Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences

Overview

Chair of the Department: Deborah Van Langen

Professors: Graves; Associate Professors: Ross, Van Langen; Assistant Professors: Dangi, Madden; Lecturer: Foley; Principal Lecturer: Bean; Senior Lecturer: Neptune

The Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in exercise science, health sciences, and therapeutic recreation. The Department also offers a master’s degree in athletic training. In addition, there are minors in athletic coaching, disabilities studies, holistic and integrative health, nature tourism, and recreation leadership, and certificates in athletic coaching and foundations of holistic health.

The Department’s athletic training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Upon completion of the curriculum, the athletic training student will be eligible to challenge the Board of Certification (BOC) examination leading to national certification as an Athletic Trainer (ATC) and licensure as an Athletic Trainer (LAT) in most states, including Maine.

The Department’s exercise science program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for Exercise Sciences (CoAES). Upon completion of the exercise science curriculum, students are prepared to take a variety of national certification examinations including the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer® and Certified Exercise Physiologist® certification examinations and the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS) examination.

Health sciences graduates are prepared for careers in general health science fields and for admission to graduate professional programs.

Graduates in therapeutic recreation are prepared for careers as a recreation therapist, recreation staff in a variety of municipal or nonprofit environments, activity coordinator, or recreation generalist. Students who complete internships under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist will be eligible to sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination.

Mission Statement

The Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences (EHSS) prepares students for careers in the allied health and wellness professions. EHSS delivers its curriculum through a variety of instructional methods and practical experiences. Our diverse graduates demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to competently function within broad scopes of practice.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

The Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences partners with the community to engage students, faculty, and staff in creating and sustaining a safe, inclusive, diverse, anti-oppressive, anti-racist experience for people of all identities. The department welcomes, values, and respects all intellectual pursuits of knowledge, fostering academic freedom, and integrity in a safe environment to participate and grow through exercises, health, and sport sciences.

Admission Requirements

In addition to requirements established for admission to the University, applicants to programs in exercise science and health science should have successfully completed high school chemistry and biology with labs.

Change of Major

Students enrolled in other USM programs of study who desire to enroll in exercise science or health sciences through the change of major process must have a minimum USM GPA of 2.50. Students cannot double major within department offerings.

Additional Information

Experiential Learning Requirements

Most department majors require supervised clinical, practicum, or internship experiences. Thus, the exercise, health, and sport sciences faculty reserve the right to limit enrollment in these programs.

In addition, clinical, practicum, and internship experiences occur in a variety of settings in the southern Maine area. Thus, students must provide their own transportation to rural as well as urban areas. It is highly recommended that students purchase professional liability insurance.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Certificate