Springfield College Programs Awarded Continuing Accreditation
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College applied exercise science major and clinical exercise physiology graduate program recently were awarded continuing accreditation by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Both programs are part of the Springfield College School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER).
“I am excited and proud of our continuing accreditation status for the undergraduate applied exercise science and graduate clinical exercise physiology programs,” said HPER Dean Tracey Matthews. “This helps to reaffirm my own strong belief that both programs prepare students to excel in exercise-science careers.”
With an international reputation as a leader in the field of exercise science, Springfield College was one of the first institutions in the U.S. to develop the applied exercise science major in the late 1980s. The major emphasizes that physical activity is inextricably linked to good health, and focuses on preventing health problems.
The curriculum has a strong science base, including courses in exercise physiology, exercise prescription for normal and special populations, measurement, nutrition, and management. Students learn to prescribe exercise programs for a wide range of populations interested in physical fitness, and to develop, implement, and interpret fitness and health assessments and maintenance programs for individuals and groups.
“Our programs have a rich history of providing rigorous and challenging curricula in addition to outstanding applied field-work experiences, whether it be in a clinical, commercial, or corporate setting,” added Matthews. “Our students are prepared for any of these experiences. This can be attributed to the outstanding faculty who work with our students in and outside of the classroom.”
Exercise physiology is the most established branch of the movement sciences. Within the college’s graduate program, students examine the physiological responses of various systems to acute and chronic exercise. This includes the study of neuromuscular function, cardiovascular physiology, and the hormonal and biochemical changes, as well as thermoregulatory responses, associated with exercise. Specialty areas such as body composition, pathophysiology, and sports nutrition also are addressed.