Exercise Science
Changes for Improvement
2012-2013
Changes for Continuous Improvement: A new exit exam was created and piloted during the spring of
2013 in EXS 490 – Seminar. The new exam is based on the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health
Fitness Specialist exam and the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Strength and
Conditioning Specialist exam. Material from both certification exams was included on the new exit exam
to prepare students for either certification exam after graduation. Beginning in the spring of 2014, the
students in EXS 490 – Seminar will have to pass the exit exam (scoring > 70%) before they can begin
their internship.
When the Exercise Science program dropped to 120 credits beginning with the 2012 catalog, the
required number of credits for EXS 494 – Internship increased to a minimum of 2. The number of
contact hours per credit (120) remained the same.
An Exercise Science Exit Program Questionnaire has been created and was given to the students who
completed their internships during spring 2013 and summer 2013. The data will be analyzed after more
questionnaires are returned.
Exercise Science
Changes for Improvement
2011-2012
Changes for Continuous Improvement: While students entering the exercise science program in 2012,
the majority of the curriculum changes will be implemented next year. For example, EXS 350 Exercise
Physiology now includes a 2-hour lab experience. We changed the grading scheme for EXS 145
Introduction to Exercise Science from Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory to a letter grade for next fall. We did
have some students move into the 2012 catalog because of the 8-credit difference but some found that
they would need to retake a course or two due to the requirement that students must now achieve a
grade of “C” or better in all Major Course Requirements (59 total credits). This did cause a couple of
students to remain in their earlier catalog year.
Work must continue on revamping the exit exam.
Exercise Science
Changes for Improvement
2010-2011
Changes for Continuous Improvement: Because we were not able to hire a second full-time exercise
science faculty member, many of the items we were going to work on this year had to be placed on
hold. Additional curriculum changes are being considered particularly in physiology of exercise by
including a lab and the addition of PE 207 Strength Training as a core course. The major will be moved
to 120 credit hours for next year by elimination of 8 elective credit hours.
The work on the exit exam that was to be completed this year was put on hold until we make our hire.
Next year we will also work on creating an Exercise Science Exit Program Questionnaire.
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Exercise Science
Changes for Improvement
2008-2010
1. Changes for Continuous Improvement: Beginning academic year 2011 – 2012, all data, with the
exception of the CAAP scores, will reflect only the graduates in that particular cohort rather than all
students taking the course(s) that particular semester or year. This should give a better picture of
that group of graduates and provide more consistency as the data is reviewed.
Considerable work was done with the exercise science curriculum including changing course names
1) EXS 335 Program Design & Administration to Administration of Exercise Science; 2) EXS 405
Methods of Training to Physiological Methods of Training; 3) EXS 420 Facility Risk Management to
Risk Management. EXS 490 Senior Seminar for 2 credits was added to the curriculum to assist
students with internship preparation, writing a resume and letter of application, preparation for the
national Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam and graduate school preparation.
Another major change included eliminating the list of Major Electives and moving to Free Electives.
Because this major has a diverse group of student interests (personal training to physical therapy),
students and their advisor will be better able to choose classes that will be more appropriate to their
career goals and will decrease significantly the number of substitutions needed. Another major
change included adding prerequisite courses: 1) EXS 350 Exercise Physiology (BIOL 221 Human
Anatomy w/Lab); EXS 353 Kinesiology (BIOL 221 Human Anatomy w/Lab); EXS 395 Practicum (EXS
350 Exercise Physiology & 400 Exercise Testing & Prescription); EXS 400 Exercise Testing &
Prescription (EXS 350 Exercise Physiology, EXS 353 Kinesiology & PE 354 Prevention & Care of Athletic
Injuries); EXS 405 Physiological Methods of Training (EXS 350 Exercise Physiology); EXS 454
Biomechanics (BIOL 221Human Anatomy w/Lab & EXS 353 Kinesiology); and EXS 490 Senior Seminar
(prerequisite of Senior Standing). A grade of C or better is required in the following courses: EXS 180
Foundations of HPER; EXS 350 Exercise Physiology; EXS 353 Kinesiology; EXS 400 Exercise Testing &
Prescription; and EXS 454 Biomechanics. To make it easier for students to follow, a new checksheet
was created that includes a Sample Schedule as well as listing prerequisites needed for courses and
which semester courses are offered.
Considerable work was done in revamping the exercise science internship evaluations and exit exam
to more closely align it to the CSCS certification exam. While there is no movement to require
students to take the CSCS exam, it is our intent to track students who take the exam so that we may
review the data and see if additional changes are needed. At this time there is not enough data for
the revised exit exam or revised internship evaluations (only spring 2010) to draw any conclusions.
Work has not yet begun on creating an Exit Program Questionnaire.
Exercise Science
Changes for Improvement
2006-2008
1. Changes for Continuous Improvement: This year, 2008-2009, will be a year of reviewing the entire
exercise science program, including assessment measures, goals, outcomes and
alignment/accreditation to the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Therefore,
curriculum changes will more than likely occur.
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Because of the substantial enrollment increases in this program over the last five years, a new faculty
member was hired. He brings added expertise and strength in research to the program and has been
a part of program accreditation in his prior position.
Return rates for both graduate and employer surveys were low and therefore not usable; faculty will
review the survey questions and work to increase survey return rates.
Prior to this semester, scores for the exercise science exit exam have not been recorded into any
database. We will begin the process with the fall 2008 testers. Additionally, two readers will now
evaluate each student’s exam whereas in the last 3 years, there has been only one evaluator. With
the alignment to a national association, the exit exam will need to be reviewed for possible changes
needed to measure student’s knowledge and skills.
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