Strength & Conditioning Concentration Handbook

BS in Exercise Science Strength and Conditioning Concentration
2022-2023 Student Handbook

CASCE Accreditation Status: Application Under Review

Table of Contents

Program Contacts

Strength and Conditioning Concentration Description

The Strength and Conditioning Concentration prepares students with the knowledge and skills essential for the Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Students apply industry standard, evidence-based guidelines to the administration of fitness assessments, the development and implementation of strength and conditioning programs, and the management and oversight of such programs. Students complete 25 hours of coursework encompassing the knowledge and skills essential to the certified strength and conditioning specialist. The culminating experience of the concentration is a robust internship under the supervision of an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Students are encouraged to take the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam.

Mission & Goal Statement

The mission and goal of the Strength and Conditioning Concentration of the BS in Exercise Science in the Department of Applied Physiology, Health, and Clinical Sciences at UNC Charlotte is to use an evidence-based curriculum and experiential learning to prepare students in the strength and conditioning industry standard knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to lead in the diverse strength and conditioning workforce.

Accreditation Statement

The Undergraduate Exercise Science Degree Program within the Department of Applied Physiology,Health and Clinical Sciences at UNC Charlotte is seeking accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education for its Strength and Conditioning Concentration.

Student Learning Outcome

Students will apply industry standard, evidence-based guidelines to the job tasks and responsibilities of strength and conditioning practitioners, including fitness assessment, development of strength and conditioning programs, and program management and oversight.

How to declare the Strength and Conditioning Concentration

Students who meet the following criteria may submit a declaration form for the Strength and Conditioning Concentration:

• Exercise Science major

• Minimum 2.5 GPA

The declaration form can be found on the Exercise Science website. Academic advising prior to declaration is strongly encouraged. Please contact the Strength and Conditioning Program Director for more information.

Concentration Requirements

EXER 2294 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries

EXER 2290 Emergency Medical Response

EXER 3660 Practitioner Seminar

EXER 4100 Organization & Administration of Exercise Science

EXER 4285 Advanced Strength and Conditioning

EXER 4333 Psychology of Sport

EXER 4490 Field Experience

The curriculum prepares students for the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Exam.

Field Experience/Internship –Strength & Conditioning Concentration

For students in the Strength & Conditionings Concentrations, the internship experience is the required culminating activity of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. The internship experience is the practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired in the classrooms and labs. The experience should be educational and enjoyable, and should increase your marketability for future employment. The Site Supervisor will assist in the successful completion of this internship experience. However, the ultimate responsibility of obtaining, preparing for, and completing an internship rests with the student.

As a student in a professional program in the College of Health and Human Services, you may be asked by a clinical facility to undergo drug testing and have a criminal background check before being allowed to participate in a clinical experience at that facility. All costs associated with drug testing and background checks are the responsibility of the student.

1. Field Experience/Internship Policies

The EXER 4490 Internship is completed in the last semester of the major. The pre-requisites are EXER 3660 Practitioner Seminar and EXER 2290 Emergency Medical Response. The internship requires completion of 340 hours (9 credit hours). An Articulation Agreement must be established prior to the start of internship. A grade of C or higher in EXER 4490 is required for successful completion of the concentration.

Field experience site supervisors must be a member in good standing with the NSCA and have current CSCS Certification. Site supervisors must be enrolled in the Canvas training page and must be in compliance with training policies. The field experience must include supervision by 2 different site supervisors and must include 2 unique experiences.

Minimally, the field experience must provide opportunities for students to practice and be assessed on the following skills: warm-up, flexibility training, exercise technique, spotting, Olympic-style lifting, progressions/regressions, test selection and administration, program design, speed/agility/plyometric training, anaerobic and aerobic program design, and periodization.

2. Health and Liability Insurance

Health insurance is required for undergraduate students enrolled in six or more credit hours the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Information regarding student health insurance can be found at: http://studenthealth.uncc.edu/student%20health%20insurance%20home2.htm All students who participate in internship are required to have personal liability insurance. Proof of liability insurance must be presented prior to the start of internship rotations. This insurance must provide coverage of not less than $1 million per incident and $3 million aggregate. The policy must be in effect for any course with an internship component, including research activities. Information on obtaining personal liability insurance can be provided by your Field Experience Coordinator.

3. First Aid and CPR Certification Requirements

For all field experience/internship courses, it is the student’s responsibility to maintain current AED, First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer Certification (adult, infant and child), and Blood Borne Pathogen Training. Evidence of current CPR Certification must be submitted to the Internship Coordinator prior to the start of the internship course (EXER 3490 and EXER 4490). Students must complete their First Aid and CPR Certification at UNC Charlotte or through an approved provider.

Academic Plan of Study

Dismissal Policy

Exercise Science majors in any of the 3 concentrations who earn more than two (2) grades of D, F, or W in any required courses, or 2 grades of D, F, or W in the same course, will be dismissed from the Exercise Science major. Withdrawal from a course after the Add/Drop deadline constitutes an attempt as does receiving any letter grade. Students must earn grades of C or above in all required courses.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the program, each student is assigned a faculty advisor from the Department of APHCS. Advising sessions are not required but are strongly recommended. Each student is responsible for the proper completion of his/her/their academic Program, for familiarity with the University Catalog, for maintaining the grade average required and for meeting all other degree requirements. The advisor will counsel, but the final responsibility remains that of the student. (University Catalog). Students are responsible for communicating with their advisor throughout their enrollment at the university.

Student Orientations

Concentration orientation sessions are offered both online and in person each semester for all newly declared concentration students. Please refer to the concentration Canvas page for the calendar of events.

Transient Study

Departmental approval is required for transient study for major/minor/concentration courses. Courses undertaken by UNC Charlotte undergraduate degree students at other accredited institutions may be transferred to the University subject to the following regulations: The University is not obligated to accept any credit from another institution unless the student has obtained the prior approval of the dean of the college in which he/she is enrolled. A Permit for Transient Study form should be completed and filed in the UNC Charlotte Registrar’s Office prior to enrollment at another institution. No credit will be accepted for courses below C level for undergraduate students or below B level for graduate students. The student must request that an official transcript be mailed to the Registrar’s Office upon completion of the course. A form for this purpose is available in the Registrar’s Office.

Helpful Links:

1. CASCE Standards and Guidelines: https://www.nsca.com/contentassets/19f92a70fe924865a50d341ab437f757/casce-professional-standards-guidelines.pdf

2. National Strength and Conditioning Association: https://www.nsca.com/

Program Grievances

If you wish to file a complaint with the Commission on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE), please email accreditation@nsca.com

https://www.nsca.com/education/casce/719-632-6722 x164
1885 Bob Johnson Dr.
Colorado Spring, CO 80906

1. Appeal Procedures

Policy Appeals: A student who wishes to appeal a policy of the Department of Applied Physiology or the Exercise Science Program may do so by submitting a written appeal to the Department Chairperson. This appeal will be reviewed by the faculty of the department. Students should refer to the grievance and appeals policy in the College of Health and Human Services Student Handbook.

2. University Policy: 411 Student Grievance Procedure

“The primary objectives of this Student Grievance Procedure are to ensure that students have the opportunity to present grievances to the University regarding a certain action or inaction by a member of the University community and that the University has a consistent way of resolving those grievances in a fair and just manner.”

The UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure for the Formal Student Complaint Resolution Log is designed to serve as a formal log of student complaints and resolutions when a formal appeals process does not apply. University Policy 411 and the Academic Procedure for the Formal Student Complaint Resolution Log can be found in Section VI.E Documentation.

Program Outcomes

Goal 1: The Strength and Conditioning concentration will prepare students as leading practitioners by maintaining a curriculum that evolves with the discipline

Program Outcomes

1. Explicit curriculum includes instruction and assessment of all CASCE standards Section IIIC

2. 100% of graduates will have job or additional advanced education placement within 6 months of graduating

Student Outcomes

1. 80% of students will demonstrate competency in strength and conditioning professional practice as measured by the Student Learning Outcome.

2. 75% of students will pass the CSCS exam on their first attempt based on a 3-year aggregate

3. 80% of students will attend at least one strength and conditioning-related conference per cohort term

4. 90% of students will complete concentration requirements and graduate within 4 semesters

Faculty Outcomes

1. Quality of Strength and Conditioning faculty and instruction will be evaluated by students each semester and by peers within the appointment period.

2. Strength and Conditioning faculty will participate in at least 1 workshop per academic year facilitated by the Charlotte Center for Teaching and Learning.

3. Strength and Conditioning faculty will attend 1 professional organization meeting per academic year

Goal 2: The Strength and Conditioning concentration will provide students with enriching field experiences to apply knowledge and skills acquired from classroom and laboratory settings

Program Outcomes

1. Field experiences will provide authentic settings and scenarios for student application of the CASCE Standards in Section IIIC as measured by site supervisor assessment tool.

Student Outcomes

1. 100% of students will meet or exceed minimum performance criteria for application of the knowledge and skills as outlined in the CASCE Standards Section IIIC during the field experience as measured by site supervisor surveys.

Faculty Outcomes

1. The Field Experience Coordinator will build and maintain a database of diverse field experience sites supervised by credentialed leaders in the Strength and Conditioning industry.

Goal 3: The Strength and Conditioning concentration will promote program-community partnerships that stimulate cultural and professional engagement

Program Outcomes

1. The program will offer at least 1 opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage in interprofessional education each year.

2. The Advisory Board will meet at least once per academic year to provide input on curriculum, field experience, and community engagement.

Student Outcomes

1. 75% of students will join the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

2. 75% of students will attend 1 interprofessional education seminar per academic year

Faculty Outcomes

1. 100% of CSCS credentialed faculty members will engage in relevant professional development activities each year (conference attendance, presentations, NSCA service, continuing education, research)

2. 100% of CSCS credentialed faculty will maintain membership in the National Strength and Conditioning Association and CSCS certification and will participate in continuing education.

3. Program faculty will participate in at least 1 community engagement or educational event or presentation each year.

4. Program faculty will serve as accessible and knowledgeable academic advisors for students in the concentration as measured by advising surveys.

Goal 4: Faculty and staff will engage in continuous assessment of program effectiveness and efficiency.

Program Outcomes

1. Program director, and faculty and staff will review program strengths and weaknesses as reported annually by advisory board members, students, and community partners.

2. The program will have multiple entry points throughout the academic year.

3. The program will engage in 2 or more annual recruitment efforts to increase and maintain enrollment in the Strength and Conditioning Concentration

Students Outcomes

1. An exit survey administered to each graduating cohort and a post-graduation survey administered 1 year after graduation will be used to assess student perceptions of program effectiveness in preparing them for the role of Strength and Conditioning practitioner.

Faculty Outcomes

1. Faculty academic advisors will review results of advising surveys and engage in at least 1 professional development activity annually to enhance access and effectiveness.

Published January 2023