Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences
The Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences prepares students for healthcare careers in prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical dysfunction and injury. All four programs require hands-on clinical experience opportunities along with professional experience (internship). Upon graduation, students are eligible to take licensure examinations or certification examinations in their specified field.
Athletic Training
The Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences (CAMS) offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT). This degree program offers a challenging pathway for post-baccalaureate students to pursue a career in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and conditions among patients and athletes. The MSAT program will prepare students for the Board of Certification Examination to become a Certified Athletic Trainer. The UNF MSAT program provides students the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience in a variety of settings, including secondary school, college/university, professional, clinic, and industrial.
According to the 2016-2017 Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, "Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As people become more aware of sports-related injuries at a young age, demand for athletic trainers is expected to increase."
In 2009, the Undergraduate Athletic Training Program was awarded Continuing Accreditation through 2018-2019 from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) by meeting all Standards for Professional Athletic Training Education. A substantive change document to transition the undergraduate program to a graduate program will be submitted to CAATE in summer 2018.
Exercise Science
The Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences offers an undergraduate and graduate Exercise Science concentration. This concentration culminates in both Bachelor of Science in Health (BSH) and Master of Science in Health (MSH) degrees. The BSH concentration is in Exercise Science and the MSH concentration is in Exercise Science and Chronic Disease. Of major concern to society is the health and well being of its citizens. Our programs provide a curriculum that focus on exercise physiology, clinical exercise physiology, exercise epidemiology and research. Exercise Physiologists are health care professionals that utilize knowledge of the human body’s adaptive responses to exercise to address an individual’s health, fitness, or performance goals. Exercise Epidemiologists are advanced exercise practitioners and scientists that conduct original research examining the associations between physical activity, physical fitness and chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, metabolic syndrome).
Exercise Science students who wish to continue their academic studies will benefit from a well-rounded curriculum designed to prepare students for admission into graduate (Masters and Doctorate) programs in Exercise Physiology or other Health Care professions. Our Exercise Science curriculum provides a strong foundation for students interested in the advanced degrees of Physical Therapy and Public Health. Other graduate programs that are of interest to Exercise Science students are: Epidemiology, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic, Medicine, Physicians Assistant, Sports Psychology, and Pharmacy.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists are health professionals who work with individuals in preventing, evaluating, and treating physical dysfunction and injury. An understanding of human movement serves as the foundation for the practice of physical therapy.
The physical therapy program at the University of North Florida provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to become generalist practitioners of the highest caliber. Physical therapists are graduates of an accredited physical therapy program who have passed a state licensure examination. UNF's physical therapy program has received accreditation of its Doctorate degree program and graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination.
Applicants to the professional physical therapy program must have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of North Florida prior to entering the program.
The professional curriculum, all of which takes place at the graduate level, consists of 102 credit hours taken over eight semesters. Applicants must comply with all requirements and procedures of the University of North Florida related to admission to graduate level programs.
The number of students to be admitted each year will be determined by the Brooks College of Health, in consultation with physical therapy program faculty, with consideration of the resources available to the program, the quality and size of the applicant pool, and current market conditions. Normally, 30 students will be admitted to the program each year, so students who meet minimum requirements are not necessarily guaranteed admission to the program.
UNF's Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination.
