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Instruction Manual for Applying to Exercise and

Wellness Graduate Program
By Kelsey Mathie

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Table of ontents
About the !chool""""""""""""""""""""##pg# $
%esearch"""""""""""""""""""""""####pg#&
ontact Information"""""""""""""""""""pg# '
(egree %e)uirements""""""""""""""""""###pg#*
Admission %e)uirements"""""""""""""""""#pg#++
Exercise and Wellness Programs""""""""""""""pg#+,
-o. to Apply""""""""""""""""""""""pg#+$
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About the !chool
Mission
The school of Nutrition and Health Promotion is dedicated to the provision of a rigorous,
high caliber education for students in Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness, inesiolog!,
Health "ciences, and #edical $aborator! "cience% &t is committed to the engagement in
and application of research designed to promote health and 'ell(being and reduce ris) of
chronic disease in persons across the lifespan and throughout societ!%
E/olution
The school 'as formed in *une 2+11, uniting health promotion disciplines 'ith the
common goal of improving health and 'ell(being though lifest!le modification% The
Nutrition program has its origins in ,-omestic "cience,. first offered at /"0 in 11+1%
The Exercise and Wellness, and inesiolog! programs evolved from ,Ph!sical 2ulture.
program begun in the earl! 11++3s% Health "ciences and #edical $aborator! "cience
programs are in their infanc!, having been approved b! the /ri4ona 5oard of 6egents in
2++1 and 2+1+, respectivel!% Programs have ph!sicall! and administrativel! transitioned
over the past three !ears7 the Exercise and Wellness, and Nutrition programs have moved
from the Pol!technic campus of /"0 to the -o'nto'n campus, 'hile the inesiolog!
program is graduall! moving from the Tempe campus to -o'nto'n over the net three
!ears%
Academic Programs
The school of Nutrition and Health Promotion offers a range of baccalaureate degrees,
master degrees, and uni8ue &nterdisciplinar! Ph- in Ph!sical /ctivit!, Nutrition and
Wellness% The 5" in Nutrition, -ietetics concentration, is nationall! accredited b! the
/ccreditation 2ouncil for Education in Nutrition and -ietetics% The 5/", #edical
$aborator! "cience concentration, has received initial accreditation through the National
/ccrediting /genc! for 2linical $aborator! "ciences% 2ourses are offered in a range of
instructional options, including face(to(face, h!brid, and online% Traditional lecture
courses are complemented 'ith laborator! classes, most of 'hich are taught in a ne'l!
designed and constructed state(of(the(art instructional labs on the -o'nto'n campus%
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0aculty
The facult! of the "chool of Nutrition and Health Promotion are dedicated professionals
'ho are committed to providing an excellent educational experience for their students,
engaging in use(inspired research of direct benefit to the communit! at large, and serving
the universit!, their profession, and the public% #an! facult! are leaders 'ithin their
field, serving as officials in professional organi4ations, grant revie'ers and:or ;ournal
editors% The! mentor undergraduate and graduate students, serving as role models for the
next generation of health promotion professionals% &ndividual facult! have received
numerous a'ards in recognition of their instructional, research, and:or service activities%
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%esearch
=acult! in the "chool of Nutrition and Health Promotion are engaged in a 'ide range of
use(inspired, applied, communit!(based pro;ects as 'ell as laborator!(based and clinical
research% Three common themes lin) the diversit! of efforts across the "chool7
1% 6educing the incidence of over'eight and obesit! among /mericans%
2% $o'ering the ris) of chronic diseases such as t!pe 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease%
3% Empo'ering individuals to assume greater personal responsibilit! for their o'n and
their families3 health and 'ell(being%
6esearchers are funded from federal sources such as N&H and 0"-/, industr! sources
including food companies and manufacturers of ph!sical activit! related e8uipment,
state:local government programs, and private foundations% These grants support
numerous graduate and undergraduate students, providing them 'ith ongoing
opportunities to expand their expertise and )no'ledge as the! prepare for their o'n
careers in health promotion and other areas of science%
%esearch 0ocused on Tac1ling hronic (iseases
Nutrition facult! are activel! engaged in researching the metabolic effects of functional
foods such as legumes, cherries, vinegar, and mushrooms and their abilit! to reduce the
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ris) of t!pe 2 diabetes, h!pertension, cardiovascular and other chronic diseases% The roles
of food sustainabilit! and local food distribution net'or)s are also being studied as a
means of enhancing the health of a communit! and reducing the ris) of obesit!%
0se of smart phones to monitor and enhance dietar! inta)e is a novel approach to health
assessment and promotion that is being researched 'ithin the Nutrition program% "pecial
emphasis is also given to vulnerable populations such as $atino and /frican /merican
communities as 'ell as clients of local food ban)s, each of 'hich have high rates of
obesit! and chronic disease%
0sing avian models, other researchers explore metabolic regulation of blood glucose and
biomar)ers of oxidative stress 'ith the goal of appl!ing their findings to human
conditions%
0aculty2 !tudents Wor1 to Impro/e -ealth for 3ulnerable Populations
Exercise and Wellness facult! focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation
of communit!(based programs to increase levels of ph!sical activit! and improve health
and 'ell(being% ?lder adults and 'omen across the life span are vulnerable populations
targeted b! man! pro;ects% The assessment of ph!sical activit! is a strong area of
research, providing validated methods to determine the degree to 'hich /mericans are, in
fact, ,on the move%. 6esearchers also 'or) to clarif! the extent to 'hich an
over'eight:obese person can be ph!sicall! and metabolicall! fit and ho' ph!sical
activit! can improve health and 'ell being in the absence of 'eight loss%
inesiolog! facult! also explore factors that impact the health and 'ell being of
vulnerable populations, 'ith the goal of maintaining optimal functionalit!% ?ne area of
research focuses on ho' c!cling and treadmill 'al)ing effect motor learning and
cognition in people 'ith intellectual disabilities, including persons 'ith -o'n s!ndrome%
/dditional research investigates the adverse effects of normal aging and motor disorders
on movement control% "port biomechanics, particularl! in the areas of a8uatics and
locomotion, is an additional area of research 'ithin the inesiolog! program%
6esearch is a critical component of all academic endeavors and directl! benefits students,
facult!, health promotion and healthcare practitioners, and the general public% 6esearch is
the base upon 'hich advances in health promotion and healthcare are made,
improvements in products and programs are implemented, and overall economic status of
the communit! rises% The "chool of Nutrition and Health Promotion 'ill continue to
advance in the procurement of research funding and distribution of research findings%
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ontact Information
"chool of Nutrition and Health Promotion
NH&2 9+>
healthpromotionAasu%edu
>+2(91>(+B>2
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(egree %e)uirements
Program re8uires the follo'ing7
3> credit hours and a thesis, or
3> credit hours and a 'ritten comprehensive exam%
/ll students must focus their plan of stud! in one of t'o areas7 health promotion and
ph!sical activit! or fitness and conditioning%
/ll students are admitted to the nonthesis option, but ma! appl! to the thesis option% =or
students 'ho sta! 'ith the nonthesis option, the comprehensive exam is the culminating
experience% =or students 'ho elect the thesis option, the thesis is considered the final
integrative experience of the degree% &t involves conducting research that is guided b! a
recogni4ed research paradigm Ce%g%, scientific, interpretiveD, producing a scholarl! report
of the process and results% The thesis option is a good choice for students 'ho are
interested in pursuing more advanced graduate stud! in the field%
The thesis option consists of7
ore courses4 C12D
EEW <+1 6esearch "tatistics C3D
EEW <3> Ph!siological /spects of Ph!sical /ctivit! and 2hronic -isease C3D
EEW <92 Health Promotion Theor! C3D
NT6 <++ 6esearch Nutrition & C3D
%estricted electi/e courses4 C3D
EEW <11 Exercise and Wellness "eminar C1D
EEW <12 6esearch C2D
electi/e courses in focus area4 C1<D
EEW <39 "ports and =itness 2onditioning C3D
EEW <3< /dvanced Exercise /ssessment and Prescription C3D
EEW <3B ?besit!, Exercise, and Health C3D
EEW <1+ 6eading and 2onference C1(12D
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EEW <12 6esearch C1(12D
EEW <1B Health Program Evaluation C3D
EEW <1B Public Health and Ph!sical /ctivit! C3D
EEW <1B "pecial Topics C1(9D
EEW <1B Theor! of "trength Training C3D
EEW >3< Ph!sical /ctivit! and /ging C3D
EEW >92 Exercise Epidemiolog! C3D
Thesis4 EEW <11 Thesis C>D
The nonthesis option is an appropriate choice for those students 'ho cannot devote full(
time to their research endeavors or for students 'ho are see)ing to continue their
education, advance their s)ill level as practitioners or advance their current careers%
The nonthesis option consists of7
ore courses4 C12D
EEW <+1 6esearch "tatistics C3D
EEW <3> Ph!siological /spects of Ph!sical /ctivit! and 2hronic -isease C3D
EEW <92 Health Promotion Theor! C3D
NT6 <++ 6esearch Nutrition & C3D
%estricted electi/e courses4 C3D
EEW <11 Exercise and Wellness "eminar C1D
EEW <12 6esearch C2D
electi/e courses in focus area4 C21D
EEW <39 "ports and =itness 2onditioning C3D
EEW <3< /dvanced Exercise /ssessment and Prescription C3D
EEW <3B ?besit!, Exercise, and Health C3D
EEW <1+ 6eading and 2onference C1(12D
EEW <12 6esearch C1(12D
EEW <1B Health Program Evaluation C3D
EEW <1B Public Health and Ph!sical /ctivit! C3D
EEW <1B "pecial Topics C1(9D
EEW <1B Theor! of "trength Training C3D
EEW >3< Ph!sical /ctivit! and /ging C3D
EEW >92 Exercise Epidemiolog! C3D
Written comprehensi/e exam7 representing core courses and focus area
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Admission %e)uirements
/pplicants must submit the Fraduate Education online application%
&n addition to meeting Fraduate Education re8uirements, all applicants to the program are
re8uired to submit F6E scores%
/pplicants 'hose native language is not English Cregardless of 'here the! ma! no'
resideD must also satisf! English proficienc! re8uirements%
"tudents must fulfill the re8uirements of Fraduate Education and the 2ollege of Health
"olutions%
/dmission to the masterGs program is based on a number of factors including
undergraduate grade point average, F6E scores, three professional letters of
recommendation and statement of career or research interests%
/pplications are accepted for admission to the fall semester onl!, 'ith first priorit! given
to completed applications received b! *an% 1<% /pplications 'ill continue to be revie'ed
as long as space is available% "tudents 'ho do not have undergraduate credit for the basic
courses re8uired for a bachelorGs in exercise and 'ellness Chuman anatom! or ph!siolog!,
human nutrition, exercise ph!siolog!, health behavior change, exercise testing and
exercise prescriptionD can be admitted 'ith course deficiencies% Ho'ever, it is
recommended that these deficiencies be ta)en prior to or 'ithin the first !ear of graduate
stud!% 0ndergraduate courses ta)en as deficiencies are not considered part of the
graduate plan of stud!% /n undergraduate course in statistics is strongl! recommended%
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Exercise and Wellness Programs
linical Exercise Physiology2 M!
This degree 'ill prepare individuals for a career as a 2linical Exercise Ph!siologist, the
professional 'ho guides exercise and rehabilitation programs for at(ris) and
chronic disease clients usuall! in concert 'ith medical professionals% The /merican
2ollege of "ports #edicine C/2"#D is the national association responsible for
establishing guidelines and recommendations for exercise testing, prescription and
evaluation of research for both health and chronic disease populations% The /2"#
6egistered 2linical Exercise Ph!siologistH C62EPD 2ertification is deemed
,/2"#3s most prestigious credential ( for clinical professionals 'ith a master3s
degree 'ho 'or) 'ith clients currentl! under the care of a ph!sician for
cardiovascular, pulmonar!, metabolic, orthopedic:musculos)eletal, neuromuscular,
or neoplastic immunological:hematological disease,. C/2"#, 2+11D% This degree
'ill provide the )no'ledge, clinical experience and s)ills needed for individuals to
successfull! complete the registration examination for the 62EP credential%
Exercise and Wellness 5-ealthy Aging62 M!
This concentration 'ithin the #aster of "cience in Exercise and Wellness prepares
professionals in the deliver! of ph!sical activit! and fitness programs to older adults%
"tudents 'ill gain expertise in theories of aging, impact of aging on functional capacit!
and motor control abilities, ph!sical activit! assessment and programming for older
adults, and the importance of lifest!le behaviors, including ph!sical activit! and
nutritional practices, on successful aging% /s the 0%"% and global population continues to
age, graduates of this program 'ill be 'ell prepared to focus on the ph!sical changes
associated 'ith aging and provide s)ills to help adults sta! health! and ph!sicall! active
as the! age%
7besity Pre/ention and Management2 M!
The #aster of "cience in ?besit! Prevention and #anagement is an innovative,
interdisciplinar! degree program that dra's on a 'ide arra! of expertise at /"0 to
integrate perspectives from the social, applied, life, and health sciences and provides
advanced graduate level problem(focused, experiential training that is grounded in
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evidence and best practices for effective prevention and management of obesit!% This
degree is geared to'ards post(baccalaureate students and professionals 'ho 'ish to
advance their understanding of social, cultural, environmental, heath, and ps!chological
issues associated 'ith obesit!% The program emphasi4es the complex etiolog! of obesit!
and includes courses that 'ill enhance students3 abilit! to 'or) 'ith individuals and
populations at ris) of obesit! to develop effective strategies for prevention and
management of the condition across the lifespan%
Exercise and Wellness2 M!
The #aster of "cience in Exercise and Wellness degree program prepares professionals
in the areas of health promotion, ph!sical activit!, fitness, and conditioning% "tudents 'ill
complete 3> credit hours and a thesis or comprehensive exam, and 'ill focus a plan of
stud! on either health promotion and ph!sical activit! or fitness and conditioning%
Fraduates often pursue emplo!ment 'ithin education, counseling, commercial fitness
and 'ellness, 'or) site or corporate health promotion, personal training, and life
coaching% &t is the onl! master3s degree program in /ri4ona specificall! designed to
prepare students for such careers% The program offers uni8ue opportunities for those
interested in becoming professionals and contributors to public health through the
deliver! of effective exercise and 'ellness programs to all segments of societ!%
Physical Acti/ity2 8utrition and Wellness2 Ph(
The &nterdisciplinar! -octor of Philosoph! CPh-D in Ph!sical /ctivit!, Nutrition and
Wellness integrates graduate courses from several academic units% The degree prepares
the student for research in health! lifest!les intended to reduce the ph!sical, social and
economic costs of poor nutrition and sedentar! lifest!les% "tudents tailor a course of stud!
in either nutrition and health, ph!sical activit! and health, or a combination of programs%
Fraduates are prepared for careers in higher education, governmental agencies, and in
health(related research positions in nonprofit organi4ations or in private industr!%
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-o. to Apply
1% Fo to http7::graduate%asu%edu
2% Fo to the Explore -egrees menu and scroll do'n to 2urrent -egrees and
2ertifications
3% 2lic) on the Health and Wellness option
9% Fo do'n the Exercise and Wellness option and clic) on /ppl!
<% "elect -o'nto'n Phoenix and 2+19 =all, then clic) "tart /pplication
>% 2lic) on 2reate &-
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@% 2reate !our account and then select create account
B% 5egin /pplication
1% =ill out the application starting 'ith !our Personal &nformation
1+% 2lic) "ave and 2ontinue
11% 2ontinue through the rest of the application 'ith &nstitution &nformation, /I
6esidenc! &nformation, 2omplete the "ection 6evie' and "ubmit !our application%
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