Courses
All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.
530 Mechanical Analysis of Human Motion
Topics include 2-D and 3-D kinematics and kinetics, joint power, energetics of locomotion and mechanical modeling. Open to Graduate Students and Undergraduate Seniors in Kinesiology.
535 Muscle Mechanics and Modelling
The study of mechanical properties of human muscle and models which represent various aspects of muscle function. Topics include basic muscle structure and function, elasticity in muscle function, contractile mechanics, the Hill model, the Huxley model, and applications of muscle modelling in biomechanics. Prerequisites: KIN 430 or Graduate Student Status.
560 Exercise Neuroscience
The neural control of movement. Selected topics include gradation of muscular force, motor unit control principles, neuromuscular aspects of strength, segmental motor control, the organization of ballistic movements, adaptations and plasticity in the control of movement, and aging and human motor control. Prerequisites: KIN 270, 272 and 460.
565 Movement Coordination and Perception
Mechanisms of coordination and perception in human movement. Topics include reflexes, central patterns generators, motor programs, dynamical and complex systems; computational and ecological approaches to perception; perspectives on the control of posture and locomotion; applications to motor learning, development and movement disorders. Prerequisite: KIN 460 or equivalent.
570 Pediatric Exercise Physiology
The physiological principles underlying the child’s response to exercise and the associated clinical implications. Topics include: pediatric exercise physiology; determinants of aerobic power; exercise testing in children; fitness and activity; exercise, growth and maturation; aerobic trainability of children; body composition for youth; activity and health; and childhood obesity. Prerequisite: KIN 470 or equivalent.
571 Physical Activity & Women's Health
The relationship between physical activity and health outcomes in women. Topics include assessment of physical activity, epidemiologic methods, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, pregnancy, and osteoporosis. Open to graduate students in Kinesiology only.
577 Cardiovascular Physiology
This course is designed for Kinesiology graduate students with an interest in cardiovascular physiology and senior undergraduates (with permission) including those interested in medical school or cardiac rehabilitation. In this course we will 1) review cardiovascular structure and function, 2) evaluate the cardiovascular system under various stresses (i.e. orthostatic, disease, exercise) and 3) apply concepts such as homeostasis, redundancy, and regulated systems to understand cardiovascular system integration.
580 Muscle Structure and Function
The effects of exercise on skeletal muscle structure and function. Topics include neuromuscular junction, muscle tendon junction, mitochondria, capillaries, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and sarcolemma in response to use and disuse. Laboratory section deals with skeletal muscle histology, histochemistry and serum markers of muscle function. Prerequisites: histology or cell physiology or BIOCHEM 523, exercise physiology.
585 Energy Metabolism
How humans store, deliver, and use the fuel required for energy transduction. The pathways by which nutrients are stored, accessed, and oxidized to provide ATP; hormonal regulation of energy balance and substrate utilization; what factors determine the trafficking of metabolic fuels to various fates; the impact of diet composition and/or physical activity on regulation of body weight, pathophysiology of obesity, insulin resistance, and other disorders related to perturbation of energy balance and other factors. Prerequisite: KIN 470 or KIN graduate student status or consent of instructor.
596 Independent Study
Credit, 1-6.
597 Special Topics
E: Adv. Exercise Physiology
Advanced study of the physiological responses to exercise, from the cell to the whole body. The effects of exercise training, extreme environments, and other challenges to homeostasis will be addressed. Students will be expected to have a strong working knowledge of basic exercise physiology principles.
G: Physical Activity Behavior Change
This course will discuss approaches to increasing physical activity that are based in basic behavior science.
J: Clinical Biomechanics
The study of forces acting on the human body in relation to clinical treatment and injury prevention. Topics include neuromuscular motor patterns; biomechanics of normal gait and posture; causes of musculoskeletal disorders; magnitude, consistency and variability of pathological gait patterns. Prerequisite: KIN 430.
K: Skeletal Muscle Physiology
This course will provide students with knowledge of multiple aspects of skeletal muscle physiology. The material will include information about the basics of muscle contraction, as well as integration of muscle activitation, bioenergetics and contractile function. Special emphasis will be given to the mechanisms of muscle fatigue under a variety of conditions, and an understanding of how muscle physiology is altered by disease will be developed.
MM: Skeletal Muscle Biology
This course will provide students with knowledge of multiple aspects of skeletal muscle biology. The material will include information about the basics of muscle contraction, muscle activation and bioenergetics. Laboratory-based opportunities will be used for students to try/experience various techniques commonly used to study muscle function from the molecular to whole muscle levels.
R: Intro to Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Spectroscopy
Designed for students in the fields of Kinesiology, Communication Disorders, Engineering, Anthropology, Biology and Psychological and Brain Sciences who are interested in learning about Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). It will build on the fundamental aspects of MR physics and will focus on MRI and MR spectroscopy, which provide anatomical and biochemical information. The course will cover basic theory, basic and advanced techniques for acquiring and processing MRI and MRS data and biomedical applications for this research modality.
SM: Sensorimotor Control & Learning
This course reviews the fundamentals of the behavioral neuroscience of action. Section one covers neuromechanical, sensorimotor and visuomotor foundations. Section two deals with the reflex and voluntary basis of motor control, posture, and locomotion. Section three addresses aspects of sensorimotor learning. Instructor Consent Required.
T: Experiment Techniques in Clinical Biomechanics
The Biomechanical mechanisms and consequences of abnormal movement patterns for locomotor activities will be discussed. Laboratory techniques and data analysis methods will be reviewed and discussed along with regulatory procedures in human subject's research. Communication of science and community engagement in research will be discussed. Instructor Consent Required. Open to Graduate Students and Undergraduate Seniors in Kinesiology.
600 Introduction to Research in Human Movement
The nature of research; methods of acquiring knowledge; the role of research in human performance and exercise science with emphasis on the scientific method. Credit, 1.
670 Cardio-Respiratory Exercise Physiology
Advanced study of cardiovascular and respiratory responses during exercise. Acute and chronic responses to exercise thoroughly examined and mechanisms underlying these responses critically evaluated. Prerequisite: exercise physiology with lab.
675 Exercise Physiology Seminar
Presentation and discussion of current research literature in exercise physiology. Critical evaluation of research questions, experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation emphasized. Prerequisite: undergraduate exercise physiology. Credit, 1.
696 Independent Study
Credit, 1-6.
697 Special Topics
A: Master’s Research Project
Non-thesis option, independent research project. Oral exam based on the project required.
AS: Physical Activity Interventions
Current solutions oriented approach towards implementing physical activity interventions.
MC: Theories of Adaptive Motor Control
This graduate level course will incorporate approaches from physiology, engineering and computational neuroscience to understand the interactions between neural control and biomechanics of human movement. We will use MATLAB as a tool for data analysis, graphing and modeling. Our aim is to use mathematics to better understand biological learning and control processes in the central nervous system.
MM: Molecular Motors and Cell Motility
A survey of the latest literature on the biophysics of molecular motors and the cytoskeleton.
MP: Concepts and Lab Practice in Muscle Physiology
This course will cover state-of-the-art techniques and current questions in the study of human skeletal muscle physiology.
PA: Theory and Design of Physical Activity Interventions
This course is designed to help students gain knowledge on how to conduct randomized clinical trials (RCT) and develops competence in the planning, designing, and execution of clinical trials involving physical activity interventions. The course will include lectures; class discussions among students and instructor, and organized small-group activities. Course readings will focus on primary sources including recent research studies in medical, public health, and psychology journals.
Q: Inquiries in Kinesiology
Required for first-year doctoral students studying and preparing for the Doctoral Qualifying Exam. Designed to test each doctoral student’s general knowledge of kinesiology, including broad content areas encompassing the department’s concentrations in physiology, physical activity, and motor systems.
QR: Qualitative Research in Physical Activity Studies
The course will include lectures; class discussions among students and instructor, and organized small-group activities. Course readings will focus on primary sources including recent research studies in medical, public health, and psychology journals.
R: Biomechanics Journal Club
Presentation and discussion of current research literature in biomechanics and motor control. Critical evaluation of all aspects of motor systems research including relevant questions; experimental designs and protocols; modeling approaches; data collection, reduction, and analysis techniques; and intepretation of results. Prerequisite: KIN 430.
RC: The Responsible Conduct of Research
The success of this course will be based on informed participation and a diversity of perspectives. We will read the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skoot (Broadway, 2010), and use this and related readings as focal points for exploring contemporary RCR topics. Each student will take responsibility for introducing and leading a discussion about one topic (of their choice) stimulated by the assigned readings. Short writing assignments will also be used to synthesize RCR concepts that are raised throughout the semester. Open to Graduate students only. This will be offered spring only in odd calendar years.
S: Pre-Doctoral Research Proposal
Development and formal proposal of research to be undertaken for Pre-Doctoral Research Project. For Kinesiology graduate students enrolled in MS/PhD program track.
SM: Sensorimotor Control
This course reviews the fundamentals of the behavioral neuroscience of action. Topics include neuromechanical, sensorimotor and visuomotor foundations; reflex and voluntary basis of motor control, posture, and locomotion; and sensorimotor learning. Prerequisites: Kin 460 or equivalent.
T: Pre-Doctoral Research Project
For Kinesiology graduate students enrolled in MS/PhD program track.
W: Current Issues in Neurorehabilitation
Collaborative neuroscience projects - the BRAIN initiative. Human Brain Project - have recently attracted large amounts of funding and media attention globally. The long-term goal of these highly ambitious projects is to gain a better understanding of the neural mechanisms by which we feel, act, learn and remember. The new knowledge will be critical for understanding normal brain processes, and has important implications for the rehabilitation of sensorimotor and cognitive deficits after neurological damage. However, media attention has sometimes outstripped the limits of what current science can really tell us. In this course, we will discuss current and controversial issues regarding several scientific approaches and clinical applications. Prerequisites: KIN 460, or equivalent.
Z: Muscle Biomchmistry
This course will provide students with knowledge of multiple aspects of skeletal muscle physiology. The material will include information about the basics of muscle contraction, as well as integration of muscle activation, bioenergetics and contractile function. Special emphasis will be given to the mechanisms of muscle fatigue under a variety of conditions, and an understanding of how muscle physiology is altered by disease will be developed. Laboratory-based learning opportunities will be provided. Prerequisite: KIN 470. Instructor Consent Required.
698A: Master's Thesis Proposal
Development and formal proposal of research to be undertaken for Master's Thesis. For Kinesiology graduate students enrolled in MS Thesis program.
699 Master’s Thesis
Credit, 6.
730 Biomechanics
Topics include principles of data collection and analysis, high-speed video, force measuring systems, accelerometry, and A/D conversion. Prerequisites: KIN 430 and 530 or equivalent.
735 Advanced Biomechanics Laboratory Techniques
Topics include: biophysical signals, frequency content, Fourier series, Fourier analysis, principles of data collection, data smoothing, electromyography, amplifier response characteristics, software data manipulation. Prerequisites: KIN 430 and 530 or equivalent.
796 Independent Study
Credit, 1-6.
797 Special Topics
B: Techniques in Muscle Biophysics
This course will explore the key techniques and assays in the area of muscle biophysics. These will include the in vitro motility and laser trap assays. In addition we will discuss standard biochemical assays and methods that allow for the investigation of isolated proteins and enzymes. These will include the ATPase assay as well as protein purification and isolation. The course is lab-based and will involve extensive time in a wet-lab and performing advanced microscopy.
F: Mechanisms of Skeletal Muscle Fatigue
Examination of the multifactorial nature of skeletal muscle fatigue, ranging from the role of the central nervous system through the function of the cell’s contractile apparatus. Prerequisite: KIN 580 or consent of instructor.
J: Bioenergetics and Fatigue in Aging
This course will examine the emerging hypothesis of fatigability and bioenergetics in aging.
N: Nonlinear Dynamics of Human Movement
Application of nonlinear dynamical techniques and principles to the understanding of human movement. Topics include introduction to basic concepts in nonlinear dynamics, theory of linear and nonlinear oscillators, assessment of system stability, phase transitions and bifurcations. These concepts used to investigate changes in neural and biophysical mechanisms underlying motor control of posture and locomotion; integration of locomotory, respiratory, and heart dynamics; issues related to disease and exercise. Prerequisite: KIN 735 or equivalent.
P: Community-based Pediatric Physical Activity Interventions
This course will cover current questions and state of the art research techniques in the study of pediatric physical activity interventions in different settings. The course will include class discussions among students and instructor, and organized small-group activities. Course readings will focus on primary sources including recent research studies in medical, public health, and psychology journals. Instructor Consent Required. Must be a Graduate Student in Pediatric Lab to enroll.
S: Sex Differences in Physical Activity and Aging
This course will look at the interaction between physical activity and aging from the Physical perspective.
U: Computer Simulation of Human Movement
Development and use of physics-based computer simulation models with applications to biomechanics of human movement. This course will help students develop an understanding of how computer models of the musculoskeletal system are developed and used to study normal and pathological human movement. Prerequisites: KIN 530 or equivalent.
W: Current Topics in Cardiovascular Physiology
This course is designed for graduate students with an interest in advanced topics in cardiovascular physiology. Through a collaborative-learning approach, each semester we will explore a novel area or problem in cardiovascular research and its clinical significance. Students will review current literature, present informally and conduct discussions on investigated topics, and write within topic areas. In addition, each student will choose an area within the topic that will be the focus of a research project proposal and presentation. Collaborative writing, peer editing, evaluation, and review are additional important components of this course.
891 Graduate Seminar
Presentation of research topics conducted by master’s and doctoral students and outside speakers. Credit, 1 per semester; maximum credit, 6.
896 Independent Study
Credit, 1-6.
897 Special Topics
B: Modeling and Simulation in Biomechanics
An in-depth study of computer modeling and simulation with applications to the biomechanics of human movement. Includes lectures, readings, discussions, programming exercises, and student projects. Prerequisite: KIN 797U.
R: Nonlinear Dynamics - Current Perspectives
This course focuses on concepts and current developments in nonlinear dynamics and complex system approaches in biology. The aim is to further understanding of the significance of these nonlinear concepts and analysis tools for movement coordination and perception. Topics to be discussed will be basic concepts of nonlinear dynamics, analysis tools related to assessing movement coordination, and linear and nonlinear tools for time series analysis. Instructor Consent Required.
U: Optimal Control in Biomechanics
A detailed study of optimal control theory with applications to the biomechanics of human movement. Includes lectures, readings, discussions, programming assignments, and student projects.
899 Doctoral Dissertation
Credit, 12.