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Exercise and Sport Science

Major / Minor Requirements

The Exercise and Sport Science Department offers a variety of programs, including those leading to teaching licensure or certifications.

Major in Exercise and Sport Science
Coursework leading to physical education teaching license (K-12)
Minor in School Health Education leading to teaching license (K-12) (Certification 910)
Adaptive Physical Education Certification
Athletic Coaching Certification
 College-wide Physical Education Requirements

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Exercise and Sport Science Major Requirements

Students majoring in exercise and sport science must select either a health and human performance concentration or a physical education concentration. In addition to required core courses for the major, students must also take the required courses for their concentration to complete their degree.

CORe Required courses (20 credits):

  • EXS 1010  Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science (2 credits)
  • EXS 1020  Instructional Methods for Individual and Group Activities (4 credits)
  • EXS 2200  Nutrition for Health and Performance (3 credits)
  • EXS 2300  Applied Principles of Strength Training (3 credits)
  • EXS 3070  Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics (4 credits)
  • EXS 3080  Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)

Health and Human Performance Concentration (32 credits)

Required courses (24 credits):

  • EXS 2020  Psychology of Health and Performance (4 credits)
  • EXS 3030  Sport and Rec Management (4 credits)
  • EXS 3110  Personal and Community Health (4 credits)
  • EXS 4040  Exercise Prescription (4 credits)
  • EXS 4900  Field Placement in Exercise and Sport Science — Senior Thesis (4 credits)
  • NSG 2330  Applied Statistics for Health and Human Services (4 credits)

Choose One (4 credits):

  • EXS 3210  Advanced Techniques in Training and Conditioning (4 credits)
  • EXS 4020  Theory and Practice of Coaching (4 credits)

Choose One (4 credits):

  • BIO 1040  Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIO 2010  Human Anatomy andPhysiology for the Health Professional I (4 credits)

Physical Education Concentration (36 credits)

Required courses (32 credits):

  • EXS 2620  Adapted Physical Education and Sport (4 credits)
  • EXS 2700  Elementary Physical Education, Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EXS 3520  Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EXS 4060  Fitness Education (4 credits)
  • EXS 4070  Assessment in Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900  Student Teaching (counts as Senior Thesis) (12 credits)

Choose One (4 credits):

  • BIO 1040  Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIO 2010  Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Professional I (4 credits)

Physical Education Teaching Certification (K-12 Licensure)

Students who intend to teach physical education in a school setting can obtain grades K-12 licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction if they do the following:

  • Complete all courses in the exercise and sport science major with physical education concentration.
  • Complete all required education courses for the K-12 Physical Education Licensure Program (secondary education minor).
  • Apply for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) sophomore year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements and deadlines.
  • Apply for acceptance into the Student Teaching Program (STP) junior year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements and deadlines.
  • Successfully complete student teaching.

To be eligible for student teaching, students must complete pre-student teaching clinical experiences that are developmental in scope and sequence and will occur in a variety of settings with a balance of observation at the elementary, middle, and secondary level. To meet the clinical experience requirements, students must register and successfully complete an education course requiring a pre-student teaching clinical experience.

Required EDUCATION Courses for physical education K-12 Licensure:

  • EDU 1010  Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010  Educational Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050  Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 3520  Developmental and Content Area Reading (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900  Student Teaching Seminar (12 credits)
  • EXS 2700  Elementary Physical Education: Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EXS 4200  Methods and Materials of Teaching Physical Education (4 credits)
  • BIO 1040  Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • HIS 1000  Issues in American History (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate* physical science course (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate* social science course (4 credits)

* Contact the Education Department for a list of appropriate courses.

Adaptive Physical Education Certification

Students seeking Certification 860 (Adaptive Physical Education) must complete:

  • All courses in the Exercise and Sport Science major.
  • All required courses for the Secondary Education minor
  • PYC 2850* Child and Adolescent Development (4 credits)
  • EXS 3520 Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education (4 credits)

* PYC 2850 must be completed before taking EXS 3520 Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education, the required capstone class.

Health Minor Requirements

Students who earn a K-12 certification in physical education and wish to teach health education in the school setting need to complete this coursework for a health minor, pass the Praxis II health exam (or waiver), and complete student teaching:

Required courses for minor and SCHOOL HEALTH Certification 910 (24 credits):

  • EXS 1080  Introduction to Health and Wellness Education (3 credits)
  • EXS 2200  Nutrition for Health and Performance (3 credits)
  • EXS 2270  Consumer Health Issues (2 credits)
  • EXS 2500  Comprehensive School Health Programming (2 credits)
  • EXS 2810  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) Education (2 credits)
  • EXS 3090  Sexuality Education (2 credits)
  • EXS 3110  Personal and Community Health (3 credits)
  • EXS 3120  Issues in Emotional and Mental Health (2 credits)
  • EXS 4210  Methods and Materials of Teaching Health Education (4 credits)

Athletic Coaching Certification

This program is very desirable for students who intend to coach athletic teams in a public or private school setting. It will assist students from three distinct academic areas:

  • Exercise and Sport Science major pursuing Physical Education, K-12 Licensure. Most of the coursework is part of the major. Students who receive teaching licensure also will receive a coaching certification recognition on their transcripts.
  • Education majors who will be licensed in a subject area. Students who receive teaching licensure also will receive a coaching certification recognition on their transcripts.
  • A non-Education major or an Exercise and Sport Science major who does not seek a teaching licensure. These students cannot receive a coaching certification from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. However, upon request, the EXSS department chair will have the following statement placed on those students’ transcripts: “This student has completed the coursework for coaching certification required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.”

required courses for the ATHLETIC COACHING certification (25 credits:

  • BIO 1040  Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • EXS 2180  Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (2 credits)
  • EXS 2300  Applied Principles of Strength Training (3 credits)
  • EXS 3030  Sport and Recreation Management (4 credits)
  • EXS 3070  Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics (4 credits)
  • EXS 4020  Theory and Practice of Coaching (4 credits)
  • EXS 4050  Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)

College-wide Physical Education Requirements

All Carthage students pursuing graduation are required to participate in and pass two physical education experiences (graded S/U) offered through the Exercise and Sport Science Department. The first is EXS 0010 Concepts of Physical Fitness (1 credit). This is a seven-week lecture/laboratory experience that presents basic knowledge and methods relevant to maintaining and developing good health, fitness, and overall wellness. After completing that course, all students are required to take a seven-week course in a lifetime or fitness activity.

Exceptions: A student who participates on an athletic team for an entire season can fulfill the one lifetime/fitness activity requirement. Exercise and Sport Science Department majors are not required to take either the EXS 0010 Concepts of Physical Fitness class or a lifetime/fitness activity.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

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