Graduate Exercise Science

This course will explore exercises meant to prevent injuries, reduce movement deficiencies, improve muscle imbalances, and maximize results by creating safe, individualized training programs by identifying dysfunctions, developing a plan of action, and implementing exercise solutions. This course prepares students to take the National Strength and Conditioning Association CSCS, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam.

This course provides you with an advanced understanding of the clinical effects and physiologic adaptations of the human body to exercise interventions.  The effects of exercise on the organ systems of the body will be explored with an emphasis toward combating cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

An in-depth examination of advanced-level scientific principles and research in exercise physiology and human performance. In this course, you will gain exposure to advanced concepts in human exercise physiology and performance, with emphasis on the structural and functional plasticity of muscle, the autonomic nervous system and stress response pathways, the endocrine system and exercise, exercise and immune function, and the impact of extreme environments on human performance. This course will also introduce you to new areas of exercise physiology research to include advances in genomics and proteomics. Students will build the capacity to appropriately critique scientific research in exercise physiology and gain an understanding of how advanced concepts can be applied in future careers as exercise and health practitioners.

This course will help you gain an understanding of the concepts and application of advanced sport and behavioral psychology. Utilizing a variety of learning opportunities and experiences ranging from formal teaching to more activity-based and experiential learning, you will utilize knowledge of behavioral techniques that can be applied to enhance sport and exercise performance. Application of the techniques to both individual and group situations is considered via emphasis on real-life projects and practical applications.

This course provides you with an overview of exercise prescription for healthy, chronic disease, and vulnerable populations. In addition to exercise prescription guidelines, topics covered will include pathophysiology of chronic disease, lifestyle and behavior modification techniques and the role of the health care system in the prevention of and management of chronic disease. Attention will also focus on the role of exercise for enhancing health for vulnerable populations to include children, the elderly and those with disabilities.

A study of nutrition as it relates to optimum performance for sport and health. Nutrient needs, e sources, functions and interactions are reviewed according to the latest scientific findings. Principles of body conditioning are emphasized with attention to diet and lifestyle practices that promote health and decrease risks of nutrition related diseases.  You will also learn how to evaluate whether current trends in “dieting” are backed by scientific evidence.  Target audiences will include athlete, healthy, chronic disease and vulnerable populations.

The Practicum for Strength and Conditioning Theory course is designed to prepare students for careers in strength and conditioning. This will be achieved by using the theory, knowledge, skills, and abilities learned from previous coursework in the Exercise Science Major. Exercise Science students will screen, test, and prescribe exercise for one semester to the general population and student athletes.

This course focuses on applying evidence-based behavioral strategies to interactions with health-fitness participants and patient populations to enhance engagement, adherence, and sustainability of lifestyle behaviors related to health. The course will include interaction strategies with patients, listening skills, strategies to enhance compliance, strategies for working with non-compliant patients, and application to specific health-fitness and healthcare settings.  You will also examine the impact COVID-19 has had on mental health regarding the ability of the client to address needed behavior changes.

This course will cover current issues and trends in the field of exercise science. Topics will vary each semester.

This course is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom directly in a field experience related to their career aspirations. Students will reflect on their hands-on experience and complete investigative research assignments related to responsibilities and skillsets required for a position related to their career aspirations. The Professional Field Experience I, is intended to expose and introduce students to selected areas in the field of health sciences. The student will work with professionals in the field and be exposed to a wide variety of programs, procedures and settings. Field Experience I is an investigate course culminating in a descriptive work-experience portfolio proposal. 

This course is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom directly in a field experience related to their career aspirations. Students will build upon their work completed in Field Experience I and demonstrate their knowledge through the completion of a Field Experience Portfolio. Assignments will challenge students to apply their understanding of skills and responsibilities related to their career aspirations. The Professional Field Experience II course is intended to expand off the culminating portfolio assignment of Field Experience I, and provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities as it relates to health sciences. The Field Experience II course will culminate with a final project where students will create a professional portfolio.

The Comprehensive Assessment Project (CAP) is a culminating academic endeavor for students completing a degree in Exercise Science from Colby Sawyer College. The purpose of the Comprehensive Assessment Project (CAP) course itself is two-fold: to provide structure and pacing for graduate students who are completing the capstone project and to create a learning community in which students will share their capstone work with others to gain constructive feedback and to generate ideas about the best ways to approach project content and structure. The seminar format of this class means that students should come prepared to discuss their own work, as well as to carefully consider their peers’ work, and offer insights relating to how projects can be improved.