Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) has announced that it has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Master of Science (M.S.) in Exercise Physiology degree. The new degree program will be offered through the university’s College of Health Sciences beginning in January 2022. It will be ideal for those seeking a deeper understanding of how the human body functions, and for those who wish to help others improve their health.
“Exercise physiology students will appreciate a curriculum that is practitioner-based, a new laboratory space with state of the art equipment, and clinical experiences designed to prepare professionals for practice in many areas of allied healthcare,” Dr. Chris Todden, dean of the CUKC College of Health Sciences, said.
According to Todden, it is an ever-changing field that now serves in a multitude of capacities, including in areas where they were not traditionally represented.
“Exercise physiologists are generally known to be employed in cardiac rehabilitation centers, where they focus on improving patients’ lifestyles by averting or delaying subsequent cardiac incidents, improving circulation and respiratory functions, and addressing physical activity barriers,” Todden said. “However, the demonstrated care model utilized by these allied health professionals is showing greater transferability with successful outcomes associated with conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, pre-diabetes and diabetes, and mental illness.”
The Master of Science in Exercise Physiology program was designed to follow the stipulations of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences. They are the entity that establishes the standards and guidelines for academic programs to prepare those seeking careers in health, fitness, and exercise industries. To achieve an additional level of integrity and viability for the program, CUKC will also seek accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
CUKC will accept qualified students from any educational background, not just those possessing undergraduate degrees in exercise, health, or other similar fields. However, all must meet certain academic requirements to gain entrance to the program.
The curriculum can be completed in various credit-hour options. This will give options to a wider range of potential students, as the M.S. degree will also accommodate the educational needs of nontraditional students, some of whom may take only one class per term based on the time available with their other life activities.
Earning an M.S. in exercise physiology degree can lead to a wide range of careers, including as an exercise physiologist, cardiac rehabilitation specialist, cancer exercise specialist, clinical coordinator, and other pursuits that help people live better. All academic degrees at CUKC support its institutional mission to promote health, wellness, and vitality, while educating its students to be the difference in healthcare.
The new degree program will be offered via the hybrid/flexible (HyFlex) teaching model, allowing flexibility to complete laboratory courses from on-campus to facilities off-campus. This means that many courses will be available to students in a fully remote version, and an in-person version. This method of instruction brings both sets of students together into a single course experience, while allowing each student to determine the format that best fits their learning style.
