Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences

Chair
Eric Wickel

Clinical Professors
Greg Gardner
Robin Ploeger
Ron Walker

Associate Professor
Eric Wickel

Clinical Associate Professors
Samantha Beams
Jason West

Assistant Professors
William Davis Hale
Roger Kollock

Clinical Assistant Professors
Rachel Hildebrand
Portia Resnick

For more information on degree programs offered by the faculty of kinesiology and rehabilitative sciences, visit the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences webpage.

The faculty of the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences offer curricula leading to the Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science (B.S.E.S.S.) degree and the Master of Athletic Training (M.A.T.) degree.

Exercise and sports science practitioners provide health care, technique/skill instruction, and performance enhancement for the physically active population. Foundational knowledge for this practice is gained through study of how physical activity influences the human body. Clinical skill acquisition is also a very necessary component. Courses within this degree program address both areas.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students in the exercise and sports science program will:

Demonstrate comprehension of the sciences applied to human function and exercise.
Demonstrate the ability to appraise behavioral and physiologic outcomes related to musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular human function.
Demonstrate the ability to manage and critically analyze data relevant to the improvement of health and human performance.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively retrieve, summarize and disseminate written and oral information relevant to the improvement of health and human performance.
Demonstrate the ability to design and implement strategies, utilizing contemporary techniques, for improving health and human performance.
Demonstrate the professional behaviors necessary to participate as responsible members of their chosen profession and community.

Exercise and sports science graduates will be prepared to seek several entry-level certifications from agencies such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. This degree also prepares students for graduate studies in any one of a number of medical-, health-, and sports medicine-related fields of study. Students pursuing entrance into professional medical or allied health care programs must be advised that the specific institution or school might dictate additional course requirements. These students are advised to obtain the most current admission requirements from that institution and work with their advisor in assuring all requirements are met.

Emphases

General Emphasis . Students interested in a career in athletic performance, corporate wellness, health promotion, personal training or coaching should choose the general emphasis. Students are encouraged to pursue a minor in education , sport management , or health sciences .

Pre-professional Emphasis . Students interested in pursuing studies in physical therapy, occupational therapy or health care fields should elect the pre-professional emphasis in order to complete the prerequisite coursework for those advanced programs of study. Courses in the pre-professional emphasis cover many general prerequisites; however, students must be advised that the prerequisite requirements for programs of advanced professional study in health care fields may differ from program to program. For this reason, students must remain cognizant of specific admission prerequisites for their program of choice.

Teacher Certification Emphasis . Students interested in pursuing careers in the instruction of physical education in both school and non-school settings should select the teacher certification emphasis within the exercise and sports science degree program. Students in this emphasis must complete the exercise and sports science core as well as the courses in the teacher certification emphasis, which includes additional exercise and sports science courses and courses from the Department of Education . Upon completion of degree requirements, students can apply for teacher certification through the alternative certification route.

Pre-med Emphasis . Students interested in pursuing studies in medicine, physician’s assistant or similar programs should choose the pre-med emphasis. Courses in the pre-med emphasis cover many of the general prerequisite requirements for medical schools but students must be advised that specific requirements differ from program to program. For this reason, students must remain cognizant of specific admission prerequisites for their program of choice.

Pre-Athletic Training Emphasis . Students who are interested in a career in athletic training should choose the Pre-Athletic Training Emphasis and complete the five-year accelerated master’s degree. During the junior year, students apply for the professional portion of the program. Students who have met admission requirements, including an overall GPA of 3.0, are given preference for admission to the Master of Athletic Training professional portion of the program. For information about the graduate-level portion of the accelerated master’s degree program, see the Graduate Bulletin.

The Master of Athletic Training Professional Program at the University of Tulsa is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Completion of the degree requirements of the athletic training program at The University of Tulsa entitles the recipient to apply to sit for the national athletic training certification examination through the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC). Although the degree recipient is qualified to sit for the examination, permission to sit for the exam is controlled by BOC and the decision is completely within the agency’s jurisdiction.

Requirements for Observation, Clinical and Internship Courses

Internship experiences have prerequisite courses and enrollment requires the permission of the advisor. Any student who receives a failing grade in an internship course is subject to immediate dismissal from the program. Internships may not be taken simultaneously, unless permission is given by the Department Chair.

Students completing this degree should be advised that the following requirements must be met prior to observation or internship courses:

Criminal Background Check: Students are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to observation or internship courses as required by the contract with off-campus clinical agencies. This will allow proper placement of students for off-campus rotations.

Liability Insurance: Liability insurance is required for any student enrolled in Exercise and Sports Science internship courses. Liability insurance fees are listed in the Tuition and Fees section of this Bulletin and are automatically billed to the student’s account through the Bursar’s Office.

Health Requirements: Prior to beginning observation and internship courses and yearly thereafter, students must complete online training in blood-borne pathogens, HIPAA, the Right to Know (OSHA communication standard), fire safety, and TB prevention. Students are required to present proof of the following immunizations and screenings to the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences: TB test (using CDC guidelines for two step method or chest X-ray), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (TdaP), hepatitis B, varicella and flu. These may be done at the Alexander Health Center on campus for a fee or at a private physician’s office. Students who do not desire the required rubella or hepatitis B immunization must sign a waiver.

Transportation and Uniforms: Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical areas and are required to buy their own uniforms, in accordance with the program dress code. See the Exercise and Sports Science Clinical Handbook for dress code.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Students must provide documentation of American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification prior to observation or internship courses and must maintain continuous certification throughout the program.

Programs

Major

Exercise and Sports Science, B.S.E.S.S.

Minor

Accelerated

Athletic Training, Accelerated Master’s

Courses

Athletic Training