Department of Kinesiology

Acting Chair: Ryan Zapalac (936)-294-4575

Faculty: Brent Estes, Jennifer Didier, Page Glave, Nicholas Grahovec, Jyhun Lee, Gary Oden, Emily Roper, Jose Santiago, Matthew Wagner, Mary Williams, Ryan Zapalac

Mission

The mission of the Kinesiology program is to advance students’ understanding of relationships among movement, exercise, and skill that occur in the contexts of development, learning, rehabilitation, and training. The program seeks to prepare future professionals for movement-related fields such as teaching, coaching, personal exercise, training and fitness. Learning occurs through the study of movement and exercise processes within a framework that emphasizes the clinical and practical implications of theory and research.

Academic Programs

• BS Kinesiology
• BS Kinesiology (All-Levels Teacher Certification)
• BS Kinesiology (Exercise Science Applied)
• BS Kinesiology (Exercise Science Clinical)
• BS Athletic Training
• BS Kinesiology (Athletic Training Endorsement) (no longer available after Fall 2014)

Highlights

• Nationally recognized (NCATE) teacher certification program making our majors in high demand by school district administrators.
• Successful completion of the Athletic Training program prepares individuals to sit for the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers’ state license.
• Web-based courses.
• Outstanding faculty and staff.
• Value student diversity (various ethnic and cultural backgrounds).
• Faculty who have worked in the field.

Suggested Minors

• Teacher Certification students will minor in Education but should select another content area which is taught within the public schools.
• Exercise Science students should select Health Fitness, General Business or Nutrition as a minor. Biology and Chemistry are minor options for Physical Therapy.
• Exercise Science Applied students should select Health Fitness, General Business, or Nutrition as a minor. Biology and Chemistry are additional options if CHEM 1411 is taken rather than CHEM 1406.
• Exercise Science Clinical students should select Biology, Chemistry, Health Fitness, or General Business as a minor.
• Athletic Training students should select either Health or Biology as a minor.
• Kinesiology (non teacher certification) students can choose any content area for a minor.

Career Opportunities

• All Levels Teacher Certification
• Athletic training
• Corporate fitness
• Commercial fitness
• Hospital-based wellness
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Assistants to chiropractors and physical therapists
• Recreational specialists in camps, communities and YMCA’s
• Personal trainers

Student Organizations

KHRASH — Kinesiology, Health & Recreation of Sam Houston — promotes healthy lifestyles; open to all SHSU students.

Internships

Students completing the Exercise Science, Applied Science Applied, and Exercise Science Clinical tracks complete a 6-credit, 400-hour internship at a site which is aligned with their career aspirations under the instruction and supervision of a qualified and experienced professional in the field.

Scholarships

• Betty Alexander Scholarship—Kinesiology major with at least two years of academic preparation at SHSU having earned a minimum of 3.0 in the major.
• Department of Health & Kinesiology Scholarship—Health or Kinesiology major demonstrating financial need with a satisfactory GPA.
• H.O. “Molly” Crawford Scholarship—Male, junior standing in Kinesiology seeking teacher certification with at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrating financial need.
• Joe and Mary Kirk Scholarship—Male, senior standing in Kinesiology seeking teacher certification with at least a 2.8 GPA.
• Margaret Powell Award—Female majoring in Kinesiology displaying excellence in academics.
• Robert J. Wagner Memorial Scholarship—Graduate student in Adult Fitness Management with 3.0 GPA, 1000 GRE and 3.5 graduate GPA reflecting a lifestyle of physical fitness and demonstrating financial need.
• Robert L. Case Health & Kinesiology Wellness Scholarship—Health or Kinesiology major displaying leadership potential with at least a 3.0 GPA and reflecting a high level of fitness.

Program Specific Requirements

Those seeking Teacher Certification must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (includes transfer and SHSU hours) and must earn a “C” or better in their Kinesiology or Education courses.

Curriculum

The curriculum integrates the physiological, biomechanical, and psycho-social bases of movement. Students develop their own movement skills which transition into a focus on movement analysis, physiological function, and skill assessment. Students gain greater depth as they consider problems related to exercise, fitness and motor skill development within the context of lifestyle physical activity (i.e., play, games, sport, and other forms of human motor behavior). Students finish the program with strong theoretical and problem solving skills based on a comprehensive knowledge of movement and exercise science. It is expected that graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to a wide variety of movement-related problems and career possibilities.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology

This degree is considered a generalist degree that will prepare students to enter the profession of Kinesiology. Students may be employed in work sites, hospitals, recreational facilities, and educational environments.

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Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology with Teaching Certification

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This degree will prepare students to teach Physical Education at the Pre-K through 12^th grade level in the state of Texas. Students will participate in methods and student teaching as their culminating component of the degree. Students will be prepared to sit for the Texas Physical Education exam. The content of the program is aligned with the National Association of Sport and Physical Education standards.

Notes: ¹KINE 2115 satisfies the major core and component area VI requirements.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology with Teaching Certification

Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology (Applied Exercise Science)

This degree will prepare you for a career in corporate and commercial fitness. Future job prospects include wellness coordinator, personal trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and other fitness specializations. This track is focused on applied settings where you will be working with the general population, such as at a performance center, commercial gym, or recreational facility.

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Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology (Clinical Exercise Science)

This degree will prepare you for a career in clinical exercise science. Future job prospects include cardiac rehabilitation, hospital/clinic-based fitness and wellness facilities, performance centers, research facilities, and graduate education in exercise science, sport and human performance, and allied health fields (physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.). This track is focused on clinical and research settings where you will be working with both clinical and general populations, such as at a cardiac rehabilitation facility, research laboratories, or at sport-science based performance facilities.

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Bachelor of Science, Major in Kinesiology with an Athletic Training Endorsement

(No longer available after Fall 2014)

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Bachelor of Science, Major in Athletic Training

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions (www.nata.org/athletic-training).

Admission Requirements:

The Athletic Training Program maintains a competitive admission process, and the number of students admitted to the program will depend on the number of placements available (typically 10-15 students annually). Students must meet the following requirements for consideration of admission to the SHSU Athletic Training Program.

1. Complete ≥ 53 credit hours with a GPA ≥ 2.75 [to include BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, CHEM 1411 /1406, PSYC 1301, MATH 3379, KINE 2115, ATTR 2300, ATTR 2110] of the Pre-Professional Athletic Training curriculum prior to submitting the application for admission to the Athletic Training Program. No grade less than a ‘C’ in the Pre-Professional Athletic Training curriculum will be accepted.
2. Earn a grade of ‘B’ or better in KINE 2115, ATTR 2300, and ATTR 2110.
3. Must submit proof of current CPR/AED for Health Care Professionals (see list of approved certifications per BOC) certification.
4. Applicants must complete the on-line SHSU Athletic Training Program Application. Applicants must submit the completed SHSU Athletic Training Program Application no later than 5:00 pm on the last day of the application period.
5. Applicants must complete a professional interview with selection committee.
6. Applicants must submit proof of immunizations and immunization review form.
7. Admission Preferences: Students who have completed at least 24 credit hours of pre-athletic training curriculum at SHSU will receive admission preference. Students with a second Bachelor’s Degree and have completed 16 hours of pre-athletic training curriculum at SHSU will receive admission preference.
8. Background Checks and Drug Screening. Applicants should be aware that background checks and drug screenings will be done at the beginning of the fall semester for those students who have been accepted to the program. Final admission to the program will be determined after the background checks and drug test results are cleared. The cost of background checks and drug screenings must be paid by the student.
9. SHSU does not control the requirements of specific clinical site rotations or internship sites. Individual clinical sites and internship sites may have further requirements. The cost of any additional requirements will be the responsibility of the individual student.
10. Admission and completion of the program does not guarantee employment. Criminal history and drug screening can have an impact on future employability.

An Athletic Training Program Selection Committee will be made up of faculty members as well as licensed healthcare professionals who serve as clinical preceptors for the program. The number of students accepted each application period is determined by the number of faculty and clinical preceptors available for adequate advisement, mentorship, supervision, and learning. Once the selection committee has selected the candidates for admission to the program, the Athletic Training Program will send each applicant an acceptance letter (approximately July 15 – August 15). Applicants who accept the invitation to enter the program must return an acceptance form prior to the first class day of the entering semester. If the applicant chooses not to enter the program, the selection committee shall have a list of alternates in order of rank to offer program admission.

Conditional Admissions:

The Athletic Training Program has a competitive admission process, and the number of students will depend on the number of placements available (typically 10-15 students annually). There may be situations in which there is availability regarding student numbers where conditional admissions may be considered by the selection committee. Conditional admission to the Athletic Training Program may be considered in one or more of the following circumstances:

1. Applicant has a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.5.
2. The Applicant has no more than two grades in the Pre-Professional Athletic Training curriculum below the grade of C.
3. The Applicant is within 8 credit hours of completing the Pre-Professional Athletic Training curriculum.

Students who are selected for conditional admission into the Athletic Training Program have only one semester to meet the full admission requirements of the program (see Admission Requirements above), or, in the case of GPA, show improvement in overall GPA. Students who are conditionally admitted, and do not meet the conditions set forth by the Athletic Training Program and Selection Committee, that were not due to circumstances beyond their control, will be suspended from the program. Students suspended from the program may appeal the suspension to the Athletic Training Program Director. Students suspended from the program must wait one year before applying for re-admission to the program.

Retention Criteria:

Students admitted to the Athletic Training Program must meet the following criteria to remain in the program in good standing:

1. The student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.60 or higher.
2. The student must complete all Clinical Experience courses and Internship courses with a grade of “B” or better.
3. The student must complete all courses with an ATTR or KINE prefix on their degree plan with a “C” or better.

If a student does not meet one or more of the above listed retention criterion, the student will be placed on a probationary period with the Athletic Training Program. A student on probation with the program may be restricted from enrolling in subsequent clinical experience courses. This can delay the student’s progression through the program and can delay the program completion date for that student. If the student does not complete or correct the unsatisfactory work by the end of the probationary period, the student may be suspended from the program. Students suspended from the program may appeal the suspension to the Director of the Athletic Training Program who will refer the appeal to the Department Chair. Students suspended from the program must wait one year before applying for re-admission to the program.

Transfer Students:

The program length of two-years and the program course sequence is designed to meet the needs of a transfer student. Transfer students must meet all admission requirements or conditional admission requirements to be considered for admission to the program. Students transferring from another institution of higher learning, have earned dual credit, or other transferrable credits should follow the Pre-Professional Athletic Training Curriculum guide and meet with a Faculty Advisor in Athletic Training to determine readiness to apply to the Athletic Training Program.

For any Athletic Training or Kinesiology specific courses taken at another institution, a course description and syllabus must be submitted to the Athletic Training Program Director to determine transferability of those course credits into the student’s degree plan. The Athletic Training Program Director will review the course description and syllabus to determine course equivalency based on course objectives and content alignment with the current Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) competencies.

Cost of Program and Fees:

The cost of tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University can be found on the Admissions web page (https://www.shsu.edu/admissions/cost.html ). Additional cost of the program may include:

1. Students who are accepted to the Athletic Training Education program will be responsible for costs associated with background checks and drug screenings to determine final admission status.
2. Fees may be assessed for on-line courses that a student chooses to register for.
3. Students are required to have access to the ATrack on-line database where student each individual student will upload documents, log hours, and track progress on learned competencies across the program. ATrack is a free service to student who are student-members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). Student non-members will be required to pay a fee for use of the ATrack system on an annual basis as long as the student is in the program.
4. Students must have clothing which complies with the dress code/policy at individual clinical and internship sites. Most commonly this includes khaki slacks and/or shorts, polo shirt, and athletic footwear with a closed toe. At some clinical and internship sites, students may be required to dress business formal which may include a dress shirt or blouse, tie, suit or jacket, and dress shoes.
5. Student are responsible for providing their own transportation to all clinical and internship sites.
6. Students may be responsible for additional background checks or drug screening at some clinical and internship sites. Students will have input on their assignment to these locations.
7. Student who choose to study abroad will be required to pay additional costs associated with obtaining a passport and travel expenses.

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Minor in Kinesiology

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Minor in Health Fitness (Only for KINE Exercise Science, Exercise Science Applied, or Exercise Science Clinical tracks)

Special Athletic Training Endorsement

Athletic Training: This endorsement is applicable to an appropriate degree in Kinesiology. It is strongly recommended that the candidate choose either Health or Biology as the minor. The program will meet the preparation requirements of the state licensing agency. Interested students are urged to confer with the Head Athletic Trainer concerning required field experience, examinations, and other pertinent information.

Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2016

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