Application Info | Apply | Graduate Handbook | Concentration in Physical Activity and Public Health | Concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology | Experiential Learning | Faculty | Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory

Overview
Northeastern University introduces a new concentration in Physical Activity and Public Health.  Physical inactivity is recognized as a major public health problem in the United States and is a significant risk factor for many chronic disease including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2-diabetes, and colon and breast cancers.  Furthermore, physical activity significantly lowers risk of these chronic diseases.   This concentration is designed to prepare professionals trained in both exercise science and public health who have a career interest in physical activity and public health, specifically in health promotion and chronic disease prevention.  The curriculum is designed to study issues and concepts related to the epidemiology of physical activity and chronic disease, public health administration and policy, health behavior, health education, and environmental health and the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to promote physical activity in various populations.

Careers in Physical Activity and Public Health
Settings that design, implement and evaluate physical activity programs can be found in both the public sector ranging from city, county, or state health departments, federal health agencies and in the private sector ranging from companies, professional organizations, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, and medical clinics.

Program of Studies
A total of 12 courses or 36 semester hours is required for completion of this degree and includes a core of six public health courses (18 SH), a core of three exercise science courses (9 SH), and a research or practicum core of 3 courses (9 SH, and satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination.  The research or practicum core provides students with the option of enrolling in two practicum courses or two thesis courses.  Students interested in obtaining a position in a public or private health agency upon graduation will be encouraged to enroll in the two course practicum sequence.  Students interested in obtaining a research position or continuing their education at the doctoral level will be encourage to enroll in the two course thesis sequence.  See Sample two year curriculum.

Research/Practicum Core (3 courses or 9SH)   SH

EXCS 6263	Research Design	3
PHTH 6966	Practicum 1	3
PHTH 6966	Practicum 2	3
EXSC 7990	Thesis 1 (in lieu of PHTH 6966)	3
EXSC 7991	Thesis 2 (in lieu of PHTH 6966)	3

 Exercise Science Core (3 courses or 9SH)

EXCS 6200	Advanced Cardiopulmonary Physiology	3
EXCS 6220	Advanced Exercise Physiology	3
EXCS 6222	Exercise in Health and Disease	3

Public Health Required Core (2 courses of 6SH)

PHTH 5202	Epidemiology	3
PHTH 6204	Society, Behavior and Health	3

Public Health Electives (4 courses or 12 SH)

PHTH 5212	Public Health Administration & Policy	3
PHTH 5214	Environmental Health	3
PHTH 5224	Social Epidemiology	3
PHTH 5540	Health Education Program Planning	3
PHTH 6200	Nutrition in Public Health	3
PHTH 5120	Race, Ethnicity, and Health	3

Total Semester Hours  36 SH

Overview
Northeastern University offers the only master's program in Clinical Exercise Physiology in New England. This Master of Science program gives students the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge and competencies in Clinical Exercise Physiology. As a practitioner in clinical exercise physiology, you will provide preventative and rehabilitative exercise to healthy people and people with various cardiopulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and immunological chronic diseases such as asthma, heart disease, emphysema, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.

The Clinical Exercise Physiologist performs exercise assessments, and prescribes exercise and physical activity, primarily in hospitals, clinics, or other health-care provider settings.  The Clinical Exercise Physiologist assists individuals in developing self-management skills to promote and maintain good health.

The two-year American College of Sports Medicine endorsed curriculum includes coursework in exercise and health sciences, practice-based laboratory work in our state of the art laboratory, and clinical practice in Boston’s finest hospitals and health-care facilities.  A clinical internship and thesis options are offered.  Students interested in a clinical career are encouraged to take the clinical internship option and those interested in a research career or further study at the doctorate level are encouraged to take the thesis option. Full and part-time study is available.  Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships and scholarships are offered for qualified candidates.

Program of Studies
The program of studies, which was recently revised in 2009, may be completed in 4 semesters or 16 months. There is a December graduation option including a summer semester between first and second years as well as a May graduation not including a summer semester.   Graduation requirements have been reduced from 15 to 13 courses with total semester hours reduced from 41 to 36 semester hours . Research opportunities have been expanded to include a thesis in clinical or basic research and to provide graduate research assistantships. See Sample two year curriculum.

Research/Practicum Core (3 courses or 9SH)    SH

EXSC 6263	Research Design	3
EXSC 6401	Clinical Exercise Physiology Internship 1	3
EXSC 6402	Clinical Exercise Physiology Internship 2	3
EXSC 7990	Thesis 1 (in lieu of EXSC 6401)	3
EXSC 7991	Thesis 2 (in lieu of EXSC 6402)	3

Exercise Science Core (3 courses or 9SH)

EXCS 6200	Advanced Cardiopulmonary Physiology	3
EXCS 6220	Advanced Exercise Physiology	3
EXCS 6222	Exercise in Health and Disease	3

Clinical Exercise Physiology Core (6 courses or 15SH)

EXCS 6201	Advanced Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology	3
EXCS 6202	Electrocardiography	3
EXCS 6203	Clinical Pharmacology	3
EXCS 6218	Clinical Skills for Clinical Exercise Physiology	2
EXCS 6219	Lab for Clinical Skills	1
EXCS 6233	Exercise in Musculoskeletal Disease	3

Elective (1 course or 3SH)
Total Semester hours   36 SH

Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory

You will conduct your training in the new Behrakis Health Sciences Building, which boasts one of the finest clinical exercise physiology laboratories in New England, including:

• six patient testing stations fully equipped with treadmill and EK stress monitoring systems
• several metabolic measurement carts
• an underwater weighing tank and DXA for body mass analysis
• a Keiser for strength assessment
• research facilities

Registration and Certification Examinations

Northeastern’s CEP program helps you prepare for the clinical exercise physiology registry examination (RCEP) offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which is the qualifying credential in the field. The program also prepares you for the ACSM clinical exercise specialist certification, which is for those interested in advanced-level certification in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beverly Hospital
Boston Medical Center
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Children’s Hospital Boston
Joslin Diabetes Center
New England Baptist Hospital
Norwood Hospital
South Shore Hospital
Tufts Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
Tufts Medical Center