Course Syllabus

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Southern Utah University

Spring Semester 2026

Sport & Exercise Biomechanics (Face-to-Face)

KIN 3060-02

Course:	KIN 3060-02
Credits:	3
Term:	Spring Semester 2026
Department:	PEHP
CRN:	10947

Course Description

Designed to study the science of human movement. It includes study of the structure of the human body in terms of its use in activity. A mechanical analysis of a variety of activities is developed, i.e., physical education and coaching. (Fall, Spring, Summer [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): KIN 3065; or instructor permission Prerequisite(s): KIN 3020 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required Materials:

Online readings and videos: as assigned by the instructor - will be made available on Canvas.

Calculator with trigonometry functions

Optional Materials:

Text: Hamill, J. & Knutzen, K. (2021). Biomechanical basis of human movement (5th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott-Raven Publishers. ISBN: 9781975144654 (Option to get the 4th edition instead.)

Learning Outcomes

Students will explore human movement mechanics and improve numerical reasoning and analytical skills:

Describe whole body motion in terms of linear and angular kinematics.
Explain whole body motion in terms of inertia, momentum, linear kinetics, and angular kinetics.
Explain human movement through concepts of energy, work, efficiency, and power.
Describe the basic ideas about fluid mechanics and then apply the concepts to sports.
Illustrate the mechanics of the skeleton, muscle-tendon complex, and other supporting structures including but not limited to osteokinetic and arthrokinematic movement.
Explain the general injury mechanics and the influence of pathomechanics on tissues.
Understand and conduct basic human movement analyses and apply the concepts to several tasks such as walking, running, and throwing.

Course Requirements

Course Evaluations:

Nightly Newtons - 40 pts
WODs - 70 pts
Kinematic Conundrums - 90 pts
Quizzes - 200
Concept Checks - 3 x 40 pts = 120 pts
Final Concept Check - 80 pts*

Nightly Newtons: Before most class periods (~2 days/week). These must be complete PRIOR TO arriving at class. This assignment may include a recorded video, a brief reading, or some equations or definitions that you need to know. Your assignment submission will be the answer to a short question or problem. I expect you to arrive prepared to discuss and ask questions about the Nightly Newton. You are responsible to understand the information given there. If you must miss class, you are still required to complete the assignment.
Workout of the Day (WOD): Completed during most class periods (~2 days/week) – think of it as a workout for your brain. The WOD will be a worksheet with questions to answer, graphs to draw, problems to solve, etc. You will work on the assignment during class collaboratively with your teacher and peers. You don’t have to complete the WOD during class, but it will be due before the next Kinematic Conundrum. You submit a picture of your completed WOD on Canvas. Keep WODS to help you create a study guide as we go. WODs are intended to encourage active participation in problem solving to reinforce the concepts you are learning and improve critical thinking. You must be in class to receive full points on WODs. Exceptions will be made for University-excused absences and legitimate emergencies and illnesses.
Kinematic Conundrums (KC): Collaborative assignments will be completed in class about once per week. You will be assigned to work with a group of peers to discuss and solve biomechanics problem scenarios during class. You will receive points for a) contributing in the group discussion, b) obtaining a valid/reasonable/correct answer. If you cannot or do not attend class, you WILL NOT receive points for these assignments unless you’ve received PRIOR approval from me.
Quizzes: 27 online quizzes will be assigned throughout the semester to reinforce the concepts you are learning and improve critical thinking, problem-solving, and your ability to apply math skills to real-life analyses (Repetition is vital!). You may take each quiz as many times as you like up until the final exam. You will keep your highest quiz score regardless of when you complete the attempt. Feel free to get help on quiz questions at the tutoring center, from your peers, or from me, but you will benefit from repeating the quizzes until you understand the material. Don’t procrastinate and try to do all the quizzes at the end of the class.
Concept Checks: There will be 4 concept checks including a comprehensive final check. *Even though the final is only worth 13% of your total grade, you MUST complete the final concept check to earn a passing grade in the class.

GRADING: (percentage of points received)

94 – 100% = A 73 – 76% = C

90 – 93% = A- 70 – 72% = C-

87 – 89% = B+ 67 – 69% = D+

83 – 86% = B 63 – 66% = D

80 – 82% = B- 60 – 62% = D-

77 – 79% = C+ 0 – 59% = F

Course Outline

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work and Make-Up Policy: Due dates will be posted on Canvas, and it is your responsibility to pay attention to the posted dates and times as well as the correct submission format. Late policies for specific assignments are below.

Nightly Newtons must be submitted BEFORE class on their due date whether you are in class or not. Late submissions will not receive points.
Kinematic Conundrums and WODs will be completed in class. If you must miss class on for an excused reason (see below), I will give you a reasonable opportunity to complete the assignment on your own in advance and submit it.
Quizzes have set due dates only to help you maintain the pace of the course, but any quiz can be repeated for up to full credit until the final exam.
Exams must be taken in class on scheduled dates.

Exceptions to this policy will only be made if you miss:
a. for school-related activities that are made known to the instructor BEFORE the due date.
b. for extreme medical or family emergencies when presented with proper evidence (e.g., physician note, funeral program) within a week of occurrence.

If you miss an assignment or activity for an excused reason (e.g., documented illness or accident, religious holiday), I will arrange an opportunity to “make up” the missed activity in a way that resembles the class time as closely as possible. Since it is not always possible to replicate these activities, please make every reasonable effort to be present. It is your responsibility to initiate contact with me so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Otherwise, you will not be able to make up that assignment.

Make-Up Work/Extra Credit: I do not offer individual make-up or extra credit assignments. If an opportunity for extra credit arises it will be offered to all students.

Attendance Policy

Attendance and Participation: Attendance and participation is expected. You are expected to attend all class sessions as a vital part of the course is to collaborate in problem-solving activities in biomechanics. You are responsible to get all missed material, announcements, assignments, lectures, and class discussion notes from other students. Arriving late and leaving class early is NOT acceptable and may result in lost points on WOD or Kinematic Conundrum assignments. Research shows that students who attend class regularly get higher grades (Credѐ, 2010), and my own experience confirms that students who attend class tend to perform much better on projects and exams.

Course Fees

$7.50

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

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