Whether you want to pursue a career in academia, research or therapy, an advanced degree in exercise and sport science will open doors to a variety of in demand career opportunities.
Program Overview
Apply your expertise to improve the health of your community and beyond.
The High Altitude Exercise Physiology program examines how the human body functions physiologically in extreme environments. In the program, you’ll conduct original research and hone your ability to share your research as presentations and publications. You’ll also learn how to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply the scientific method to exercise science, by actively engaging in the research process. To ensure that you’re proficient with exercise testing equipment and relevant computer skills, you’ll use state-of-the-art technology to complete research and assessments as you would in exercise science professions. Overall, you’ll complete at least 36 total credits, including six thesis credits. The thesis will be a culminating research project, to be completed during the last semester of the two-year program.
Real-world experience
Students work closely with real clients and subjects to develop an acute understanding of human physiology – at rest and during exercise, in healthy and diseased populations – in extreme environments, including hyper- and hypobarometric conditions, heat and cold.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Master of Science in High Altitude Exercise Physiology (HAEP) program is designed to examine how the human body functions physiologically, both acutely and chronically, in extreme environments (including, but not limited to, high altitude, heat, cold, and low humidity) during exercise in healthy and diseased populations. The HAEP program is a 36-credit, two-year residential program that culminates in a research-based thesis project. Students in the HAEP program have the option to choose from one of the three research tracks: Clinical, Environmental, or Performance. Students who complete the HAEP program will be prepared for careers in academia, research, applied or clinical practice, as well as further study in the discipline.
Program Goals
- To enhance student understanding of human physiology – at rest and during exercise, in healthy and diseased populations – in extreme environments, including hyper- and hypobarometric conditions, heat, cold, pollution and zero gravity.
- To prepare students for original research under the supervision of the ESS-HAEP faculty.
- To prepare students to share their research as presentations, publications, or both.
- To prepare students for careers in academia, research, applied or clinical practice, as well as for further study in the discipline.
Student Outcomes
Research — HAEP Graduates will understand Exercise Science research methods and demonstrate the ability to recognize and employ various study designs. They will:
- Be adept at retrieving and analyzing information relevant to Exercise Science.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the background and principle research in their specialization.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply the scientific method to exercise sciences by actively engaging in the research process with critical analysis and research.
- Demonstrate the ability to situate their own research within the broader context of the Exercise Science field.
Communication and Writing — HAEP graduates will master oral and written skills to present and publish their research in peer-reviewed venues.
Application/Outreach — HAEP graduates will be able to translate research into practice, developing evidence-based exercise prescriptions for individuals with performance goals – particularly those at risk, including special populations – who seek to perform in extreme environments, such as altitude, cold and heat.
Critical Thinking — HAEP Graduates will effectively use information obtained through traditional and non-traditional sources to solve problems related to academic or professional practice.
Technology — HAEP Graduates will use technology to complete tasks within the Exercise Science profession. This includes proficiency with exercise testing equipment and relevant computer skills.
Requirements for Full Admission
Candidate must submit:
- Official Transcript of BA or BS degree in Exercise and Sport Science, or related field from a regionally accredited college or university showing cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Undergraduate Prerequisite Coursework (all prerequisites must be completed by the end of the first year of the MS. Students cannot start the program with more than two course deficiencies.):
- General Health and/or Wellness course (lower or upper division)
- Kinesiology or Biomechanics (lower or upper division)
- Statistics (lower or upper division)
- Chemistry (1 year lab-based) (lower or upper division)
- Biology (general biology with lab) (lower or upper division)
- Anatomy (with lab), Physiology (with lab) – can be a combined course (lower or upper division)
- Exercise Physiology (with lab) (upper division)
- Physics (lower or upper division)
Provisional Admission: An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the MS in Exercise & Sport Science: High Altitude Exercise Physiology program may be required to submit additional materials in order to be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the School of Graduate Studies. Prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to entering the HAEP program include Anatomy and Physiology and Exercise Physiology (with lab). A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or the School of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.
International Students: see Graduate Academic Catalog section, Criteria for International Admission.
For admissions requirements for B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science, Clinical Exercise Physiology Emphasis & M.S. in High Altitude Exercise Physiology (3+2) program, please refer to the guidelines outlined in the undergraduate academic catalog under EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCE.
Program Requirements
The HAEP MS degree requires a minimum of 36 credits. A 25-credit core (including 9 thesis credits, taken during the final year) and at least 11 other HAEP credits are taken over the course of two years.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ESS 600 | Advanced Statistics | 3 |
| ESS 601 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| ESS 605 | Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Lab | 3 |
| ESS 606 | Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Field | 3 |
| ESS 620 | Navigating Post-Graduation | 1 |
| ESS 640 | Environmental Exercise Physiology I | 3 |
| ESS 695 | THESIS | 9 |
| Select at least eleven credits of the following: | 11 | |
ESS 630 | Clinical Exercise Physiology | |
ESS 641 | Environmental Exercise Physiology II | |
ESS 660 | Health Promotion | |
ESS 675 | Clinical Exercise Programming-Lab | |
ESS 685 | Cardiopulmonary Physiology | |
ESS 692 | Independent Study | |
ESS 696 | Research | |
ESS 699 | Practicum/Internship | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Spotlight
Bryant Byrd
Student
“I’ve learned the importance of understanding my clients’ limitations and developing rapport.”
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation.
Student Outcomes
Preparing students for rewarding careers in exercise & sport science.
Research — HAEP Graduates will understand Exercise Science research methods and demonstrate the ability to recognize and employ various study designs. They will:
- Be adept at retrieving and analyzing information relevant to Exercise Science.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the background and principle research in their specialization.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply the scientific method to exercise science, by actively engaging in the research process with critical analysis and research.
- Demonstrate the ability to situate their own research within the broader context of the Exercise Science field.
- Communication and Writing — HAEP graduates will master oral and written skills to present and publish their research in peer-reviewed venues.
Application/Outreach — HAEP graduates will be able to translate research into practice, developing evidence-based exercise prescriptions for individuals with performance goals – particularly those at risk, including special populations – who seek to perform in extreme environments, such as altitude, cold and stressful heat.
Critical Thinking — HAEP Graduates will effectively use information obtained through traditional and non-traditional sources to solve problems related to academic or professional practice.
Technology — HAEP Graduates will use technology to complete research and assessments within the Exercise Science profession. This includes proficiency with exercise testing equipment and relevant computer skills.
High Altitude Performance Laboratory (HAP Lab)
Early exposure to cutting-edge research through Western’s High Altitude Performance Laboratory (HAP Lab)—7,717 feet above sea level—enables students to gain career-ready skills.
Get Involved
Make your education a life-changing experience.
A college education is so much more than attending classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field with these exciting opportunities.
- Wellness Elevated: Work with clinical populations and their exercise programming for a semester or more.
- Assistantships: Gunnison Valley Health collaborates with the HAEP program to offer five full tuition research assistantship positions with the rehabilitation department.
- Shadowing: Shadow practicing clinicians both locally and throughout the United States.
- Research Funding: Apply for research stipends from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) worth thousands of dollars. All projects are published in ACE’s ProSource magazine and submitted to various journals.
- Paid Positions: At the end of their fourth year, students can apply to be a paid trainer in our Wellness Elevated program, where they perform fitness assessments, write exercise prescriptions and train clients.
High Altitude Performance Laboratory
Early exposure to cutting-edge research through the High Altitude Performance Laboratory (HAP Lab)—7,717 feet above sea level—enables students to gain career-ready skills normally found only in graduate school.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science (RESS) Department
Department Chairperson
Gary P. Van Guilder, Ph.D.Professor of Exercise & Sport Science; Chair, Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science Department
Administrative Assistant
Terri StinsonAdministrative Assistant
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
