Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science

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Department of Human Movement Science
3077 Human Health Building (map)
(248) 370-4041 • Fax (248) 364-8660
www.oakland.edu/shs/

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Coordinator:
Charles R. C. Marks
3160 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8687
marks@oakland.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science is designed to offer a logical, coherent, yet flexible program of study that will meet the needs of a select group of graduate students seeking to improve their skills in specialized areas of exercise science, such as ergonomics, human performance analysis, sports science and health promotion.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
March 15 for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

Applicants should have a background in basic and applied health sciences and a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Exercise Science Supplemental Application Form which includes a goal statement
Requirements for recommendations
The two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms listed above must be from academics familiar with the student’s abilities (preferred) or from employment supervisors.
International applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to Oakland University. The institution code for Oakland University is 1497.

It is strongly recommended that applicants have suitable work experience in the field of exercise science.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 with the appropriate academic background and strong letters of recommendation may be considered for admission with limited standing. Applicants who qualify for this admission status must complete a minimum of 12 credits of graduate-level work, with a GPA of 3.0 or above within the first year of their program, to be advanced to full admission.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Certificate prerequisites

Completion of the following prerequisite coursework is required. Students should have completed the required prerequisite coursework at the appropriate undergraduate or graduate level, prior to beginning coursework for the graduate certificate.

Human anatomy
Human physiology
Exercise physiology
Kinesiology (human motion analysis)
Statistics
First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Four credits of health enhancement (or physical education activity/theory).

While not required, additional coursework in biochemistry, organic chemistry and mathematics through precalculus is recommended.

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 18 credits in an approved program of study.

Course requirements

A candidate entering the fall or winter semester will spend one full-time academic year to successfully complete the graduate certificate program, which requires completion of the core courses and electives.

a. Core requirements (14 credits)

EXS 5010 - Advanced Exercise Physiology (4 credits)
EXS 5020 - Biomechanics (3 credits)
EXS 5030 - Diagnostic Testing and Exercise Prescription (3 credits)
HS 5000 - Human Pathology (4 credits)
or
EXS 5000 - Introduction to Research (4 credits)

b. Electives

Students will select 4 credits of elective coursework from

EXS 5000 - Introduction to Research (4 credits)
EXS 5600 - Health and Disease (2 credits)
EXS 5510 - Stress Management (2 credits)
EXS 5620 - Clinical Biomechanics (2 credits)
EXS 5800 - Exercise Endocrinology (2 credits)
EXS 5810 - Physical Activity Epidemiology (2 credits)
EXS 5630 - Basic Athletic Training (2 credits)
EXS 5640 - Exercise Electrocardiography (2 credits)
EXS 5310 - Environment and Human Performance (2 credits)
EXS 5040 - Nutrition, Weight Management and Exercise (2 credits)
EXS 5200 - Physical Activity and Aging (2 credits)
EXS 5500 - Healthy Lifestyle Choices (2 credits)
EXS 5440 - Preventative Nutrition Through the Life Span (2 credits)
EXS 6600 - Administration of a Cardiac Rehabilitation or Community Exercise Program (2 credits)
EXS 6700 - Laboratory Instrumentation (2 credits)
EXS 6800 - Muscle Physiology (2 credits)
EXS 6940 - Seminar in Exercise Science (2 credits)
EXS 6920 - Directed Study and Research (1 OR 2 credits) (1 or 2 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: Students must maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Credit toward the degree will not be given for courses with grades under 2.5.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.