4. Division of Academic Affairs

4.1. Bachelor of Sports Science Degree Program

The Bachelor of Sports Science curriculum was developed by the United States Sports Academy faculty and is sport specific in keeping with the special mission of the institution. Students gaining admission to the program will be expected to accumulate at least 60 semester credit-hours beyond the associate degree. The course descriptions for the curriculum appear in Section 4.7 of this catalog.

Admitted students must follow the prescribed progression in their majors.

Students will be required to begin their courses of study with the Academy in the core courses. Once students have finished the core courses successfully, they will work with their advisors and set up a Program of Study to complete all the required and elective courses in their program. After successful completion of the core, required and elective courses in the proper sequence with a 2.0 or better cumulative grade point average (GPA), students consent with their academic advisor to plan their culminating experience.

The culminating experience in the bachelor’s degree program is an experiential educational component referred to as a mentorship. The mentorship consists of 300 hours of study in the field of sport and is supervised by a mentor selected by the student. The mentorship is based upon specific learning goals and objectives established collaboratively by the student, the Academy and the mentor. The mentorship requires monthly reports, a final evaluation by the mentor and a 5,000 word paper by the student describing how goals and objectives were or were not achieved and why. The mentorship grade is based on three components and is weighted as follows:

1. An exit interview done between the student and an Academy advisor is worth 5%;
2. A 5,000-word paper written by the student and graded by the student’s Academy advisor assessing the attainment of the expected goals and objectives is worth 15%; and
3. A final evaluation form, completed by the mentor, is worth 85%.

4.2. Delivery Options

Students may take course work through a variety of delivery options to best meet their needs. These options may be combined to provide maximum flexibility. The bachelor’s degree courses may be taken entirely online, in residence (summer only) or through a combination of the two.

4.2.1 Summer Resident Study Option

Under the supervision of on-campus faculty members, students study in a traditional classroom setting. This option is well suited for those students who may have difficulty with online study or who simply prefer instruction in a classroom setting. Class offerings in residence are subject to sufficient enrollment numbers so students need to check with the Department of Student Services before making arrangements for local accommodations.

4.2.2. Distance-Learning Options

Distance-learning offers the student the opportunity to earn bachelor’s degree course credit through online, computer-mediated and asynchronous courses. This means that the professor and student do not have to be in simultaneous contact with each other for learning to take place or assignments to be completed.

For most online courses, distance-learning students at the Academy receive a log-on and password for the electronic, web-based aspect of the course. They also receive the required textbook(s) for each course. Each student is assigned a professor for each course. Every course includes a completion of written assignments, participation in threaded discussions, quizzes and a final examination. The Academy Library and its extensive reference data base system can be accessed through the Academy web site. There are specific time limits (16 weeks plus extensions) that apply to completion of distance-learning courses. Those 16 weeks include one week built into the course time for shipping and handling of materials.

4.2.3. Orientation for Distance-Learning

Prior to beginning online courses at the Academy, students are required to take a no-cost, no-credit course titled SPT 101 Introduction to Academy Online Learning. This course is an orientation course and serves as a tutorial on the Academy’s system of online learning. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

4.2.4 Technical Requirements:

Go to http://www.ussa.edu/ussanet/index.asp and visit the “Technical Requirements and Browser Test Page” for computer requirements that are necessary for students to be successful in distance-learning.

4.3. Affiliated Credit Options

The Academy is a member of the Southern Regional Educational Campus (SREC). The SREC is made up of colleges and universities from 16 Southern states and offers 1,250 courses and 60 degree programs through the SREC web portal. The Academy was among the first independent colleges and universities in Alabama selected for participation in the SREC consortium. Academy courses that are now offered through the SREC Electronic Campus can be found at http://www.electroniccampus.org/.

4.4. Sports Management Degree Curriculum

The curriculum in sports management is designed to give students a broad-based knowledge of the management fundamentals associated with sports industry. In addition, it allows the student to be competent managers in sports organizations and provides a broad understanding of the sport industry’s various forms and special nature through a mixture of core, required, elective and experiential educational components.

The curriculum for sports management has four core-courses, nine required-courses, five elective-courses and a required mentorship. These groups of courses must be taken in sequence beginning with the core courses (all hours listed are semester-hours):

• SAB 334 Ethics in Sports 3 hours
• SAB 361 Contemporary Issues in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 340 Organization and Management in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 400 Leadership Principles in Sports 3 hours

Once the core courses are completed, the student may take the nine required-courses in any sequence:

• SAM 322 Foundations of Amateur & Professional Sports 3 hours
• SAM 342 Personnel Management in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 344 Sports Marketing 3 hours
• SAM 445 Sports Managerial Accounting 3 hours
• SAM 448 Sports Promotion and Event Planning 3 hours
• SAM 451 Public Relations in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 450 Fund Raising in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 482 Sports Facilities Management 3 hours
• SAM 486 Sports Law and Risk Management 3 hours

While taking the aforementioned required courses, students may take five of the following seven elective courses (after consulting with their Academic Advisor):

• SAB 305 Sociology of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 310 History of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 368 Psychology of Sports 3 hours
• SAM 367 Olympic Culture 3 hours
• SAM 386 Legal Concepts in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 392 Sports Agent Business 3 hours
• SAM 496 Topical Reading in Sports 3-6 hours

After completion of all the core, required and elective courses, students may take the mentorship as the culminating experience.

• SAM 498 Mentorship (culminating experience) 6 hours

4.5. Sports Coaching Degree Curriculum

The sports coaching major is designed to prepare students to enter the coaching profession. Since coaches often are required to do multiple tasks at the same time, the course work covers ethics, medicine, psychological, administrative and management functions as well as the “skills and drills” that are relevant to all coaching assignments. The program is designed to produce high-quality coaching by offering students all relevant aspects of a very demanding profession.
The curriculum for sports coaching has four core courses, nine required courses, three general elective courses, two sports coaching science electives and a mentorship (as the culminating experience). These groups of courses must be taken in a sequence beginning with core courses (all hours listed are semester-hours):

• SAB 334 Ethics in Sports 3 hours
• SAB 361 Contemporary Issues in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 340 Organization and Management in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 400 Leadership Principles in Sports 3 hours

Once the core courses have been completed, the student may take the nine required courses in any sequence:

• SAB 305 Sociology of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 368 Psychology of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 371 Sports Coaching Methodology 3 hours
• SAB 373 Scientific Principles of Coaching 3 hours
• SAD 320 Applied Sports Performance Analysis 3 hours
• SAD 346 Sports Medicine 3 hours
• SAD 356 Sports Nutrition 3 hours
• SAM 322 Foundations of Amateur & Professional Sports 3 hours
• SAR 332 Sports Strength and Conditioning 3 hours

While taking the required courses, students may take three of the following six general elective courses (after consulting with their Academic Advisor):

• SAB 301 Sports Officiating 3 hours
• SAB 302 Sports Coaching Technology 3 hours
• SAB 310 History of Sports 3 hours
• SAM 386 Legal Concepts in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 482 Sports Facilities Management 3 hours
• SAM 496 Topical Readings in Sports 3-6 hours

While taking the required courses or the aforementioned electives, students may also take two of the following 18 elective Sports Coaching Science courses (after consulting with their Academic Advisor):

• SCS 300 Coaching Cross Country Skiing 3 hours
• SCS 303 Coaching Track and Field 3 hours
• SCS 308 Coaching Baseball 3 hours
• SCS 313 Coaching Basketball 3 hours
• SCS 317 Coaching Cheerleading 3 hours
• SCS 318 Coaching Cross-Country Running 3 hours
• SCS 328 Coaching Field Hockey 3 hours
• SCS 330 Coaching Figure Skating 3 hours
• SCS 332 Coaching American Football 3 hours
• SCS 334 Coaching Golf 3 hours
• SCS 337 Coaching Gymnastics 3 hours
• SCS 338 Coaching Ice Hockey 3 hours
• SCS 364 Coaching Soccer 3 hours
• SCS 366 Coaching Softball 3 hours
• SCS 370 Coaching Swimming 3 hours
• SCS 376 Coaching Tennis 3 hours
• SCS 378 Coaching Volleyball 3 hours
• SCS 384 Coaching Wrestling 3 hours

After completion of the core, required and elective courses, students may take the mentorship as the culminating experience.

• SAM 498 Mentorship (culminating experience) 6 hours

4.6. Sports Studies Degree Curriculum

The sports studies curriculum is designed to give students the opportunity to build areas of concentration that meet their specific needs.

The curriculum for sports studies has four core courses, 14 elective courses and a mentorship as the culminating experience. These groups must be taken in a sequence beginning with the core courses (all hours listed are semester-hours):

• SAB 334 Ethics in Sports 3 hours
• SAB 361 Contemporary Issues in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 340 Organization and Management in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 400 Leadership Principles in Sports 3 hours

Once the core courses are completed, students may take any 14 of the following 22 elective courses (after consulting with their Academic Advisor):

• SAM 322 Foundations of Amateur & Professional Sports 3 hours
• SAM 342 Personnel Management in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 344 Sports Marketing 3 hours
• SAM 445 Sports Managerial Accounting 3 hours
• SAM 448 Sports Promotion and Event Planning 3 hours
• SAM 451 Public Relations in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 450 Fund Raising in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 482 Sports Facilities Management 3 hours
• SAM 486 Sports Law and Risk Management 3 hours
• SAB 305 Sociology of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 368 Psychology of Sports 3 hours
• SAB 371 Sports Coaching Methodology 3 hours
• SAB 373 Scientific Principles of Coaching 3 hours
• SAD 320 Applied Sports Performance Analysis 3 hours
• SAD 346 Sports Medicine 3 hours
• SAD 356 Sports Nutrition 3 hours
• SAR 332 Sports Strength and Conditioning 3 hours
• SAM 367 Olympic Culture 3 hours
• SAM 386 Legal Concepts in Sports 3 hours
• SAM 392 Sports Agent Business 3 hours
• SAB 301 Sports Officiating 3 hours
• SAB 302 Sports Coaching Technology 3 hours

Students may substitute three of the following 18 elective Sports Coaching Science courses for any three of the 14 electives above (after consulting with their Academic Advisor):

• SCS 300 Coaching Cross Country Skiing 3 hours
• SCS 303 Coaching Track and Field 3 hours
• SCS 308 Coaching Baseball 3 hours
• SCS 313 Coaching Basketball 3 hours
• SCS 317 Coaching Cheerleading 3 hours
• SCS 318 Coaching Cross-Country Running 3 hours
• SCS 328 Coaching Field Hockey 3 hours
• SCS 330 Coaching Figure Skating 3 hours
• SCS 332 Coaching American Football 3 hours
• SCS 334 Coaching Golf 3 hours
• SCS 337 Coaching Gymnastics 3 hours
• SCS 338 Coaching Ice Hockey 3 hours
• SCS 364 Coaching Soccer 3 hours
• SCS 366 Coaching Softball 3 hours
• SCS 370 Coaching Swimming 3 hours
• SCS 376 Coaching Tennis 3 hours
• SCS 378 Coaching Volleyball 3 hours
• SCS 384 Coaching Wrestling 3 hours

After completion of the core and elective courses, students take the mentorship as the culminating experience.

• SAM 498 Mentorship (culminating experience) 6 hours

4.7. Bachelor of Sports Science Degree Course Descriptions

SAB 301 Sports Officiating (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to teach students the rules and regulations for specific sports, and it explains how to apply them in games. Current rule changes will be reviewed and discussed.

SAB 302 Sports Coaching Technology (3 sem. hrs.)
Technological advances in the mainstream of contemporary culture can be applied to coaching. The uses and applications of technology to improve coaching efficiency, strategy, player performance, maintenance of equipment, recruitment at certain levels, statistics gathering, recording, reporting and archiving are central to this course.

SAB 305 Sociology of Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the mutual influences which society and sports exercise have on each other. How people in sports relate to one another and create social measures that enable them to compete without compromising a basic social contract is one focus of this course. Understanding sports groups and the social issues that have an impact on sports is a central theme.

SAB 310 History of Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This survey course examines the development of competition in the human condition from its inception, into organized forms of sport, to the highly developed enterprise that has emerged in contemporary times. Observations of the influence of culture and history on this development are central to the presentation of this course.

SAB 334 Ethics in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
Some leaders are more effective than others because of who they are as individuals and how they approach the ethical circumstances they face. The application of these ethical approaches in sports is the central theme of this course. It is intended to support the thesis that principle-centered leaders are more capable of inspiring confidence and rallying others to achieve a common goal.

SAB 361 Contemporary Issues in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to introduce the student to current issues in society and their impact on sport at all levels of participation. Emphasis focuses upon the variety of the issues facing sport as a leisure activity and as an industry, as well as how the issues are addressed by the media, sport organizations, sport coaches and administrators.

SAB 368 Psychology of Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This survey course focuses on the study of the motivational phenomena that affect the performance of individual athletes and teams. Stress and leadership characteristics of coaches and athletes will also be studied.

SAB 371 Sports Coaching Methodology (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide the student with a conceptual blueprint for teaching sport and the fundamentals of sport coaching. The development of a personal coaching philosophy will be derived from a process of consciously assessing critical issues and developing a clear rationale for holding one particular approach as opposed to another.

SAB 373 Scientific Principles of Coaching (3 sem. hrs.)
In order to optimize performances, guarantee safety and promote well-being in athletes, coaches must constantly update and modify their coaching practices by regularly seeking out new knowledge in the sport sciences. This course is designated to teach coaches to be active consumers and appliers of scientific information.

SAD 320 Applied Sports Performance (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to cover the complete spectrum of training intensity. A conditioning program is established to meet the needs of each specific sport.

SAD346 Sports Medicine (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to give the student, as the first responder, the basic understanding needed to recognize sport-related injuries and to provide appropriate emergency treatment, along with ensuring proper follow-up medical care

SAD 356 Sports Nutrition (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to emphasize the importance of nutrition on the enhancement of performance and on the prevention of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity. Specific applications of nutrition and sport will also be examined.

SAM 322 Foundations of Amateur & Professional Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course addresses the scope, the history, the empirical foundations and the philosophical aspects in the development of sport both as a leisure activity and as an industry. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the evolution of sport and social institutions (such as education, religion, politics, mass media, etc).

SAM 340 Organization and Management in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This survey course is designed to provide a comprehensive and contemporary introduction of administration, organization and management principles and their applications in the broad sports settings.

SAM 342 Personnel Management in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This is a survey course in which the student will study the recruitment, procurement, development and utilization of the human resources in any organization. Concepts of motivation and teamwork are closely examined.

SAM 344 Sports Marketing (3 sem. hrs.)
This course examines the basic principles of marketing and how they are applied to the field of sport. They are evaluated in terms of the elemental marketing mix, which includes Product, Place, Price, Promotion and Public Relations.

SAM 367 Olympic Culture (3 sem. hrs.)
This is a seminar course that examines the history, culture and structure of Olympics and the Olympic movement as both a genesis and a product of the history of sport in the human condition. The connection between sport as a human activity and its relationship to other human activities will be surveyed and evaluated.

SAM 386 Legal Concepts in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course introduces the student to a basic conceptual understanding of legal issues related to sport, including but not limited to: negligence, sexual harassment, corporal punishment, product liability, anti-discrimination, contracting, buying, hiring and termination.

SAM 392 Sports-Agent Business (3 sem. hrs.)
An overview of the sports-agent business and an examination of the various aspects associated with being a sports agent are presented in this introductory survey format. The expanding sport-agent business, particularly in the U.S., is examined in light of its benefits and consequences both to the professional and amateur athlete.

SAM 400 Leadership Principles in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course teaches concepts, principles and skills of leadership for managers in the sports industry who must influence others to get things done. Styles of successful sport coaches and managers will be examined and analyzed in the context of their times and their settings.

SAM 445 Sports Managerial Accounting (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to give students the financial management tools they need to succeed in the sports industry because the rapidly growing industry demands that those in the industry have a command of the basic principles of finance.

SAM 448 Sports Promotion and Event Planning (3 sem. hrs.)
Basic concepts of planning and conducting sports-related events, from their inception to their completion, are examined in this course. Applications of principles for marketing and public relations to the sport industry are evaluated and surveyed.

SAM 450 Fund Raising in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
In a survey format, this course presents the essentials of fund raising and provides an overview of the field of fund raising to give development staff, managers and directors a platform from which to operate fund raising programs.

SAM 451 Public Relations in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is a study of the nature, content and application of the various concepts of public relations activities as they apply to sport. Techniques and principles of basic marketing as applied to public relations are also examined.

SAM 482 Sports Facilities Management (3 sem. hrs.)
All sporting events have one thing in common: they take place in some type of facility. This course examines the principles and skills needed to manage such facilities and the events that they host.

SAM 486 Sports Law and Risk Management (3 sem. hrs.)
This survey course takes a practical approach to law and sport, exemplifying how to use the law as a day-to-day management tool. Issues discussed in this course include risk management, responsibilities of game officials, breach of contract, product liability, role of the EEOC, right to participate and statutes such as the American with Disabilities Act.

SAM 496 Topical Readings in Sports (3 sem. hrs.)
This is a seminar course in which various topics important to the field of sport are examined and assessed through selected readings.

SAM 498 Mentorship (culminating experience) (3 sem. hrs.)
The mentorship is a supervised work experience in the sport industry to enhance the individual’s ability to become a productive contributor to the profession. Requirements are described in section 4.1 of the catalog.

SAR 332 Sports Strength & Conditioning (3 sem. hrs.)
This course presents approaches to assessing and enhancing human sport performance through improving strength and cardiovascular endurance. The various methods of achieving optimum performance are examined, along with a focus on injury prevention.

SCS 300 Coaching Cross-Country Skiing (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct in basic Cross-Country Skiing skills.

SCS 303 Coaching Track and Field (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic track and field skills.

SCS 308 Coaching Baseball (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic baseball skills.

SCS 313 Coaching Basketball (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic basketball skills.

SCS 317 Coaching Cheerleading (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic cheerleading skills.

SCS 318 Coaching Cross-Country Running (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic cross-country running skills.

SCS 328 Coaching Field Hockey (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic field hockey skills.

SCS 330 Coaching Figure Skating (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic figure skating skills.

SCS 332 Coaching American Football (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic American football skills.

SCS 334 Coaching Golf (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic golf skills.

SCS 337 Coaching Gymnastics (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic gymnastics skills.

SCS 338 Coaching Ice Hockey (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic ice hockey skills.

SCS 364 Coaching Soccer (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic soccer skills.

SCS 366 Coaching Softball (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic softball skills.

SCS 370 Coaching Swimming (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic swimming skills.

SCS 376 Coaching Tennis (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic tennis skills.

SCS 378 Coaching Volleyball (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic volleyball skills.

SCS 384 Coaching Wrestling (3 sem. hrs.)
This course is designed to provide entry-level information, fundamentals, principles and management enablers for anyone who would coach and/or instruct basic wrestling skills.