Students working out

The Department of Health Sciences and Physical Education, (HSPE) offers NCATE accredited undergraduate degree programs to meet the needs of students who desire teaching careers in Physical Education and/or Health, careers in Community Health, or who want to further their careers by acquiring graduate level training in Exercise Science.

The Masters of Public Health (MPH) program prepares students to lead, serve, conduct research, and work in a variety of public health settings. Settings may include public and private health care organizations, health settings. Settings may include public and private health care organizations, health research facilities, social service and environmental health agencies, and government institutions dedicated to public health policy, programming, and services. Additionally, students will be prepared to pursue terminal degrees in behavioral health, epidemiological, or environmental health sciences, as well as health-related law and policy, health care administration, and health communication. 

Fall 2019:

NEW COURSE OFFERINGS

EXSC 215 - Resistance and Cardiovascular Training for Health and Fitness

T/R 9:25-10:40 a.m. (P.E. Complex)

Course Description:
Learn theory and application of the basic fundamental techniques of resistance and cardiovascular training applied to development of health-related fitness components, specifically cardiovascular endurance and muscular fitness. Students will learn how to design a resistance and cardiovascular training program based on periodization concepts. Successful completion of this course will provide initial preparation for students to sit for national exams to become certified strength and conditioning specialist and personal trainer. Students will have practical experiences with the assessment of health-related fitness and the development of a variety of personal training programs.

  • Learn proper technique
  • Learn different types of training exercises and programs
  • Learn how to assess training and health-related fitness
  • Learn how to train, what to train and why to train using periodization
  • Begin initial education in preparation for taking National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) certification exam and prerequisite for EXSC 315 - Personal Training course (Spring 2019)

New Class for Spring 2019:

EXSC 315 - Design of Exercise Programs

Course Description:
In this course students will learn how to design a resistance and cardiovascular training program based on periodization principles that are specific to an individual and/or sport. Successful completion of this course (and EXSC 215) will prepare students to sit for the NSCA certification exam for a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). This course is designed to prepare students to become a CSCS Professional. This course is designed as a follow-up course after EXSC 215. Students will learn how to build a resistance and cardiovascular program that is performance and/or sport specific. Different and more advanced training techniques are used when working with people who are training for enhanced performance and/or sports.

EXSC 210 - Group Exercise Instructor - 3 credit hours (Fall 2019)

In this course students will learn how to design resistance and cardiovascular training programs based on periodization principles that are specific to group exercise classes. Successful completion of this course will allow students to sit for the certification exam to become a certified group exercise instructor. Course topics will include the following:

  • Developing and implementing pre-participant screening procedures
  • Health history assessments
  • Informed consent and medical clearance
  • Types of group exercise classes
  • Different environment for group exercise classes
  • FITT principle
  • Different training formats, teaching styles and learning styles
  • Exercise modifications
  • Planning a group exercise class
  • Resistance, cardiovascular, and flexibility training principles for group exercise
  • Rehearsing for class
  • How to select the proper music
  • Legal and professional responsibilities

EXSC 304 - Testing and Prescription for Health and Fitness - 3 credit hours (Spring 2020)

Prerequisite: PEMT 306
The course has a lecture and laboratory component in order to provide students with instruction, experience and the physiological basis for laboratory and field tests used to measure and evaluate health-related fitness components (i.e., cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength/endurance, muscular flexibility, and body composition). Students will be instructed on the evaluation the health-related fitness status of tested individuals and on the prescription of exercise training regimens for improving the status of health-related fitness and
physical performance enhancement. Course topics and labs to include the following:

  • Introduction to health-related fitness test
  • Muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility tests
  • Body composition tests
  • Power/speed tests
  • Balance tests
  • Aerobic and anaerobic tests
  • Motor skills tests

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Check out the Academic Catalog and/or Schedule of Classes for the Health Sciences and Physical Education Department.

Email Department Chair Dr. James Ball at  j-ball@neiu.edu.

Undergraduate Programs

Majors

Community Health, B.S.
Physical Education K-12 Licensure, B.A.

Minors

Health Promotion, minor
Exercise Science, minor

Graduate Program

Exercise Science, M.S.

Contact Us

For more information about the department or our programs, please contact one of our staff members.