Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology
Program Overview
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of sports medicine and exercise physiology. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to pursue careers in fields such as athletic training, coaching, sports management, and healthcare.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, students will be able to:
- Explain anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical principles related to sports medicine and exercise physiology, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries and disease.
- Translate fundamental principles of human nutrition to practical application in exercise and sport.
- Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of psychological factors in sport, exercise, rehabilitation, and performance settings.
- Demonstrate the ability to work in a collaborative environment and disseminate information about sports medicine and exercise physiology through the preparation and delivery of effective presentations employing proper use of technology.
- Analyze sports science and exercise physiology research, including physical activity research, through identification and critical evaluation of relevant scientific literature.
- Design and conduct research studies applying appropriate methodologies and ethical standards, including collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data in sports medicine and exercise physiology-related classroom and laboratory settings.
Requirements for the BA Degree
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology must complete:
- A minimum of 14 courses (43 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 8 courses (25 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
Core Requirements
The core requirements include:
- HEAL 103: Nutrition
- KINE 300: Human Anatomy with Lab
- KINE 301: Human Physiology
- KINE 302: Biomechanics
- KINE 310: Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise
- KINE 311: Motor Learning
- KINE 319: Statistics for the Health Professional
- KINE 321: Exercise Physiology
- KINE 440: Research Methods
Elective Requirements
To fulfill the elective requirements, students must complete a total of 5 elective courses (minimum of 15 credit hours) from the approved list of electives, which includes courses in epidemiology, case studies in human performance, motor control, advanced exercise physiology, and preventive medicine, among others.
Course List to Satisfy Requirements
The following courses satisfy the requirements for the major:
- BIOS 201: Introductory Biology I
- BIOS 202: Introductory Biology II
- BIOS 211: Intermediate Experimental Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
- BIOS 301: Biochemistry I
- BIOS 302: Biochemistry II
- CHEM 121: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 122: General Chemistry II
- HEAL 132: Medical Terminology
- HEAL 407: Epidemiology
- KINE 120: Scientific Foundations of Kinesiology
- KINE 320: Human Physiology Lab
- KINE 326: Physical Activity Epidemiology
- KINE 351: Advanced Human Anatomy Lab
- KINE 375: Supervised Research in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology
- KINE 403: Sport Nutrition
- KINE 410: Case Studies in Human Performance
- KINE 412: Motor Control
- KINE 415: Psychological Aspects of Sports Injury & Rehabilitation
- KINE 419: Movement Disorders
- KINE 421: Advanced Topics in Exercise Physiology and Preventive Medicine
- KINE 430: Sports Injury: Evaluation, Management, and Treatment
- KINE 495: Independent Research in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology
- KINE 498: Special Topics in Sports Medicine
- PHYS 101: Mechanics (with Lab)
- PHYS 102: Electricity & Magnetism (with Lab)
- PSYC 202: Introduction to Social Psychology
- PSYC 203: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- PSYC 321: Developmental Psychology
Transfer Credit
For Rice University's policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guideline:
- Required core coursework must be taken at Rice. Requests for transfer credit will only be considered for elective coursework.
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate's academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work.
Unique Programs
Rice-UTSPH Public Health Scholars
Rice undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth School of Public Health) may apply to the Rice-UT Public Health Scholars Program. This unique coordinated program enables accepted Rice students to earn credit towards their Rice undergraduate degree and to accelerate the completion of their UTSPH Master of Public Health degree to within one year after completing their Rice undergraduate degree.
Rice-UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars
The Rice-UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars Program offers an opportunity for qualified Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology students who have identified physical therapy as a career choice to receive preference during the admission process into the UTMB Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.