Mission Statement

Entry Competencies into Upper Division Major

Graduation Competencies from Upper Division Major

Graduation Competencies for Specialization Majors in Kinesiology/Physical Education

Kinesiology/Physical Education integrates the study of human movement as an expression of our physical, aesthetic and competitive nature. The study of human movement utilizes an integrated approach that combines both scientific and aesthetic perspectives and encompasses both cognitive and experiential knowledge. The curriculum examines human movement across the entire lifespan from infancy to older adult years, with attention given to individuals of all ability levels from those with disabilities to the elite performer.

Entry Competencies for the Junior Year

ENGEN 1: Knowledge and Skills in Critical Thinking

The student will be able to apply critical thinking skills in writing, reading, oral communication, quantitative reasoning and information management.

ENGEN 2: Knowledge and Skills in Discipline Content

The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge in the introductory and supportive courses (i.e. humanities, natural science, social science, physical science) of related disciplines to the Kinesiology core. Common courses include human anatomy, human physiology, statistics, chemistry, psychology, and foundations in Kinesiology/physical education.

ENGEN 3: Knowledge and Skills in Movement

The student will be able to demonstrate a variety of movement forms.

ENGEN 4: Knowledge and Skills in Technology

The student will be able to demonstrate mastery in the use of the computer and other technology to support inquiry.

Graduation Competencies for All Majors in Kinesiology/Physical Education

EXGEN 1: Knowledge and Skills for an Active Lifestyle (Fitness and Lifetime Activity)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply cognitive, exercise, psychomotor, motivation, information processing and group dynamics that influence adherence to a physically active lifestyle across the lifespan.

EXGEN 2: Knowledge and Skills for Appreciating Movement (Aesthetics )

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to evaluate the aesthetic qualities of human movement.

EXGEN 3: Knowledge and Skills for Communicating (Communication)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to demonstrate appropriate communication and information management techniques to communicate relevant kinesiological principles to diverse professional and lay communities.

EXGEN 4: Knowledge and Skills for Critical Thinking to Human Movement (Critical thinking)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply

• critical analytical skills to human movement problems and to the resolution of conflicting information.
• apply the multi-dimensional interrelationships among the subdisciplines as they relate to the different theoretical bases for and application of movement activities for the changing needs of society.

EXGEN 5: Knowledge and Skills for Emergency Care (First Aid and Safety)

The graduate can plan and implement all components of a comprehensive injury/illness prevention program for physically active individuals.

EXGEN 6: Knowledge and Skills for Human Movement (Biomechanics/ Measurement and Evaluation)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply qualitative and quantitative analyses of human movement

• to design and implement instructional and clinical strategies for meeting developmentally appropriate physical activities.
• in both anatomical and mechanical terms with respect to outcomes, essential mechanical features, and idiosyncratic elements of individual style.

EXGEN 7: Knowledge and Skills for Movement Across the Lifespan (Motor Development/Adapted Physical Education)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply the variations in human growth and development over the lifespan in designing least restrictive, developmentally appropriate programs to meet a variety of individual needs.

EXGEN 8: Knowledge and Skills for Movement Efficiency (Biomechanics)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply scientific principles that enhance efficiency of human movement in the context of motor skills.

EXGEN 9: Knowledge and Skills in Motor Skills (Motor Learning/Motor control)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to demonstrate competence in motor skills & physical fitness appropriate to curricular concentration & physical limitations.

EXGEN 10: Knowledge and Skills in Movement and Sport in Society (Psycho-Social Context of Movement)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to describe the relationship of movement to social interaction, group member identity, values, and social, political, and economic institutions.

EXGEN 11: Knowledge and Skills in Technology (Technology)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to apply current appropriate technology effectively and ethically in his/her personal and professional life.

EXGEN 12: Knowledge and Skills regarding Body Systems (Exercise Physiology)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to explain the effects of acute and chronic exercise patterns on the physiological systems of the body, including factors that influence the exercise response.

EXGEN 13. Knowledge and Skills regarding Professional Issues (Historical, Philosophical and Cultural)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to

• apply the historical, philosophical, psychological, social, and cultural foundations of Kinesiology/physical education and apply principles for promoting the profession in contemporary society.
• demonstrate the importance of being professionally active and behaving in an ethically & socially responsible manner.
• apply current state and national legislation and initiatives pertaining to Kinesiology/physical education.

EXGEN 14: Knowledge of the History of Movement and Sport in Society (History of Movement)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able describe the metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical issues that influence the history, development, and practice of play, sport, and the profession of Kinesiology/physical education

EXGEN 15: Knowledge of the Philosophies of Kinesiology/Physical Education and Sport in Society (Philosophy of Movement)

The graduate will know, understand, and be able to describe the ways that their personal philosophies of human movement influence their teaching, practice, and approach to the profession.

Graduation Competencies for Specialization Majors in Kinesiology/Physical Education

These competencies are for students who opt to specialize in a program having as its basis one of the following subareas of the discipline. There will probably be additional specializations that might emerge and be defined in terms of graduation competencies as faculty more closely examine the specializations suggested.

EXSUB 1: Knowledge and Skills for Adapted Physical Education

The student will be able to:

1. Know and understand the history and philosophy of adapted physical education legislation, standards of practice, and current professional trends.
2. Know, understand and apply instructional content for managing inappropriate behavior.
3. Know, understand and apply measurement and evaluation procedures and concepts for assessing movement performance.
4. Know how to develop physical education goals and objectives throughout the lifespan.
5. Apply physical education goals and objectives.
6. Know, understand and apply instructional strategies for meeting individual needs in the least restrictive environment through safe, developmentally appropriate, functional, age appropriate physical activities in a variety of settings.
7. Participate in field experiences in a variety of physical activity settings. Student teaching or its equivalent is provided in a variety of physical education contexts.
8. Know and understand needs and characteristics of individuals with disabilities.
9. Demonstrate a positive affect toward individuals with disabilities.

EXSUB 2: Knowledge and Skills for Athletic Training

The student will be able to:

1. Identify the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects of injury/illness risk factors associated with participation in competitive athletics and physical activity; and plans and implements all components of a comprehensive injury /illness prevention program for physically active individuals.
2. Identify and demonstrate the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects of conducting a thorough initial clinical evaluation of injuries and illnesses commonly sustained by the physically active individual and formulates an impression of the injury/illness for the primary purposes of (1) administering proper first aid and emergency care; (2) making appropriate referrals to appropriate health care providers for additional assessment and medical treatment; and (3) implementing an appropriate treatment plan.
3. Apply cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects to the planning and implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation/reconditioning program for injuries/illnesses sustained by the physically active individual.
4. Apply cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects of health care administration as it pertains to athletic training programs for the physically active individual.
5. Demonstrate appropriate and contemporary professional development and responsibility to the discipline and the community.

EXSUB 3: Knowledge and Skills for Biomechanics

The student will be able to

1. qualitatively and quantitatively analyze human movement in both anatomical and mechanical terms and to be able to differentiate between essential mechanical features and idiosyncratic elements of individual style.
2. communicate/convey relevant biomechanical principles to a variety of groups within the general populations in both technical and lay terms.
3. critically evaluate the popular and practitioner literature dealing with goal directed movements, exercise modalities, and equipment and assess their value and validity.
4. demonstrate familiarity with current appropriate technology used to conduct basic biomechanical analyses.

There are detailed competencies for entry to the upper division major and graduation competencies from the upper division major with an emphasis related to biomechanics located at the end of this document.

EXSUB 4: Knowledge and Skills for Exercise Physiology

The student will be able to:

1. assess various physiological factors related to exercise
2. know, understand and apply the principles of exercise physiology in the exercise prescription
3. identify the role that the various physiological systems play in determining human ability to perform acute and chronic exercise and the impact of exercise/training on these systems:
   • bioenergetics
   • neuromuscular
   • respiratory/pulmonary
   • cardiovascular
   • endocrine/renal
4. identify the interaction of the various physiological systems with health, various diseases, and environmental conditions
   • bioenergetics
   • neuromuscular
   • respiratory/pulmonary
   • cardiovascular
   • endocrine/renal
5. identify the role of interaction of exercise and nutrition in influencing the following
   • energy expenditure
   • work efficiency
   • body composition
   • weight control
6. communicate relevant exercise physiology principles to a variety of groups within the general populations in both technical and lay terms.
7. evaluate the popular and practitioner literature dealing with exercise modalities, techniques, and equipment and assess their value and validity.

EXSUB 5: Knowledge and Skills for Pedagogy

The student will be able to:

1. value learners and learning
2. observe, plan, implement and evaluate a variety of student engaged learning activities in k-12 physical education settings.
3. analyze movement skills in a variety of motor activities
4. plan and teach a program which focuses on problem solving, social development and self esteem.
5. demonstrate a wide movement repertoire
6. demonstrate a physically active lifestyle
7. know, understand, and apply a healthy lifestyle
8. accommodate the needs of all students
9. employ reflective practices to enhance their teaching and student learning.
10. integrate content across all curriculum areas.
11. know, understand, and apply appropriate assessment techniques and tools.
12. know, understand, and apply the different theory bases for and application of movement activities in the elementary, middle and high school settings.
13. know, understand, and apply the theory base used to develop motor patterns
14. recognize and plan appropriate activities for a variety of learning modalities.
15. know, understand, and apply curriculum models
16. integrate technology skills
17. know, understand, and apply principles to manage students, time, space and equipment.
18. communicate the importance of lifelong learning and professional development.

1. apply contemporary theories and concepts that explain personality, motivation, information processing and group dynamics
2. demonstrate psychological assessment, and performance interventions; motivation, emotional control, cognitive and team building
3. understand the relationship between sport, movement, and exercise participation and psychological health
4. understand the relationship of movement to social interaction and the development of group member identity
5. understand the role of movement activities in society and the relationship of movement activities to social norms, values, and social, political, and economic institutions.
6. understand the role and significance of social processes
   

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Detailed Entry Biomechanics Competencies for Undergraduate Majors in Kinesiology/Physical Education

Students should be able to do the following competencies:

Anatomy

1. Name and locate surface bony landmarks in the human body.
2. Name and locate major superficial muscles causing surface body contours.
3. Name and locate the individual bones of the human skeleton.
4. Describe the basic formation and structure of bone and the changes which occur in growth and development.
5. Name, locate, and classify articulations of the human body.
6. Describe the structure of human articulations and distinguish among types.
7. Based upon a knowledge of classification of human joints, name and demonstrate movements possible in major joints when these movements are started from the anatomical position.
8. Name and locate muscles and muscle groups important in human motion and to identify their primary actions.
9. Name the major muscles or muscle groups active during any human movement.
10. Name and describe the general organization of the nervous system.
11. Describe the neuron and distinguish among the types of neurons.
12. Define and describe the motor unit.

Mathematics

1. Know the order of precedence where series of arithmetic operations are involved and complete such series where they involve addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, radical signs, parentheses or brackets.
2. Perform arithmetic operations involving fractions, decimals, and percents.
3. Work with and solve problems when data appear in the form of proportions, formulas, or equations.
4. Solve simple algebraic equations of the linear type.
5. Solve word problems requiring the use of simple proportions or linear equations.
6. Demonstrate competence both in general graphing procedures and in the interpretation of graphs.
7. Use the Pythagorean theorem in solving right triangle problems.
8. Understand and use trigonometric functions.

Students should be able to do the following competencies:

Anatomical considerations

1. Joint Structure and Function
   • Name and define the fundamental planes and axes.
   • Describe and demonstrate joint movements with respect to plane and axis of motion.
   • Explain the relations between joint structure and function.
   • Name and demonstrate the actions possible in each of the major joints.
   • State the factors contributing to joint range of motion and stability.
   • Measure a joint's range of motion and state appropriate procedures for improving flexibility as well as contraindicated stretches that are ineffective or dangerous.
   • Analyze human movement in terms of joint actions.
   • Explain the three classes of levers and how anatomical levers can be used to magnify either range of motion or force.
2. Musculoskeletal Function
   • Identify the type(s) of muscle action (isometric, concentric, eccentric) occurring in the active major muscles or muscle groups during any human movement.
   • Explain the cooperative action of muscles in controlling joint actions and identify the role (agonist, antagonist, stabilizer, neutralizer) played by the muscle(s) in a given movement.
   • Explain the mechanical characteristics (e.g., force-velocity and length-tension relations) of muscle action in static situations and dynamic movements and understand their implications.
   • Explain the relation of muscle mechanics to the Hill three-component model of muscle action (contractile, series elastic, and parallel elastic components) and the sliding filament theory.
   • Explain the mechanical response of muscle fiber types and the effects of training on them.
   • Understand the relations among muscle and joint architecture, tendon tension, joint torque, and resulting joint action.
3. Neuromuscular Considerations
   • Name and define the basic structures (e.g., motor unit, muscle spindle and proprioceptors) of the neuromuscular system.
   • Describe the anatomical bases for reflex actions, and name and define examples of reflexes (e.g., stretch reflex,. righting and support reflexes, and reciprocal inhibition or co-contraction) affecting movements.
   • Explain how recruitment and firing frequency of motor units regulate muscle force and how the electromyographical (EMG) signal can be used to study muscle function.
   • Explain additional factors which affect muscular strength (e.g., joint angle, moment arm, muscle cross-sectional area, concentric and eccentric action, and velocity of contraction).

Mechanical considerations

1. Basic Considerations
   • Describe the nature of scalar and vector quantities and identify such quantities.
   • Combine and resolve two-dimensional vectors.
2. Description of Motion (Kinematics)
   • Name and describe the various forms of motion experienced by the human body.
   • Define both absolute and relative motion.
   • Name and define the basic terms of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration as they relate to linear and angularmotion, and name and use the appropriate metric units.
   • Describe the behavior of projectiles in both qualitative and quantitative terms.
   • Explain the kinematic relations between linear and angular motion.
   • Use simple concepts of motion description (kinematics) to analyze human motion in qualitative terms.
   • Define and distinguish between average speed and instantaneous speed, average velocity and instantaneous velocity, and average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration.
3. Determination of Motion (Kinetics)
   • Name and define basic terms (e.g., force, inertia, mass, momentum, and weight) applicable to linear motion, and name and use the appropriate metric units.
   • Understand and identify the important characteristics (e.g., magnitude, direction, point of application, and components) of internal (muscular) and external forces.
   • State the linear forms of Newton's laws of m