Exercise Physiology Has Expanded

In just over four years, the Exercise Physiology program at Ave Maria University has grown to over 85 students, making it one of the largest and fastest-growing majors at AMU. With an ever-developing curriculum and brand new facilities, the major is highly appealing and has quickly become another source of pride for the University.

Dr. Craig Flanagan, a professor at Ave since 2016, is leading the expansion this major at AMU. Dr. Flanagan has fortified the Exercise Physiology course offerings, including Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Nutrition, Advanced Sports Nutrition, Exercise Assessment, and Exercise Prescription; and the major has recently added coursework in areas related to metabolism, sports medicine, aging, exercise prescription, and the prevention of chronic disease.

One of the most powerful components of this program is that it encourages students to spread their newly-acquired knowledge to their relative spheres of influence. As Dr. Flanagan says, “Students love to share stories about how they’ve conveyed course content to their family members and friends, sparking them to changes in approach to dietary and exercise habits.”

According to Dr. Flanagan, a variety of factors are contributing to the highly positive response of AMU students to the Exercise Physiology program: “The major students in action in the has grown because the content of the courses if very much applicable to daily life," he says. "How we move and how we eat have a direct role in our basic health and performance, and students are eager to learn why."

The AMU community has also been extremely excited by the fall opening of the laboratory for applied physiology and human performance. This state-of-the-art facility augments students’ coursework by providing hands-on experience assessing cardiovascular, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic function during exercise. The lab allows AMU to conduct research related to new evaluation tools and intervention strategies, both of which have implications in clinical and athletic settings.

The new facility also affords the Exercise Physiology program with an opportunity to provide assessments and education services for the broader Naples-Collier community. Work is already being planned across a range of topics from stratifying fall risk in older populations to monitoring performance thresholds in triathletes.

Exercise Physiology students at AMU are also presented with opportunities during their college semesters to receive certifications in strength and conditioning, personal training, and sports nutrition. This added benefit prepares them for—and makes them more competitive in—the job market following graduation.

Ultimately, the Exercise Physiology program at AMU develops students’ understanding of the key factors that contribute to full and healthy human development and performance.