The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior announced this week that both the undergraduate exercise science and graduate exercise physiology programs have received accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
SIUE’s undergraduate exercise science program is the only accredited program at a public university in the states of Illinois and Missouri.
The graduate exercise physiology program is the only accredited program in the states of Illinois and Missouri. There are only six graduate programs accredited nationally.
According to Dr. Erik Kirk, associate professor of exercise science and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, the accreditation application was submitted in July 2013. An onsite review was conducted in April 2014. The accreditation is through July 31, 2019.
Kirk led the undergraduate exercise science accreditation. Dr. Josh Wooten, assistant professor and graduate program coordinator for specializations in exercise physiology in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, led the graduate exercise physiology accreditation, with the assistance of faculty from both programs.
“Currently, less than five percent of all undergraduate or graduate programs are nationally accredited,” said Kirk. “I would like to thank the programs of exercise science and exercise physiology and the entire department faculty for their help during this process.”
Accreditation standards are established by CAAHEP, Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise, American Kinesiotherapy Association, Cooper Institute, National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Council on Strength & Fitness.
“This is a prestigious honor that indicates the quality of both programs,” said Dr. Curt Lox, interim dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. “Students will receive a nationally accredited education at an affordable price.”
According to Kirk, the CAAHEP standards by which these two programs are measured have been developed by professionals involved in each discipline, are approved by each profession, and are intended to reflect the required knowledge and skills that a person needs to be able to successfully function within that profession. CAAHEP standards focus on quality outcomes, assuring that educational programs are preparing competent entry-level health care professionals.
“Employers will know that SIUE is training students to CAAHEP an ACSM accredited standards, making them a high-demand group of graduates, both locally and nationally,” said Kirk.
CAAHEP is one of the largest specialized accrediting bodies, reviewing and accrediting more than 2,000 education programs in more than 20 health-related disciplines, and is recognized by the Council for Higher EducationAccreditation (CHEA).
Photo: Dr. Erik Kirk, associate professor of exercise science and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.