Exercise and Sport Science Course Descriptions

ESS - 050. Intercollegiate Sports (1)

Advanced instruction and coaching for intercollegiate competition in the following sports is open to students in acceptable physical condition who can qualify for a place on the team: baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Only the grade Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory is given. (If Satisfactory is granted, credit for the course will be counted toward the total units required for graduation, but will not be counted in computed grade point averages.) ESS majors may not use this credit towards the major. Must enroll during season, one semester per year. May be repeated for 4 units total credit. Offered every semester.

ESS - 100. Motor Skill Performance and Analysis (1)

ESS majors must take at least 4 sections, each chosen from 4 different areas. Sections meet two hours a week. Offered every semester.

ESS - 100. Creative Movement Forms (1)

Emphasis on proficiency in performing and analyzing movement as a performing art form.

ESS - 100. Total Body Fitness (1)

Emphasis on proficiency in performing and analyzing movement from a cardiovascular, strength, body composition, and flexibility perspective.

ESS - 100. Individual Sport Skills (1)

Emphasis on proficiency in performing and analyzing movement from an individual sport perspective.

ESS - 100. Team Sport Skills (1)

Emphasis on proficiency in performing and analyzing movement from a team sport perspective.

ESS - 100. Rehabilitation Movement (1)

Emphasis on proficiency in performing and analyzing movements associated with various types of therapy.

ESS - 110. Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology (4)

Taking an "owner's manual" approach, course provides an introduction to the structure of the human body and its homeostatic functions. Health, disease, injury, performance optimization, and lifespan development are addressed. Not open to ESS majors. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 120. Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science (4)

Prerequisite: ESS majors only. An introductory course aimed at the entry level student. Focuses on the integration of biological, behavioral, and cultural perspectives in Exercise and Sport Science. Particular attention is paid to students' academic, personal, and professional expectations. Offered every semester.

ESS - 200. Statistics (4)

Prerequisite: ESS majors only. Historical development of measurement and evaluation in Exercise and Sport Science. Offered every semester.

ESS - 220. Motor Development (4)

Prerequisite: ESS majors and Child Studies minors only. Study of physical growth, body type, and motor development through childhood, adolescence, and the adult stages; age and sex differences in motor performance. Offered every semester.

ESS - 240. Interdisciplinary Study of Human Aging (4)

This course is intended to introduce students to a wide range of topics and disciplinary interests in gerontology and to explore their influence on the ability for older adults to successfully age in today's world. The changing demographics of the aging population will be emphasized as well as the biological, psychological and sociological effects of human aging. Offered Intermittently.

ESS - 300. Kinesiology (4)

Prerequisites: BIOL - 113 and BIOL - 114 ; ESS - 200. The purpose of this course is to analyze human movement using applied anatomy and biomechanics, with the goal of skill enhancement and injury protection. Offered every semester.

ESS - 310. Exercise Physiology (4)

Prerequisites: BIOL - 115 and BIOL - 116 ; ESS - 200. This course will study how exercise affects the structure and function of the human body. Attention will be given to each bodily system as well as the biochemistry of exercise. A weekly laboratory familiarizes students with the assessment of human performance. Offered every semester.

ESS - 315. Exercise Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: ESS major or permission of instructor. Study of the reciprocal relationship of body movement and inner states. Topics include motivation, stress, group and leadership dynamics, psychological skills, body image, burnout, and injury. Offered every semester.

ESS - 320. Motor Learning (4)

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Study of interaction of cognitive, perceptual, task, and physical variables that influence skilled movement. Information-processing, dynamical, and neuroanatomical models are discussed. Applications include activities of daily living, elite motor skills, physical rehabilitation, and ergonomics/human factors. Offered every Fall.

ESS - 325. Exercise and Disease Prevention (4)

Prerequisites: BIOL - 113 and BIOL - 114 ; BIOL - 115 and BIOL - 116. This course examines the mechanisms of chronic disease, including the etiology, epidemiology, and role of exercise in the management and prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Offered every Spring.

ESS - 330. Exercise and Health Promotion (4)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the tools to develop effective exercise and health promotion interventions for a variety of populations. The undelying theories of exercise and health behavior and their application to program development will be studied. Exercise and health promotion program development including planning, implementation, and evaluation will be studied extensively. Offered every Fall.

ESS - 340. Neuroscience (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 270 or BIOL - 113 and BIOL - 114 or permission of instructor. The general purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the field of neuroscience. Emphasis is placed on the biological structures and functions of the brain and nervous system in health and disease. Offered every Spring.

ESS - 350. Biomechanics (4)

Prerequisite: ESS - 300. The knowledge and methods of mechanics as applied to the structure and function of the living human system. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 354. Exercise Testing and Program Design (4)

Prerequisite: ESS - 310. This course will train students to develop exercise programs for healthy people and those with controlled diseases. Benefits and risks of physical activity will be discussed in addition to various methods of human performance and movement analysis. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 356. Movement for Special Groups (4)

The theory and practice of adaptive physical education as applied to the exceptional person. Topics studied include sensory impairments; behavioral and learning disorders; fitness and structural problems; cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic problems; interventions and activities for the special person. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 358. Clinical Exercise Physiology (4)

Prerequisite: ESS - 310. Clinical Exercise Physiology deals with the effects of chronic disease such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes on exercise capacity and the benefits of exercise training in managing chronic conditions. Lecture and laboratory experiences which will introduce students to clinical exercise testing, electrocardiography, and exercise prescription for clinical populations. Offered every Fall.

ESS - 362. Sport, Culture and Society (4)

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Course focuses on local and global forces in the production and promotion of sport and fitness practices, representations, and discourses. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: SOC - 324

ESS - 364. Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary School (4)

Prerequisite: Junior standing. The elementary school physical education program. Games, sports, fundamental rhythm and dance, and other activities commonly taught at the elementary level. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 366. Curriculum and Instruction: Secondary School (4)

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Knowledge of selected curriculum issues, for example, physical education as a profession, patterns for organizing curricula, legal liability, health education, recreation, evaluation, supervision, and teaching problems and practices. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 368. Nutrition for Exercise and Health (4)

Prerequisites: BIOL - 115 and BIOL - 116. This course will study the influence of nutrition on both health and human performance. Students will study how diet affects the prevention of various disease processes as well as nutritional strategies that can be employed to enhance athletic performance. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 370. Social Issues in Personal and Community Health (4)

Issues related to personal and community health. Areas of concern will be mental health, drug abuse, prejudice, personal safety, fitness, disease, environmental health, nutrition, and selected topics in human sexuality. Offered every semester.

ESS - 372. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (4)

An emphasis on the social and psychological aspects of substance abuse and its prevention and treatment. Offered every semester.

ESS - 376. Teaching Sport Skills (4)

Prerequisites: ESS majors only Junior standing. An analysis and methods of teaching class for students interested in teaching movement and sport skills in physical education, sport, and fitness settings. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 390. Special Topics (1-4)

Experimental course focusing on exploration and discussion of material which complements that found in the regularly offered curriculum. Topics are variable. Offered intermittently.

ESS - 397. Field Observation in Physical Education (1)

Prerequisites: ESS majors only; Senior Standing and permission of instructor. Observation of and assistance with physical education programs at middle and high school levels. Offered every semester.

ESS - 398. Professional Practicum (4)

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor ESS - 325, ESS - 320. Supervised work in a community setting relevant to exercise and sport science. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, specialist clinics, health and fitness clubs, hospitals, recreation centers, public and private organizations. Offered every semester.

ESS - 399. Directed Study (1-4)

Prerequisite: ESS majors only. Written permission of the instructor and the dean is required. Offered every semester.

ESS - 410. Research Seminar (4)

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Research methods and scientific research principles. In-depth explorations and discussion of latest findings, theories and applications. Topics variable. Offered intermittently.