Foundations of Kinesiology and Physiology

This unit introduces core concepts in kinesiology, the history and philosophy of sport and exercise, and the basic neural and physiological systems that enable human movement. Students build foundational knowledge of motor control, exercise metabolism, and cardiovascular responses to prepare for applied assessment, programming, and laboratory investigation in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze foundational principles, terminology, and professional roles in kinesiology to explain biomechanical and physiological bases of human movement.
• Evaluate historical and philosophical developments in sport and exercise and their influence on contemporary practice, ethics, and career pathways.
• Demonstrate understanding of motor control by describing neural mechanisms, stages of motor learning, and how sensory integration and feedback affect movement performance.
• Analyze exercise metabolism and cardiovascular function by explaining energy system contributions, acute cardiovascular responses to varied exercise intensities, and implications for basic testing and safe exercise programming.