EXSC 275 - Exercise Physiology

4 Credit: (3 lecture, 1 lab, 0 clinical) 4 Contact Hours: [BIOL 203 and EXSC 260 ]

This course will explore the fundamental physiological principles underlying human movement and the body’s responses to physical activity and exercise. Students will learn how various body systems-such as the cardiovascular, muscular, respiratory, and metabolic systems-interact during exercise, both acutely (short-term) and chronically (long-term). The course covers topics such as energy systems, exercise intensity, fitness assessment, and the impact of exercise on health and human performance. Through lectures, laboratory exercises, and real-world case studies, students will gain a foundational understanding of how exercise influences overall well-being, athletic performance, and disease prevention. This course is designed for students interested in careers in health, fitness, wellness, sports science, or allied health fields.
Semesters Offered: Spring Semester

Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies:
Goal 1: Understand the physiological basis of human movement and exercise, and specifically how the various body systems respond acutely and adapt chronically to exercise.

Describe the responses of the nervous, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems to acute endurance and resistance exercise.

Discuss the adaptations of the nervous, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems to chronic endurance and resistance exercise training.

Understand how additional stressors such as extreme temperature and altitude affect the acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise.

Recognize how energy systems contribute to the ability to respond to exercise.

Goal 2: Explain the interrelationship between exercise and health, fitness, and performance.

Define how acute and chronic exercise training positively affects various body systems.
Differentiate between how acute and chronic exercise training affects various body systems.

Understand how acute and chronic exercise training can help prevent or manage many chronic diseases.

Differentiate between normal and abnormal acute responses to exercise.

Recognize how physical activity and exercise impacts various physiological processes and physical fitness constructs which contribute to athletic performance.

Determine factors that contribute to fatigue and the limits of human performance.

Describe the bidirectional role of exercise and body composition.

Identify factors that influence exercise performance.

Goal 3: Apply exercise physiology concepts to real-world scenarios.

Apply foundational concepts in exercise physiology to clinical, sport, fitness, and wellness areas.

Describe the variability in human responses and adaptations to exercise.

Design exercise training plans to meet individual goals and needs.

Understand research papers related to exercise physiology and determine if/how they affect clinical/sport practice.

Goal 4: Develop the skills needed for evaluating the body’s physiological responses and adaptations to exercise.

Perform tests to assess key physiologic measurements at rest and during physical activity (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, muscular power, body composition).

Use data from key physiologic measurements to answer questions related to health and human performance.

Develop skills to communicate (in written and oral format) with clients and others in exercise testing and training settings.

Goal 5: Develop skills in reading, understanding, conducting, and disseminating research.

Complete research projects involving research study development, implementation, analysis, and dissemination.

Illustrate via presentation, oral communication, and writing assignments in scientific settings.

Develop skills in reading and critically evaluating original research articles in exercise physiology.