BU exercise science programs accredited
BU's master's and bachelor's degree programs in exercise science have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Bloomsburg has one of only 12 programs in the nation to be accredited at the undergraduate level and one of four programs accredited at the graduate level. Each program has been accredited for five years.
"The commission was impressed with our lab facilities and the diversity of our faculty members' knowledge and expertise," said Timothy McConnell, chair of the department of exercise science and athletics, which houses the academic programs. "We have 14 faculty, nine of whom teach at the graduate level, which allows us specialized expertise in the classroom and laboratories," said McConnell.
"At the master's level, they were pleased that our program had a thesis option for students interested in pursuing a doctorate or other further academic pursuits and a non-thesis option for students who wished to pursue a career in fitness, strength and conditioning, or rehabilitation immediately after graduating."
BU's Master's degree program in Exercise Science has 18 students and the Bachelor of Science degree program has 166 majors.
"The field is growing. On one hand, there is a great deal of interest in combating the effects of inactive lifestyles," said McConnell. "For individuals who are already physically active, there is a lot of interest in performance enhancement."
The accreditation is the result of an 18-month process according to McConnell. McConnell headed BU's overall accreditation effort and served as Program Director for the graduate accreditation process while faculty member Tom Martucci was the Program Director for the undergraduate accreditation process.
To become accredited, the department matched a detailed list of hundreds of specific competencies that students are expected to acquire through their courses and laboratory experiences. All faculty expertise and scholarly productivity, course syllabi, program goals and objectives, and faculty and student surveys needed to be compiled in a self-study packet that was sent to the accrediting agency. A two-person team then visited campus for several days in spring 2008 and toured all facilities, visited classes, and met with faculty, staff, and administration.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits over 2000 educational programs in 20 health science occupations. Programs in exercise science are accredited based upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.