PROGRAM MATRICULATION
The Master of Science in Sport Studies is designed with and open enrollment schedule. Students may enter the program at any 8 week interval within the academic schedule. The program is designed for students to complete their studies in one full academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer); however, if students wish to pace themselves at a slower rate, the curriculum is designed to accompany their desired rate of learning. The following courses are required for completion of the Master of Science in Sport Studies.
HHP 500. Advanced Exercise Testing (3 hours)
This course is designed to provide students with the ability and knowledge to prescribe both anaerobic and aerobic exercise programs for the general population and with the emphasis on sport performance. This course will prepare students with skills and knowledge for building complete exercise programs for unique clients through the ability to perform pre exercise assessments. This course will also focus on interpretation of exercise assessments and aid in proper safe exercise prescription and techniques for athletes, special populations, and overall general population in mind.
HHP 510. Sport Psychology (3 hours)
The psychology of sport is the study of the interaction between psychological variables and performance in athletic and physical activity. The overall purpose of this course is to introduce students to psychological theory and practical skills that influence sport performance.
HHP 533. Risk Management and Injury Prevention (3 hours)
This course is designed to provide students the foundational risk management and injury prevention knowledge and methods that are pertinent for students preparing to enter the athletic coaching, strength and conditioning, or general wellness industries. Prevention, risk management strategies, recognition and care of athletic injuries, including environmental considerations will be introduced. Emphasis is placed on orthopedic injury description, prevention, treatment, and recovery.
HHP 537. Advanced Exercise Physiology (3 hours)
This is an advanced exercise physiology course aimed at graduate students that possess a basic understanding of human exercise physiology. The
primary goal of this class is to acquaint the students with knowledge, understanding, and value of the relationship of contributing metabolic factors, temperature regulation, and fatigue to physical exercise as they apply to athletic performance, fitness and extreme environments. Particular attention will be placed upon an understanding of muscle bioenergetics and metabolism as well as the cardiopulmonary responses to both acute and chronic exercise. Special topics to be addressed include exercise-induced oxidative stress, mechanisms of inactivity-induced muscle atrophy, performance at altitude, and hydration during exercise. Finally, this course will incorporate a problem-based learning approach and will emphasize the importance of critical thinking skills in exercise physiology.
HHP 540. Sports Nutrition (3 hours)
This course provides a foundation in science of sport and exercise nutrition and the correlation of nutritional practices and optimal human physical performance. The course will also teach students to learn how to facilitate and educate clients and athletes about general nutritional values and recommendations to maintain a healthy lifestyle, alter body composition, and improve overall performance. It will cover chemical structure and biochemical metabolic functions of essential and nonessential nutrients, nutritional ergogenic aids, eating disorders, fluid intake and balance, thermoregulation, and body composition will be discussed.
HHP 550. Research Methods and Statistics for Physical Activity (3 hours)
This course is designed to be an introductory experience for the research consumer as well as the research producer in sports studies. This course emphasizes developing conceptual understanding of using the scientific method as a means of problem solving, both as a critical consumer and as an entry-level researcher.
HHP 560. West Virginia Sport History (3 hours)
This course will examine the development of sports and competition in the State of West Virginia. From its inception, into organized forms of sport, to the highly developed enterprise that has emerged in contemporary times. Observations of the influence of Appalachian culture and history on this development as well as significant sport figures from WV are central to the presentation and content of this course.
HHP 600. Essentials of Personal Training (3 hours)
This course is designed to prepare the student with the personal training knowledge, skills, and abilities set forth by the NSCA. Emphasis on course content will be in nutrition and the role of personal trainer, latest guidelines for client assessment, flexibility training, cardiovascular exercise prescription, stability ball training, and periodization training. The course will also address exercise prescription with special populations, aerobic and anaerobic exercise techniques, and resistance training load. The course will also familiarize and enable the student to be able to instructor in the NSCA standards of exercise and fitness protocols standards and protocols set forth by the department of education in its physical fitness component.
HHP 630. Strength and Conditioning (3 hours)
This course provides students with information to complement and illustrate material taught in undergraduate level Strength and Conditioning (HHP 430). Emphasis will placed on the theory and methodology of training and preparing athletes for competition. Students in this course will be given the practical knowledge of design, implementation, modification, and assessment of strength and conditioning programs for athletes. Emphasis will be placed on modifying the strength and conditioning program to meet the coaches, team, and individual athlete’s needs.
HHP 640. Tactical Strength and Conditioning (3 hours)
This is course is designed to address the physical demands of tactical professionals in the military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue workers in conditioning and to aid in the decrease risk of injury. Covered areas in the course will include nutrition, supplements, injury treatment and rehabilitation, and assessment evaluations for tactical professionals. Students will also discuss and implement exercise drills, techniques and specific needs of the tactical athlete not limited to flexibility, mobility, speed, agility, power, and aerobic and anaerobic conditioning
HHP 650. Internship in Sports Studies (6 hours)
This course serves as a capstone opportunity for the Graduate Level Sports Studies student to apply cognitive, psychomotor and affective competencies learned throughout their studies within the Sports Studies Program. Each student will work and learn with an existing wellness program, sports business, sports education/instructional program or sports team in the surrounding community (240 clock hours)