Applied Exercise Science

Human Biology, Health & Society (HBHS)
Nutrition, Food & Agriculture (NFA)
Nutritional Sciences (NS)

A minor in applied exercise science may be completed by undergraduates majoring in NS, HBHS, and NFA. The minor is completed through Ithaca College's Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. This program is helpful to students seeking positions in nutrition and physical fitness or pursuing careers in sports medicine and related fields. Students can choose to complete all the requirements for the minor or take some courses as long as they have met the course prerequisites.

Students who complete all specified courses receive a letter from Ithaca College (IC) certifying they have completed the official program requirements. The letter is a useful credential for job and school applications. Program completion is good preparation for the examination for Fitness Instructor Certification by the American College of Sports Medicine. Candidates for fitness instructor certification must have American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification or the equivalent. Most candidates will benefit from having a course in physical fitness programming.

Requirements

The applied exercise science minor requires 11 credit hours of specified course work beyond the requirements for the other majors. In addition to taking BioAP 311, Animal Physiology, for the nutrition major, exercise science students are also required to take NS 341 Human Anatomy and Physiology. The 4 credits for NS 341 may be used towards the upper level nutrition course requirement (NS, NFA majors) or biology electives (HBHS majors). The following courses are taken at Ithaca College (IC):

Kinesiology/Applied Anatomy (4 cr)
Exercise Physiology (4 cr), and
Biomechanics of Human Movement (3 cr).

Completing a physics sequence is required for advanced study in related areas. Descriptions and required sequences for these courses are discussed below. The minor in applied exercise science is possible through a long-standing exchange agreement between IC and Cornell through which students may take up to 12 credits at IC (and/or vice versa) without additional cost during the school year. IC courses count toward elective credits. Students pay for the additional credits not covered by this agreement, and may not take a course at IC under the exchange program if that course is offered at Cornell.

Transfer students should note that courses completed at IC may be counted toward the 60 Cornell credits required for a Cornell degree.

Program Planning

Careful planning of course schedules is required to complete the applied exercise science minor in addition to the nutrition major. The calendars of the two colleges do not always coincide. Students are responsible for arranging their schedules, vacations, and transportation to complete the requirements of the Ithaca College courses. Travel between the campuses is possible by the city bus or by car pooling with other students. All of the courses are offered both spring and fall.

Important Course Sequences

Pre-registration & Registration

Students interested in participating in this program must first indicate their intent to participate by signing up with Beverly Surine in the DNS Academic Affairs Office, 309 MVR Hall. Then each semester during preregistration, students request from Mrs. Surine the course(s) they wish to take at IC so that the Division can negotiate the desired number of spaces.

Ithaca College is very strict about prerequisites. You must have the required prerequisites to register for a course. You need to indicate how you have met those prerequisites on the form you file at preregistration.

During the pre-registration period students register for a course by following the procedures listed below:

• Pick up and fill out the DNS Course Request Form and return it to 309 MVR Hall.
• At Cornell: Pick up a registration form at the Extramural Studies Office, B-20 Day Hall. Fill out the form and take it to Mrs. Surine for signature. NFA majors then get their college registrar's signature and then return the completed form to the Extramural Studies Office. Human Ecology students pick up the signed forms from Mrs. Surine and return the signed form to the Extramural Studies Office.  

At the beginning of the semester:

• At Ithaca College: Pick up registration/add-drop forms at Ex-Mu Office, Towers Concourse. Take the registration form to the first class.

Grades and Transcripts

The academic credits earned at IC count toward the Cornell degree only if a grade of C- has been achieved. Grades in IC courses do not appear on the Cornell transcript and are not included in the Cornell GPA. Students must obtain separate transcripts from IC to reflect courses completed at this college.

Because of high demand for places in the IC courses for this minor, the Division will NOT request a place in additional courses for any student who has earned a grade of less than C- in one of the IC courses for this minor.

Course Descriptions

663-32100 Exercise Physiology
Physiological changes that occur in the body during exercise, after exercise, and during a training period. Efficiency, needs and limitations of body systems and their interrelationships. Lecture, demonstration and laboratory. Prerequisites: 63-125, 63-126, physiology. (Credit: 4 hours)

663-22000 Kinesiology/Applied Anatomy
This is a laboratory course designed to introduce the student to the science of human movement. This will be done by the integration of functional anatomy and neuromuscular perspectives. Major joints of the body, their movement potential, and the muscles creating the movements will be the course emphasis. Prerequisites: 63-125 and 63-126. (Credit: 4 hours)

663-22100 Biomechanics of Human Movement
The study of biological and mechanical factors which affect humans as they move in their environment. Particular attention is focused on the understanding of human motion found in play, games and sports. The primary objective is to help students become more effective teachers of motor skills through the application of the fundamental concepts and methods of cinematographic analysis. Prerequisite: 63-236. (Credit: 3 hours)

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Students: It is your responsibility to find out when classes start at IC -- usually it is before Cornell classes begin. You must accommodate your schedule to fit with IC and Cornell fall/spring breaks -- you are required to be there during these times unless you personally make other arrangements with the IC course instructors.

Return to top of page

Webmaster Gail Canterbury
Updated July 6, 2004