The exercise physiology program at University of Lynchburg was recently approved as a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP). The NSCA is a leading professional organization for fields dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession.
“The field of strength and conditioning is a growing field in its own right, but the skills and concepts we train for and teach to our students are easily transferable into many of their future careers, like physical therapy and athletic training,” Dr. Sean Collins, associate professor of exercise physiology, said. “This recognition will help us in the market as well as demonstrate the various skills students will attain through the exercise physiology program.”
Lynchburg is one of only two NCAA Division III schools from Virginia to be recognized. It also joins several large Virginia universities on the list, among them Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University.
“The program recognition requires completing an application in order to determine whether or not the programs applying to ERP fulfill the minimum requirements of an appropriate education,” Dr. Collins explained. “These requirements consist of specific classes and appropriate topics.
“This includes human anatomy, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, kinesiology/biomechanics, and dedicated strength-and-conditioning-specific classes. The focus in the strength and conditioning class(es) is to address various career-specific skills, such as program design for anaerobic performance, aerobic performance, strength, and power.”
Being recognized at the national level has numerous benefits for the University of Lynchburg and its exercise physiology students. “For the marketplace, to stand out as a recognized program in the state and region is really important,” Dr. Collins said. “We always knew we were providing a great education for students who are pursuing careers in human performance and health sciences.
“Being recognized among other prominent schools is great for our program. This recognition adds to our current accreditation through the American College of Sports Medicine and shows how robust our program is at preparing students for careers in the health sciences.”
In addition, University of Lynchburg will get national exposure at NSCA conferences and clinics and student discounts for various NSCA events and certification exams, such as the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and the Tactical Strength and Conditioning (TSAC) exams.
Dr. Collins described these certifications as “highly sought after in the field.”