracture on alignment, function and rehabilitation of the upper and lower limbs; (2) anatomically applied knowledge and muscle testing skills necessary to rehabilitate persons in cardiac rehabilitation and fitness programs; and (3) the testing of muscle strength, endurance and flexibility. EXP 6535 Cardiovascular Physiology This course presents an in-depth study of the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.  Emphasis is placed on the integrative aspects of cardiovascular control and regulation in humans.  Topics include circulatory responses to upright posture (orthostatic intolerance), central and peripheral circulatory adjustments to dynamic exercise, limitations to oxygen consumption during maximum exercise and signals that govern the cardiovascular response at rest and during exercise. EXP 6536 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation This course examines the philosophical approach to and the organizational structure of a rehabilitation program for patients with pulmonary and/or coronary artery disease.  Class topics include: (1) the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; (2) the cardiovascular considerations of the pulmonary and/or cardiac patient at rest and during exercise; (3) the pharmacological intervention to help restore or regulate physiologic function; (4) the aberrant physiological responses to exercise with impaired respiratory and/or myocardial circulation on function; and (5) the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise. EXP 6538 Exercise Testing and Electrocardiography This course presents the steps in performing a graded exercise test (using different test protocols), the contraindications for a test and the procedures for and advantages of using oxygen analyzers in assessing cardiorespiratory function.  Emphasis is also placed on the importance of knowing how to read resting and exercise electrocardiograms and the legal responsibilities in knowing when to stop an exercise test. EXP 6540 Psychophysiology of Health and Exercise This course examines the psychophysiologic factors thought to be involved in the development and maintenance of health and fitness.  Attention is focused on what is stress, how nerves and glands get involved and for what purpose, effects of stress on the mind/body complex and the biobehavioral interventions used to elicit relaxation at rest and during exercise.  Special emphasis is also placed on the role of religion in health, fitness and the management of stress. EXP 6555 Internship This course consists of a semester internship in an off-campus setting, including but not limited to cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, adult fitness and training, corporate fitness or a clinical research institution.  The student is enrolled in EXP 6555 during the summer semester.  The student's responsibilities while off-campus during the summer session are supervised by an exercise physiologist and/or other practicing clinicians working at the site.  All activities are monitored by the Chair of the Department of Exercise Physiology. EXP 6888 Thesis The student designs and fulfills all the responsibilities required for the completion of a thesis, which requires a two-step process.  During the summer semester,  the student enrolls in EXP 6888 to write and submit a research proposal to an advisor and/or the Chair of the Department of Exercise Physiology and, if accepted, writes the first three chapters of the thesis (introduction, review of related literature, and research design), collects the data, and analyzes the research data.  During the second half of the summer semester, the student writes the final chapters (results/discussion and conclusions).