Biomechanics, B.S.
Admission
Admission Criteria
Prospective students must meet the minimum criteria listed below to be considered for admission to the program:
- Admission to Marshall University;
- An overall cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75 to continue in the degree program beyond the sophomore year;
- A C or better in all required coursework;
- Declared Biomechanics as a major, including preferred area of emphasis if applicable.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| HS 200 | Comp Medical Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 132 | Precalculus with Sci Applica | 5 |
| BSC 228 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 228L | Human Physiology Lab | 1 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Music in Society (recommended ) | ||
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive (WI Sec of Core II Hum) | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural or International | ||
| Music in Society (recommended) | ||
| HS 475 | Trends in Biomechanics (Capstone I) | 3 |
| HS 495 | Trends in Biomechanics II (Capstone II) | 3 |
| Major-Specific | ||
| BSC 227 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BSC 227L | Human Anatomy Lab | 1 |
| BSC 228 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 228L | Human Physiology Lab | 1 |
| DTS 210 | Nutrition | 3 |
| ESS 220 | Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| ESS 345 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 375 | Fitness Assess & Exerc Prescr | 3 |
| STHM 401 | Ethics in Sport | 3 |
| STHM 410 | Leadership: Theory & Practice | 3 |
| ESS 442 | Princ of Strength & Cond | 3 |
| ESS 443 | Prin of Strength Cond Lab | 1 |
| HS 200 | Comp Medical Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| HS 215 | Intro to Athletic Training | 3 |
| HS 220 | Personal Health | 3 |
| HS 222 | Hlth Prov First Aid/CPR/AED | 3 |
| HS 365 | Functional Kinesiology | 3 |
| HS 369 | Motor Learning | 3 |
| HS 435 | Biomech Instrument Mat Lab | 3 |
| HS 464 | Pathomechanics | 3 |
| HS 465 | Biomechanical Analy of Mvmt | 3 |
| HS 475 | Trends in Biomechanics (C) | 3 |
| HS 495 | Trends in Biomechanics II (C) | 3 |
| STA 225 | Introductory Statistics (CT) | 3 |
| SFT 235 | Intro to Occup Safety (CT) | 3 |
| SFT 373 | Prin Ergonomics & Hum Factors | 3 |
| SFT 373L | Prin of Ergonomics Lab | 1 |
| PHY 201 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 202 | General Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHY 203 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 204 | General Physics 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| PSY 311 | Child Development | 3 |
| PSY 312 | Adult Development | 3 |
| Free Elective (or Area of Emphasis) | 3 | |
| Free Elective (or Area of Emphasis) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
Major Information
- Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.
- Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change semesters. Please consult each semester’s schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
- Math Requirement: The biomechanics math requirement is for MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica only (a pre-requisite for Physics 1). Students need an ACT Math score of 24+ to be eligible for MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica. For students with a lower ACT Math score, we allow them to take two courses as an alternative: Algebra (MTH 130 College Algebra with ACT 21+ or MTH 127 College Algebra-Expanded with ACT 17+) and then Trigonometry (MTH 122 Plane Trigonometry) over two semesters.
Semester Plan
Biomechanics is the analysis of human movement to enhance performance, improve training, accelerate rehabilitation, and reduce injury risk. This is done by integrating various mechanical aspects of human movement during static and dynamic activities. The Biomechanics degree applies physics and math principles to study the interactions between humans and various machine systems in both working and living environments. Students will be exposed to specialized equipment to help measure the interaction of humans with their environment. Force plates and accelerometers measure forces generated by various segments of the body and then exerted externally to the body. Muscle activation is measured through electromyography. Motion analysis, using video to create three-dimensional reconstructions, measures body positions, velocities, and accelerations.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| HS 200 | Comp Medical Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| College Algebra-Expanded | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Precalculus with Sci Applica | ||
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 13-15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HS 222 | Hlth Prov First Aid/CPR/AED | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Plane Trigonometry | ||
Free Elective/Elective 1 | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| BSC 227 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BSC 227L | Human Anatomy Lab | 1 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BSC 228 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 228L | Human Physiology Lab | 1 |
| HS 365 | Functional Kinesiology | 3 |
| PHY 201 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 202 | General Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PSY 311 | Child Development | 3 |
| HS 220 | Personal Health | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ESS 345 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| PHY 203 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 204 | General Physics 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| HS 215 | Intro to Athletic Training | 3 |
| SFT 235 | Intro to Occup Safety (CT) | 3 |
| PSY 312 | Adult Development | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ESS 375 | Fitness Assess & Exerc Prescr | 3 |
| STHM 401 | Ethics in Sport | 3 |
| HS 465 | Biomechanical Analy of Mvmt | 3 |
| STA 225 | Introductory Statistics (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Music in Society (recommended) | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ESS 220 | Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| HS 435 | Biomech Instrument Mat Lab | 3 |
| HS 464 | Pathomechanics | 3 |
| SFT 373 | Prin Ergonomics & Hum Factors | 3 |
| SFT 373L | Prin of Ergonomics Lab | 1 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Summer Term (required) | ||
| HS 369 | Motor Learning | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| DTS 210 | Nutrition | 3 |
| ESS 442 | Princ of Strength & Cond | 3 |
| ESS 443 | Prin of Strength Cond Lab | 1 |
| HS 475 | Trends in Biomechanics (C) | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| STHM 410 | Leadership: Theory & Practice | 3 |
| HS 495 | Trends in Biomechanics II (C) | 3 |
| Free Elective or Area of Emphasis | 3 | |
| Free Elective or Area of Emphasis | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126-128 | |
- 1
Free Elective if MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica is completed in Fall