Catalog Home College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Health and Human Physiology

Health and Human Physiology

The Department of Health and Human Physiology offers undergraduate majors and minors and graduate degree programs in health and human physiology and related areas. In addition, the department is home to the Health and Physical Activity Skills Program, which offers courses that provide instruction and practice in lifetime sports, fitness training, and wellness activities aimed at enhancing physical health and well-being. Undergraduates in all majors may use several health and human physiology courses to fulfill requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. The department's First-Year Seminar is designed for entering undergraduate students.

The department is the administrative home of the Leisure Studies Program, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs; see Leisure Studies in the Catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

• Major in health and human physiology (Bachelor of Arts)
• Major in human physiology (Bachelor of Science)
• Major in athletic training (Bachelor of Science) 
• Minor in human physiology
• Minor in physical activity and nutrition science

Students may complete a major in health and human physiology (B.A.) or a major in human physiology (B.S.), but not both.

Students majoring in health and human physiology (B.A.) or human physiology (B.S.) or athletic training (B.S.) may not earn the minor in human physiology or the minor in physical activity and nutrition science.

The Department of Health and Human Physiology is the administrative home of the Leisure Studies Program, which offers an undergraduate major and minor; see Leisure Studies in the Catalog.

Bachelor of Arts: Health and Human Physiology

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in health and human physiology requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including work for the major, which varies by track. The health promotion track requires a total of 50-52 s.h. of work for the major; the health studies track requires 40-42 s.h. of work for the major; and the exercise science track requires 52-54 s.h. of work for the major.  The health promotion track is intended for students seeking careers that promote wellness in the community and the workplace. The health studies track is designed for students who want a more flexible health science curriculum. The exercise science track is intended for students seeking careers as fitness, and strength and conditioning professionals.

Students majoring in health and human physiology (B.A.) may not earn a second degree in human physiology (B.S.).

Admission to the health promotion track is selective; students must apply and be admitted. Applicants must have completed the three courses listed under "Science and Math Foundation" below (chemistry, biology, and mathematics or statistics) and must have a University of Iowa and a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.70. Students may apply during the semester in which they will complete the three science and math foundation courses required for application to the track. Application deadlines are October 1 for the following spring semester, March 1 for the following fall semester.

Admission to the health studies track and the exercise science track is open; students may enter the track without applying to it.

Students in all tracks are required to complete a set of common requirements as well as several courses required specifically for their track. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

The major in health and human physiology requires the following course work.

Common Requirements

Both tracks require the following science and math foundation (minimum of 10 s.h.) and the departmental core (15 s.h.).

Science and Math Foundation

All students complete three foundation courses (minimum of 10 s.h.): one each in chemistry, biology, and mathematics or statistics.

Chemistry—one of these:

Biology—one of these:

Mathematics or statistics—one of these:

Departmental Core

All students must complete the five-course departmental core (15 s.h.).

All of these:

Health Promotion Track Requirements

Health promotion track students complete the following health promotion core courses (16 s.h.) and guided electives (9 s.h.) in addition to the courses listed under "Common Requirements" above (math and science foundation and departmental core).

Health Promotion Core

All of these:

Health Promotion Guided Electives

Students must complete at least 9 s.h. selected from the courses below, including at least 6 s.h. in courses numbered 100 or above.

Health Studies Track Requirements

In addition to completing the courses listed under "Common Requirements" above (math and science foundation and departmental core), health studies track students must earn at least 15 s.h. in courses chosen from the list below, including 12 s.h. in courses numbered 100 and above.

Exercise Science Track Requirements

Exercise science track students complete the following exercise science core courses (19 s.h.) and guided electives (8 s.h.) in addition to the courses listed under "Common Requirements" above (math and science foundation and departmental core).

Exercise Science Core

All of these:

Exercise Science Guided Electives Track

Students must complete at least 8 s.h. from the courses below, including at least 6 s.h. in courses numbered 100 or above.

NOTE: Highly recommended courses for the exercise science track are 027:056 (ATEP:1000) First Aid and CPR, advanced first aid, and 031:001 (PSY:1001) Elementary Psychology. 

Bachelor of Science: Human Physiology

The Bachelor of Science with a major in human physiology requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 60 s.h. of work for the major (26 s.h. in health and human physiology and 34 s.h. in required cognate courses).

The major in human physiology is designed primarily for individuals who intend to continue their education beyond the B.S. in the health professions, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant, physical therapy, and podiatry, and for those who intend to pursue graduate degrees in basic life sciences. The program includes study in anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, neural control of movement, and the cognate areas of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics.

Students majoring in human physiology (B.S.) may not earn a second degree in health and human physiology (B.A.).

Admission to the major is selective; students must apply and be admitted. Current University of Iowa students and transfer students may declare an interest in the human physiology major at any time and may apply to the major after completing 004:011 (CHEM:1110) Principles of Chemistry I (one of the major's required cognate courses). Students typically apply during spring semester of their first year or later; application deadline is February 1. Students are notified of admission in March, in time for early registration for fall semester.

Entering first-year students may be admitted to the major automatically upon their admission to The University of Iowa as College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students if they have an ACT composite score of 27 or higher (or an SAT critical reading and math score of 1210 or higher); have a high school g.p.a. of 3.70 or higher (4.00 scale); and expressed interest in the human physiology major on their application for admission to the University.

Once they have been admitted to the major, students complete required health and human physiology courses as well as cognates—supporting course work in subjects outside human physiology. Transfer credit for course work in the major requires the approval of the undergraduate academic advisor.

Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. The department recommends that they fulfill General Education's Natural Sciences requirement by taking 004:011 (CHEM:1110) Principles of Chemistry I, 004:012 (CHEM:1120) Principles of Chemistry II, and 002:031 (BIOL:1411) Foundations of Biology. It also recommends that they fulfill the Social Sciences requirement with 031:001 (PSY:1001) Elementary Psychology.

The major in human physiology requires the following course work.

Prerequisite to Admission to the Major

Current University of Iowa students and transfer students must complete 004:011 (CHEM:1110) before they may be admitted to the major. The course is a required cognate (see "Courses for the Major: Cognates" below).

Courses for the Major: Human Physiology

All of these:

One of these:

At least 18 s.h. from these:

Students may count the following courses toward the human physiology requirement or the cognate requirement, but not toward both requirements: 002:114 (BIOL:2723) Cell Biology, 002:145 (BIOL:2753) Introduction to Neurobiology, 002:150 (BIOL:2254) Endocrinology, 061:157 (MICR:2157) General Microbiology, and 099:110 (BIOC:3110) Biochemistry.

Courses for the Major: Cognates

Students must complete a minimum of 34 s.h. in the following cognate courses—subjects outside of human physiology. The required cognates include 004:011 (CHEM:1110) Principles of Chemistry I (see "Chemistry" below), which some students complete for admission to the major.

Biology

At least 3 s.h. from these: 

Students may count the following courses toward the human physiology requirement or the cognate requirement, but not toward both requirements: 002:114 (BIOL:2723) Cell Biology, 002:145 (BIOL:2753) Introduction to Neurobiology, 002:150 (BIOL:2254) Endocrinology, 061:157 (MICR:2157) General Microbiology, and 099:110 (BIOC:3110) Biochemistry.

Chemistry

Students must complete 004:011 (CHEM:1110) before they may register for 004:012 (CHEM:1120).

These additional chemistry courses are highly recommended.

Mathematics

One of these:

Physics

One of these sequences:

Statistics

At least 3 s.h. from these:

Recommended Electives

The department recommends that students choose from the following electives in order to complete the minimum of 120 s.h. required for a Bachelor of Science. Additional recommended courses in biology and chemistry are listed under "Courses for the Major: Cognates" above.

Anthropology 

Biochemistry 

Biology 

Chemistry 

Classics 

Communication Sciences and Disorders 

Computer Science 

Education 

Engineering 

English 

Health Promotion

Microbiology 

Pharmacology 

Psychology 

Radiation Biology 

Bachelor of Science: Athletic Training

The Bachelor of Science with a major in athletic training requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 57-58 s.h. of work for the major plus one prerequisite (1 s.h.) to application to the major and several prerequisites (34-36 s.h.) to course work for the major. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

The major provides concentrated studies and clinical experiences that lead to national certification in athletic training. The Department of Health and Human Physiology collaborates with the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation (Carver College of Medicine) to offer the major.

Athletic trainers work with active patients, including athletes, to help prevent injuries, offer advice about appropriate equipment, recognize and evaluate injuries, administer emergency treatment, and determine need for specialized medical care. Athletic trainers also work as members of health care teams involved in postinjury rehabilitation.

Employment opportunities for graduates include work as health care professionals for sports medicine clinics and hospitals; these individuals often work with secondary school athletic teams. Additional education usually is required for employment with professional, college, and university athletic teams. Teacher certification is recommended but not required.

Admission to the major in athletic training is competitive; students must apply. They may be admitted and begin clinical experience as sophomores. Applicants must have at least 11 s.h. of graded college credit (pass/fail credit does not count), including 027:096 (ATEP:1010) Exploring Athletic Training with a grade of C or higher; and they must have a g.p.a. of at least 2.50 on all undergraduate course work. Preference is given to applicants with high scholastic standing, strong writing skills, and varied athletic training and health care experience. A personal interview may be required; the athletic training program contacts applicants about interviews.

Fulfillment of admission requirements does not ensure admission to the athletic training major. The program selects candidates who appear to be best qualified for the study and practice of athletic training. Students denied admission to the major may reapply in a subsequent fall semester.

All students admitted to the major in athletic training are required to comply with entrance and periodic health screening history and immunization, which is coordinated through the program's medical director.

Students who have not formally contacted the athletic training program director before enrolling at The University of Iowa should talk to an athletic training advisor or their academic advisor upon entering the University. Early advising for course selection is vital to ensure that students take prerequisites and sequenced skill development courses in the right order. Students should begin taking prerequisites for required major courses during their first year and should complete their final prerequisites after admission to the athletic training major.

For current information on rules, procedures, and curriculum, contact the athletic training program director.

The major in athletic training requires the following course work.

Prerequisite to Application to the Major

Students must complete this course before they apply for admission to the athletic training major.

Prerequisites to Course Work for the Major

Students must complete the following courses (34-36 s.h.) as they begin course work for the major.

One of these: 

One of these sequences: 

One of these: 

All of these: 

Courses for the Major

Students must complete the following course work for the major (55-56 s.h.).

One of these: 

One of these:

One of these: 

All of these: 

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The University of Iowa Four-Year Graduation Plan is being revised. The original Four-Year Graduation Plan continues to apply to students who have already signed it. Students who commit to the four-year plan beginning fall 2013 will be held to the revised requirements. For information about the plan, visit Four-Year Graduation Plan on the First-Year Experience web site.

Honors in the Major

Outstanding students majoring in health and human physiology, human physiology, or athletic training may work toward graduation with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must be members of the University of Iowa Honors Program, which requires students to maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). They also must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in work for their major.

In order to graduate with honors in the health and human physiology major, students must successfully complete a health and human physiology honors designation course, research practicum, teaching practicum, or service learning course. They must successfully complete 027:187 (HHP:4940) Health Promotion Honors Readings and 027:188 (HHP:4950) Health Promotion Honors Problems and must write an honors thesis, usually based on original research or creative work. They also must make an oral or poster presentation of the honors thesis in an approved venue, such as a department research seminar or a professional conference.

In order to graduate with honors in the human physiology major, students must complete the honors research course sequence 027:198 (HHP:4800) Honors Research I and 027:199 (HHP:4900) Honors Research II; write an honors thesis that is deposited with the University of Iowa Honors Program and is judged to be of honors quality; and make an oral presentation of their research and thesis that is judged to be of honors quality.

In order to graduate with honors in the athletic training major, students must complete the practicum course sequence 027:186 (ATEP:3030) Practicum in Athletic Training III and 076:187 (ORTH:4187) Practicum in Athletic Training IV. They also must write an honors thesis that is deposited with the University of Iowa Honors Program and is judged to be of honors quality.

Minor in Human Physiology

The minor in human physiology requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in University of Iowa Department of Health and Human Physiology courses, including 12 s.h. in 100/3000-level courses. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Transfer credit does not count toward the minor.

Students majoring in health and human physiology (B.A.), human physiology (B.S.), or athletic training (B.S.) may not earn the minor in human physiology.

Students choose courses for the minor from the following list. Enrollment in 027:132 (HHP:3510) Advanced Human Physiology Laboratory and 027:197 (HHP:4220) Biomechanics of Human Motion requires special permission. Some of these courses have prerequisites; students must complete all prerequisites for the courses they select for the minor.

Minor in Physical Activity and Nutrition Science

The minor in physical activity and nutrition science is designed in conjunction with the Obesity Research and Education initiative (OREI) to provide a specialized group of courses that unify the concepts underlying the causes, consequences, and treatment and prevention of obesity that spans physical activity, nutrition, physiology, psychology, and human disease.  Students attaining the minor will be prepared to apply this information in areas such as clinical health professions, public health policy, personal coaching and fitness, health psychology, health promotion, among others.

The minor in physical activity and nutrition science requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in University of Iowa Department of Health and Human Physiology courses, including at least 6 s.h. in 100/3000-level courses as indicated below. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Transfer credit does not count toward the minor.

The minor consists of three core courses and two intermediate-to-advanced courses (at the 100/3000-level) that allow focused concentration of various facets of obesity and its treatment and prevention.

Courses for the minor must be chosen from the list below, according to students' interests and the recommendation of the undergraduate coordinator. Some of these courses have prerequisites, which students must complete before enrolling in the course.

Students majoring in health and human physiology (B.A.), human physiology (B.S.), or athletic training (B.S.) may not earn the minor in Physical Activity and Nutrition Science.

CORE COURSES

All of these:

ELECTIVES: 

Two of these:

 May include one of these:

Graduate Programs

• Master of Arts in health and sport studies
• Master of Science in health and human physiology (with or without thesis)
• Doctor of Philosophy in health and human physiology

The department is the administrative home for the Leisure Studies Program, which offers a Master of Arts program; see Leisure Studies in the Catalog.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts program in health and sport studies has closed. For degree requirements, see the 2012-13 General Catalog. 

Master of Science

The Master of Science program in health and human physiology requirements for graduate credit varies by track. The athletic training track requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit, the clinical exercise physiology track requires a minimum of 32 s.h. of graduate credit, and the health and human physiology thesis track requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit.

Athletic Training Track

The program in athletic training provides an advanced clinical education and research area of study for certified athletic trainers. It focuses on a health care team approach to sports medicine, medical care management, wellness, pediatric/adolescent health, and special health populations. Emphasis is placed on the application of established research findings to the wide variety of problems encountered in everyday practice.

In order to be admitted to the program, athletic trainers must have completed the following prerequisite coruse work and must hold the following certifications.

• anatomy  (3-4 s.h.);
• human physiology (3 s.h.);
• athletic training core--prevention (3 s.h.), evaluation and recognition (3 s.h.), modalities (3 s.h.), rehabilitation (3 s.h.), administrative (2 s.h.);
• exercise science core--exercise physiology (3 s.h.), biomechanics (3 s.h.);
• current emergency certification; and
• Board of Certification (BOC) certification and state license.

The Master of Science requires the following course work.

Required Courses

Statistics Core

One of these:

Exercise Science Core

Three of these:

Clinical Research Tools

One approved clinical tool course in computer science, counseling, epidemiology, health promotion, leisure studies, nursing, or pathology.

Athletic Training Core

All of these:

One of these:

Recommended Electives

Elective courses should be used to enhance the student's concentration in medical care management, wellness, pediatric/adolescent health, or special health populations. Course selection must be approved by the advisor.

Clinical Exercise Physiology Track

The clinical exercise physiology program provides an advanced scientific and clinical education to prepare students to be allied health professionals who work in the application of physical activity and behavioral interventions for clinical diseases and health conditions including cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, orthopedic, neuromuscular, immunologic, and hematologic disease.

In order to be admitted to the program, students must hold a B.S. or B.A. with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00, and have completed anatomy and physiology, with laboratories, totaling 8 s.h.

The Master of Science requires the following course work.

Required Courses

Statistics Core

One of these:

Advanced Statistics

One of these:

Clinical Exercise Physiology Core

All of these:

Two enrollments at 1 s.h. each, selected from:

Internship (to be taken in year two of the program).

Recommended Electives

Elective courses should be used to enhance the student's concentration in human and exercise physiology, clinical exercise physiology, prescriptive exercise and training for health and fitness, health maintenance, and understanding human disease. Course selection (at least two courses) must be approved by the advisor, and may include these courses.

Health and Human Physiology Thesis Track

In order to be admitted to the program, students must hold a B.S. or B.A. with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00, and have completed courses in anatomy and physiology (with laboratory) for 8 s.h. and basic physics for 3 s.h.

Required Courses

Advanced Statistics

One of these:

Research Methods

One of these:

Seminar Courses

Four enrollments at 1 s.h. each, selected from:

Both of these:

Recommended Electives

Elective courses are selected to broaden the student's knowledge in health and human physiology, and related disciplines, and to enhance the student's knowledge in their specific areas of interest. Elective courses will be selected with guidance from the advisor/mentor, but may include the following.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy program in health and human physiology requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit.

Doctoral students should have a strong background in the natural sciences and/or health promotion, and a working knowledge of statistics and research methodology. Students may acquire additional knowledge of statistics and research methodology after entering the program.

All Ph.D. students complete a common core of courses, scientific area courses, courses in their specialization, and 10 s.h. of independent research in addition to the dissertation requirement. They must complete a dissertation in their specialization area and must submit an appropriate manuscript of the dissertation to a refereed professional journal for publication.

Some courses in the program are offered by other departments. Faculty members from those departments frequently serve on comprehensive examination committees and on dissertation committees for the initial presentation of a candidate's prospectus. They also participate in the final examination.

The Doctor of Philosophy requires the following course work.

Common Core

All of these:

Seminar Courses

Four enrollments at 1-2 s.h. each, selected from:

Scientific Area Courses

Students obtain a breadth of knowledge over the key scientific areas that constitute the basis of the major by completing at least three courses outside of their specialization area.

Specialization Courses

Students are expected to obtain broad-based knowledge in their specialization area. This normally entails approximately 30 s.h. of course work. Elective courses will be selected with guidance from the advisor/mentor and may include the following.

Dissertation

Students working on a dissertation register for the following course.

Admission

Admission to the department's graduate programs is based on grade-point average and score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Applicants to the M.A. and M.S. programs must have an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 on undergraduate work and previous graduate work.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Application deadlines are October 15 for admission the following spring semester and May 15 for admission the following fall semester. Applicants are notified approximately two months after their application deadline.

Facilities

Classroom and research laboratories are located in the Field House and in other buildings on campus. They provide excellent facilities for instruction and research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Cooperative efforts with other units facilitate specialization by allowing health and human physiology students to use additional special facilities and research equipment in other departments on campus (e.g., biology, biochemistry, molecular physiology and biophysics, orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, pharmacology, and the College of Engineering).

Courses

Primarily for Undergraduates

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Primarily for Graduate Students

Health and Physical Activity Skills

Most courses in the Health and Physical Activity Skills Program are approved for the Values, Society, and Diversity area of the General Education Program.