Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Advanced Exercise Physiology (Face-to-Face)

KIN 4070-01

Course: KIN 4070-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Kinesiology & Outdoor Rec
CRN: 33692

Course Description

Advanced study of the physiological functions of the human body during physical activity. Expounds upon basic exercise physiology principles including thermoregulation, hydration, environmental stress, gender differences, and the effects of aging on exercise performance. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): KIN 3070 and KIN 3075 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

The following textbook can be a useful resource (recommended, not required) for the course material we covered and should be the same textbook as your exercise physiology course (KIN 3070).

 Kenney W.L., Wilmore J.H., Costill D.L. (2021). Physiology of Sport and Exercise (8th ed.). ISBN: 978-1-7182-0172-9

Learning Outcomes

When you successfully complete this course, you should be able to:

  1. Understand and explain neuromuscular adaptations in relation to exercise training.
  2. Understand bioenergetics and substrate utilization at rest and during exercise in various intensities and durations.
  3. Understand and explain the acute and chronic adaptations that occur in the human body as a result of prolonged exposure to and exercise in hot and cold environments.
  4. Understand and explain the role that hydration plays in thermoregulatory processes and exercise performance.
  5. Understand and explain the role that moderate and extreme altitude plays in regard to homeostasis and both submaximal and maximal exercise performance.
  6. Understand and explain how gender and aging can impact anaerobic and aerobic performances and adaptations.

Course Requirements

EXAMS: Students will independently take exams in a proctored environment and will be done 3 times throughout the semester, with the third exam being a comprehensive final exam. The Final Exam will be cumulative and will consist of ~50% new material not covered on previous 3 exams, and ~50% cumulative material covered on previous 2 exams.

QUIZZES: Students will independently take open-note quizzes (~6 at 1/module) pertinent to information from lecture materials and required readings prior to taking exams. The lowest quiz will be dropped.

ARTICLE REVIEWS: Students will have the opportunity to search for, read, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed journal articles pertaining to certain topics covered in class. More details will be provided for each article review prior its due date.

ASSIGNMENTS/ACTIVITIES: Students will have the opportunity to perform in-class and outside-class assignments/activities that help them apply concepts learned throughout class. More details of major assignments are provided in the course outline.

SPECIAL TOPICS PRESENTATION (GROUP): Students will have the opportunity to present on an approved topic of your choice (I will provide a list of options). Each student will use peer-reviewed publications pertinent to their chosen topic and will be responsible for proposing their presentation topic, generating an annotated bibliography on their topic, and then presenting their topic. More details will be provided for each step in the process in class.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI (Instructor AI Policy)

The use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:

  • Brainstorming and refining students own ideas;
  • Fine tuning your research questions;
  • Finding information on students topic;
  • Drafting an outline to organize students own thoughts; and
  • Checking grammar

The use of generative AI tools is
not permitted in this course for the following activities:

  • Impersonating a student in classroom contexts, such as by using the tool to compose discussion board prompts assigned to students or content that a student put into a Zoom chat.
  • Completing group work that a student's group has assigned to them, unless it is mutually agreed upon that said student may utilize the tool.
  • Writing a draft of a writing
  • Writing entire sentences, paragraphs or papers to complete class

Students are responsible for the information  they submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Students use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic honesty.  For example, please use APA guidelines for citing AI-generated text (See these resources for APA guidance). Any assignment that is found to have used generative AI tools in unauthorized ways will receive a zero on the assignment. When in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification.

GRADING SYSTEM

You will be provided with a final letter grade based on the following grading criteria below. Please review your graded assignments regularly and if I make a mistake on your grade please let me know as soon as possible. 

Incomplete Grades:  A grade of Incomplete (I) may be given at the discretion of the instructor to a student who has been unable to complete the course requirements due to a serious interruption not caused by the student’s own negligence. Letter grades of “A” through “F” (course final grade) will be awarded based on the following scale:

Exams                                                  40%

Attendance/In-Class Participation         10%

Quizzes                                                10%

Article Reviews/Assignments                15%

Special Topics Presentation                  25%

Total                                                   100%


Course Outline

Module 1: Course Introduction and Neuromuscular Anatomy, Physiology, Growth, and Catabolism and Article Review #1, Muscle Signaling Podcast Assignment, and Muscle Damage Dramatization Activity. Overview of course expectations, instructor introduction, and essential course resources. Further, discuss and apply neuromuscular system anatomy (macro to micro organization and force transmission of skeletal muscle), neuromuscular physiology (fiber types and muscle force production), and skeletal muscle growth, catabolism, and differentiation physiology. Students will search for, read, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed journal article pertaining to this module’s topics. Students will also listen to a guided podcast assignment on muscle signaling unique to adaptations for aerobic and resistance training from Dr. Keith Baar, a leading skeletal muscle researcher. Students will also partake in a dramatization where they will be given a role to play in small groups of the entire physiological process of skeletal muscle damage to repair in order to enhance their learning of this process.

Module 2: Bioenergetic, Acidosis, and Fatigue, Integrative Biology of Exercise Podcast, and Exam #1. Discuss and apply bioenergetics and metabolism of exercise including part I primer for exercising muscle, part II metabolic pathways for exercising muscle, and part III – acidosis and neuromuscular fatigue. Students will also read a review article and listen to a guided podcast assignment on the integrative biology of exercise from Dr. John Hawley, a leading exercise physiology researcher. Students will also independently take exam #1 in a proctored environment on material covered for this exam (Module 1 & 2).

Module 3: Renal Physiology, Fluid Regulation, & Hydration, Article Review #2, and Hydration Lab. Discuss and apply renal physiology, fluid regulation, and hydration including part I kidney filtration & reabsorption physiology, part II acid base regulation and plasma volume/blood pressure response, and part III maintenance of plasma volume and exercise hydration strategies. Students will search for, read, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed journal article pertaining to this module’s topics. Students will practice the concepts for this module through a hydration lab focused on real-world implementation of hydration strategies covered.

Module 4: Extreme environments, Thermoregulation, & Exercise, Exam #2, and Thermoregulation Lab. Discuss and apply extreme environments and thermoregulation while exercising, including part I exercise in the heat and part II exercise in the cold, altitude, underwater, and aviation physiology. Students independently take exam #1 in a proctored environment on material covered for this exam (Module 3 & 4). Students will practice the concepts for this module through a thermoregulation lab focused on real-world implementation of measuring mechanisms of heat transfer as well as strategies for exercising in hot or cold environments.

Module 5: Lifespan & Exercise and Article Review #3. Discuss and apply the outcomes of inactivity to lifespan and healthspan of humans from youth to aging including covering the basics of aging, chronic diseases, geroscience, and skeletal muscle aging. Including covering the impact of lifelong aerobic and resistance exercise on health outcomes. Students will search for, read, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed journal article pertaining to this module’s topics.

Module 6: Determinants and Enhancement of Aerobic Performance and Final Comprehensive Exam. Discuss and apply the determinants of and methods of training enhancement for aerobic performance, including part I substrate utilization at rest and with exercise, part II VO2max limiting factors, and part III training aerobic endurance performance. Students independently take final comprehensive exam in a proctored environment on material covered throughout this course.

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

If the need for late/make-up work for exams or activities arises, this must be discussed and resolved at least 24 hours before the assignment/exam due date. It will then be my discretion to accept the work or deduct points if needed. The general policy is that late work will be accepted at 10% reduction per day for up to 2 days late, and passed two dates without consultation with the instructor will result in a zero.

Attendance Policy

Attendance in class is required unless ample documentation is provided for any missed class. This class is designed for in-person engaged student interaction, therefore attending all class sessions is highly recommended. Any student under 75% attendance for the whole class will automatically lose a full letter grade, in addition to receiving a 0% for the attendance grade for the course. Also, you will be marked late if over 5 minutes late, and three late dates will be one absence. And, if you are over 15 minutes late you will be marked absent. Punctuality/being on time is important.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.