Exercise Science (MS)

Health Sciences

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Overview

The Department of Health Sciences currently offers a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a public health emphasis. Faculty in the department are exploring a range of research topics including acute/chronic effects of exercise, community-based exercise and nutrition interventions, nutrition epidemiology, health disparities, urban public health, and application of technology for measuring and motivating behavior change. The Concentration in Physical Activity and Public Health recognizes that inactivity is a major public health problem and represents a significant risk factor for many chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Moreover, this concentration integrates physical activity, public health and nutrition, which are recognized as the key competencies for a degree in exercise by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Graduate students seeking this degree are members of the Bouvé College of Health Sciences –a leading national model for education and research in the health, psychosocial and biomedical sciences, which supports the University's mission of educating students for a life of fulfillment and accomplishment and creating and translating knowledge to meet global and societal needs through inter-disciplinary research, urban engagement, experiential learning, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience.

Mission

The Exercise Science Program at Northeastern University provides students with knowledge, skills and abilities to improve the health of individuals and communities. Faculty engage in exercise based translational research and community practice, to inspire students to succeed and become lifelong contributors in the fields of physical activity, nutrition and public health.

Curriculum

A total of 12 courses or 36 semester hours are required for completion of this degree and includes the following cores and electives courses.

Exercise Science Core (4 courses or 12 SH) provides the foundation for the understanding of advanced principles of exercise physiology on acute and chronic responses to endurance and strength exercise in major body systems including the cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems.
Research Core (3 courses or 9 SH) provides the foundation to understand epidemiological and intervention studies, and the fundamental principles and concepts in biostatistics. The research practicum provides hands on experience on a specific research project while integrating concepts learned in the classroom.
Public Health Core (2 courses or 6 SH) provides the foundation to plan, develop, implement and evaluate primary prevention programs on exercise/physical activity and nutrition; as well as to understand how these programs are administered and the approaches taken to translate evidence-based programs in primary prevention to practice and policy.
Elective Courses in Public Health or Nutrition (3 courses or 9 SH). Students will be able to elect 3 courses in either public health or nutrition to deepen their knowledge in one of these competency areas.

Program of Studies

Exercise Science Core (4 courses or 12 SH)

EXCS 6220

Advanced Exercise Physiology

EXCS 6200

Cardiopulmonary Physiology

EXCS 6233

Exercise and Musculoskeletal Health

TBD

Assessment and Prescription for Exercise and Physical Activity

Research /Practicum Core (3 courses or 9 SH)

PHTH 5202

Epidemiology

PHTH 5210

Biostatistics

TBD

Research Practicum (to include 2 SH of practicum and 1 SH research design class contact)

Public Health Required Core (2 courses or 6 SH)

PHTH 5540

Health Education and Program Planning

PHTH 5212

Public Health Administration and Policy

Public Health Electives (3 courses or 9 SH)

PHTH 6204

Society, Behavior and Health

PHTH 5120

Race, Ethnicity, and Health

PHTH 6208

Urban Health Assessment

PHTH 5214

Environmental Health

PHTH 5224

Social epidemiology

Any other Public Health courses with approval

PHTH 6228

Public Health Nutrition

PHTH 5228

Advances in Measuring Behavior

Nutrition Electives (3 courses or 9 SH)

TBD

Nutritional Epidemiology

TBD

Nutrition and Health in the Life Cycle

TBD

Nutrition and Metabolism

TBD

Nutrition Principles for Optimal Exercise & Performance

HSC I5230

Clinical Nutrition Applications

PHTH 6228

Public Health Nutrition

PHTH 5228

Advances in Measuring Behavior

Total Semester Hours 36 SH

Prerequisites

Specific prerequisites are the following.

Exercise Science Core: undergraduate anatomy & physiology and basic exercise physiology.
Electives in Public Health: The PHTH 6204: Society, Behavior and Health course is a prerequisite for the PHTH 5120: Race, Ethnicity, and Health course.
Electives in Nutrition: biochemistry and undergraduate nutrition.

Experiential Learning and Collaborations

The experiential learning and collaborations listed below are some examples to illustrate the range of activities students can get involved in to complement their didactic instruction. These include translational and interdisciplinary research, fitness and health promotion, and assessment and prescription of wellness programs.

Human Performance and Exercise Science Laboratory – http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/hs/add/exscilab.html
Center for Population Health and Health Disparities – http://www.northeastern.edu/cphhd/
Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures – http://www.northeastern.edu/healthykids
Athletic Department and Campus Recreation – http://www.northeastern.edu/neuhome/athletics/index.html
Biomedical Mechatronics Laboratory – http://www.robots.neu.edu/
Research practicum with Department http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/hs/directory.html or University http://www.northeastern.edu/research/faculty.html faculty.
PhD in Personal Health Informatics – http://phi.ccs.neu.edu/

Admissions Criteria

Students must, as a minimum, have completed:

A baccalaureate degree in a science or health-related discipline from an accredited college of university.
Two undergraduate courses in anatomy and physiology, one course each in exercise physiology and statistics.
One year of health-related work experience is recommended.
Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the student's academic or clinical experience.
Official copy of scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). These tests must have been taken within the last five years.
The GRE is required and cannot be waived for students with baccalaureate degrees.
For applicants whose native language is not English, an official copy of the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Individuals with a score of less than 250 (600 in the old scoring method) must be certified by the English Language Center before they can be admitted.

Career Opportunities

This program is designed to prepare professionals trained in exercise science and public health core knowledge in program planning and evaluation and administration and policy. In addition, students will be prepared in research core components of research design and epidemiology with practical experience. This will allow students graduating from this program to seek a PhD degree and/or work in the research field. The electives in public health or nutrition provide further skills for graduates to work in settings to implement and evaluate physical activity or nutrition programs in the private and public sectors with opportunities in city, county, or state health departments, federal health agencies, private companies, professional organizations, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, medical clinics, among others.

Contact Info

Carmen Castaneda Sceppa, MD, PhD
Director, Graduate Program in Exercise Science
316 Robsinson Hall
Tel: 617-373-5543
Fax: 617-373-2968
c.sceppa@neu.edu

Northeastern University

Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University

Health Sciences