Understand the relationships among physical activity and major risk factors and chronic diseases including: cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. This will be accomplished through class lectures, papers, presentations, quizzes, and exams on these subjects.

Explain on a written exam current physical activity guidelines and associated health benefits of physical activity among the elderly, adults, and children.

Write about the positive and negative consequences of regular physical activity using a variety of formats, including article summaries and a research paper that will be evaluated by your teacher.

Participate in regular physical activity to gain personal experience with physical activity and its effects over the course of the semester and summarize the experience in a paper that will be evaluated by your teacher.

Explain on a written exam why and how physical activity reduces risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

Critically evaluate the scientific literature for several specific physical activity and health topics. This will be accomplished through article and abstract reviews, multiple physical activity and health papers, and student-led scientific literature presentations.