The growing national interest in prevention of disease through achievement of optimal health and physical fitness is appropriately reflected in the undergraduate Health Sciences programs in the Department of Health and Human Performance.
The undergraduate programs offer students resources for developing professional skills in exercise testing, physical activity, leadership, and health promotion. Graduates are prepared for beginning administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions in commercial and community health and athletic clubs, in corporate fitness and wellness programs, and for graduate study in Health, Exercise Science, or Physical Therapy. Students may choose from two emphasis areas:
Key elements of each curriculum are health education, kinesiology, disease prevention, fitness assessment, development of exercise programs, prevention and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries, fitness and sports administration, nutrition, alternative therapies, and techniques of promoting lifestyle changes. The programs offer elective courses leading to certification in lifesaving, water safety instruction, first aid, and swimming pool management.
Students completing the baccalaureate degree in Marymount's Health Sciences programs are qualified to apply for health fitness instructor certification by the American College of Sports Medicine.
During the senior year, students are placed in a supervised practical experience in a fitness or health setting. Among internship sites available in the Washington metropolitan area are several highly acclaimed health clubs, national associations, hotel health clubs, sports rehabilitation facilities, community health agencies, and the employee fitness programs of several large corporations. Students with considerable work experience in the health/fitness field may request an internship waiver from the department chair.
The occupational outlook for the health and fitness fields is considered excellent. Employers and their insurance carriers have recognized the importance of physical well-being in reducing absence from work and in reducing health insurance costs.
Each student plans the program of study with a faculty advisor in the Department of Health and Human Performance.
Liberal Arts Core requirements: EN 101-102 English Composition I & II, COM 300 Report Writing, 3 credits of Mathematics numbered above 100 (Pre-Physical Therapy students must take MA 132 Statistics), BIO 161-162 Anatomy and Physiology I & II, PSY 101 General Psychology or SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences, PSY 210 Human Growth and Development, ECO or POL course, and 18 credits of Humanities. See Liberal Arts Core for more details.
Health Promotion emphasis requirements: HPR 108 Weight Training or other physical activity course, HPR 201 Introduction to Health and Exercise Science, HPR 202 Exercise Physiology, HPR 225 Health Psychology, HPR 230 Community Health, HPR 260 Introduction to Sports Medicine, HPR 300 Essentials of Personal Training, HPR 301 Health/Fitness Program Management, HPR 302 Fitness and Health Assessment, HPR 304 Developing Physical Training Programs, HPR 308 Transcultural Concepts in Health and Illness, HPR 340 Nutrition for Optimal Health, HPR 400 Internship, HPR 406 Stress Management, HPR 410 Anatomical Kinesiology and Cardiovascular Physiology, HPR 415 Applications in Human Performance, HPR 421 Project or elective, NU 305 Alternative/Complementary Medicine, BIO 151-152 General Biology I & II. The following courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better: HPR 202, 260, 302, 304, 410, and 415.
Pre-Physical Therapy emphasis requirements: HPR 201 Introduction to Health and Exercise Science, HPR 202 Exercise Physiology, HPR 230 Community Health or HPR 225 Health Psychology, HPR 260 Introduction to Sports Medicine, HPR 301 Health/Fitness Program Management, HPR 302 Fitness and Health Assessment, HPR 304 Developing Physical Training Programs, HPR 340 Nutrition for Optimal Health, HPR 410 Anatomical Kinesiology and Cardiovascular Physiology, HPR 415 Applications in Human Performance, CHM 151-152 Principles of Chemistry I & II, PHYS 171-172 General Physics I & II, BIO 151-152 General Biology I & II, and MA 132 Statistical Analysis. The following courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better: HPR 202, 260, 302, 304, 410, and 415.
If accepted into the Physical Therapy program at the end of the junior year, the student is not required to take HPR 400 Internship or COM 300 Report Writing. The student will take the following courses during the senior year: HPR 525 Advanced Exercise Physiology; PT 700 Clinical Neuroscience; PT 701 Applied Pathophysiology; PT 702 Health Care Delivery and Contemporary Society; PT 710 Gross Anatomy; PT 711 Foundations of Physical Therapy Examination, Evaluation, and Diagnosis; and PT 712 Critical Assessment of Information.
Note: If a student in this emphasis chooses not to apply or is not admitted to the Physical Therapy program during the spring of the junior year, the student may then complete the requirements of the Health Promotion emphasis of the Health Sciences program and an internship during the senior year.
Internship: When other requirements are successfully completed, the student is placed in a 260-hour, 6-credit internship (HPR 400) in the senior year. Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, a grade of C- or better in all courses required in the major, and a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount.
Many students choose to major in another discipline, such as Business or Psychology, and minor in Health Sciences. Students whose cumulative grade point average at the end of freshman year is 1.80 or better may declare a minor in Health Sciences, Health Promotion emphasis.
Minor requirements: HPR 202 Exercise Physiology, HPR 302 Fitness and Health Assessment, HPR 340 Nutrition for Optimal Health, HPR 304 Developing Physical Training Programs, and an additional 6 credits of Health Promotion electives approved by the dean of the School. Grades of 2.0 or better are required in all courses applied to minors.