Kinesiology

Professor Mehl, Chair
Professor Rugg
On Special Appointment: Adjunct Assistant Professors Raney, Sternlicht

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Professors Braker (Biology), Deardorff (Chemistry), Dess (Psychology)

Kinesiology encompasses the study of human development, anatomy, physiology, mechanics, and motor learning. Within each subdiscipline students study stressors, positive and negative, that govern human performance. In addition, discussions focus on numerous clinical conditions, and the exercise, nutritional, and medical techniques used to prevent and control these problems. The purpose of this major is to develop and integrate the concepts and principles from each subdiscipline to understand the complexity of the human mind and body. This major prepares students for advanced studies in medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, kinesiology, and other related life science programs.

Departmental Mission Statement: Our mission is to foster in a diverse group of students an understanding and appreciation of human functions and to encourage and develop learning skills that enhance their personal and professional growth.

Goals:

1. Critical Thinking. Students should learn how to engage in critical, eveidence-based thinking.
2. Integration Across Levels of Analysis. Students should understand and integrate different levels of analysis in their working model of human form and function.
3. Mastery of Core Knowledge. Students are expected to master a significant proporation of the vocabulary and core body of knowledge in Kinesiology.
4. Mastery of Discipline-Specific Conventions. Majors should be able to read and understand the primary source literature in kinesiology (journals and books) and to integrate and present that information in prescribed, discipline-specfic ways, including oral and written exposition.

MAJOR: Eight courses (32 units) are required for the Kinesiology major. They are Kinesiology 104, 300, 301, 302 or 305 or 311, 306 or 309 or 312, 307, 310, and 490. Kinesiology majors must also take Chemistry 120 or 130, 220, 221, 240; Mathematics 110 or 114, 120; Physics 110 or 115; Biology 115 and 130; and Psychology 102.

Pre-professional students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Health Professions Office and with their academic advisor early in their career. Students planning to apply to medical schools should take two semesters of Physics. Students planning to apply to physical therapy schools should take at least two upper-division Psychology courses.

MINOR: Five courses (20 units) are required for the Kinesiology minor. They are Kinesiology 104, 300, 301, 307, and one course from the following: Kinesiology 302, 305, 306, 309, 310, 311, or 312. A student may replace Kinesiology 104 with any upper division Kinesiology course as long as he or she has completed the necessary prerequisites.

WRITING REQUIREMENT: Students majoring in Kinesiology will satisfy the final component of Occidental College’s college-wide writing requirement by successfully completing the written research requirements with a letter grade of “B” or better for two of the following 300-level courses: Kinesiology 302, 305, 306, 309, 310, 311, and 312. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and the department chair for additional information.

COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE: Senior majors must enroll in Kinesiology 490 in either semester and pass a written two-part comprehensive examination early in Spring of their senior year.

HONORS: Honors in Kinesiology may be awarded at graduation to qualified students. Students eligible for College honors are those who have earned an overall College grade point average of 3.25 or better and a grade point average in the major of 3.5 or better, passed with distinction both sections of the Comprehensive examination, and completed empirical research, including Kinesiology 499 or a summer research project of honors quality. See the Honors Program for additional details.

104. INTRODUCTION TO KINESIOLOGY.

Survey of kinesiology subdisciplines: human anatomy, exercise physiology, nutrition, motor learning and sport psychology.

Sternlicht, Staff
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: MATH/SCI

196. INTERNSHIP.

Supervised participation in the work of a nutrition, exercise, or other health related company or agency. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Graded on a credit/no credit basis only.

2 units
Sternlicht, Staff

197. INDEPENDENT STUDY.

Research in a subdiscipline of kinesiology for students who do not have advanced competence in kinesiology (see Kinesiology 397). Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.

2 units
Staff

300. HUMAN ANATOMY I.

This first semester covers musculoskeletal anatomy and provides an in depth study of bone composition and development; joint morphology; muscle structure, function, mechanics, and movement analysis. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week.

Rugg, Staff
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: LAB-SCI

301. HUMAN ANATOMY II.

A structural survey of the human body covering the nervous, en-do-crine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and integumentary systems. Lecture will also include the special senses of vision, hearing and olfaction. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week.

Rugg, Staff
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: LAB-SCI

302. BIOMECHANICS.

The application of muscle mechanics and Newtonian mechanics to the documentation and analysis of human movement. Lecture will also focus on the application of static and dynamic problem solving to human performance. Laboratory work will be integrated with the lecture material and will emphasize the use of electromyography to document and analyze human performance. Prerequisite: Kinesiology 104 and 300. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week.

Rugg
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: LAB-SCI

305. EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY.

The study of human functions and their physiological adaptation to, and specification for, the stress of exercise. Cardiovascular, systemic circulatory and ventilatory responses to exercise; use of calorimetry to study metabolism during exercise; effects of environmental stress on exercise performance; body composition; ergogenic aids and nutritional factors in exercise performance. Prerequisites: Chemistry 220 and Kinesiology 307.

Sternlicht
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: MATH/SCI

306. BIOCHEMISTRY OF EXERCISE AND ENERGY.

Energy sources for human movement; substrate and energy metabolism during exercise; liver, skeletal, and cardiac muscle adaptations to acute and chronic exercise training. The role of diet and exercise in disease development and prevention is also covered. Prerequisites: Chemistry 220 and Kinesiology 307.

Sternlicht
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: MATH/SCI

307. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY.

Introduction of principles of human physiology, with special emphasis on a systems approach. Presentation of an integrative approach to basic physiology of major organs and organ systems, covering aspects of cell function, including membrane transport, excitability, metabolism and functions of organs from the nervous, muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine and reproductive systems. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Kinesiology 104.

Sternlicht
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: LAB-SCI

309. DEVELOPMENTAL MOTOR BEHAVIOR.

Ontogentetic approach to human movement behavior and physical growth from conception to adulthood with emphasis on maturational and environmental factors. Prerequisite: Psychology 102 or permission of instructor.

Mehl
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: MATH/SCI

310. MOTOR LEARNING AND CONTROL.

Introduction to the processes of control and coordination in the performance of motor skills. Neurophysiological, mechanical, and cognitive bases of motor skill acquisition. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Kinesiology 104 and Psychology 102.

Mehl
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: LAB-SCI

311. SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY.

Analysis of psychological variables in sport and physical activity. Examinations of broad issues and studies in sport psychology with special emphasis on their practical application. Prerequisite: Psychology 102.

Not given in 2008-2009

312. DIET, DISEASE, AND EXERCISE.

This advanced level course focuses on the etiology of the major degenerative diseases in our society and the role genetics, diet, and exercise play in their development and treatment. Diseases covered include heart disease, cancer, non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteoporosis, and hypertension. Treatment and prevention will focus on how dietary modifications along with exercise can be utilized to treat disease. The current scientific research covering the metabolic, cellular and system changes involved in their progression will be of particular focus. Prerequisites: Chemistry 220 and Kinesiology 307.

Not given in 2008-2009

396. INTERNSHIP.

Supervised participation in the work of a nutrition, exercise, or other health related company or agency. Prerequisite: Kinesiology 307. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.

2 or 4 units
Sternlicht, Staff

397. INDEPENDENT STUDY.

Individual study for students with advanced competence. Extensive study of a specialized topic, or broad study of an area not otherwise included in the curriculum. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

2 or 4 units
Staff

490. SENIOR SEMINAR.

This seminar course examines a selected area of current topics in kinesiology. It is the intent of this course to utilize an integrative approach to the advanced study of kinesiology. Students will develop and write a comprehensive research paper in a subdiscipline of kinesiology. Open to senior kinesiology majors.

Rugg and Sternlicht

499. HONORS.

Prerequisite: permission of department.

Staff