Academics Programs Faculty

CEE 521 Principles of Fitness and Health

Course overview

The impact of inactivity has a tremendously detrimental effect on health and quality of life. The benefits of physical activity are available for everyone and those benefits relative to time and effort are great. This course will enable the participant to take the next step, either as a physical educator, activity leader, or student, towards greater understanding and practice of regular physical activity.

This course examines problems associated with the sedentary lifestyle and the importance and benefits of regular physical activity. It also addresses aerobic fitness, the relationship between activity and performance in exercise and sport, psychological and philosophical observations as they relate to physical activity, and the role of muscular fitness.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have developed knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Various factors influencing, as well as those being influenced by, aerobic fitness training
• Importance of the various components of muscular fitness training and their relationship to function and performance
• How to improve performance in both work and sport, and how to manage environmental issues
• Importance of regular moderate physical activity and its relationship to physical and mental health and quality of life
• Nutrition and weight control principles for practical application purposes
• Value of the role of the psychology of activity and know the function of activity in aging and longevity

Textbook

Sharkey, B.J. &Gaskill, S.E. (2007). Fitness and Health (7th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Course resources