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Exercise Oncology Undergraduate Certificate
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Why Choose Exercise Oncology?
Each year, nearly 2 million people are diagnosed with cancer. The long-term physical and psychological side effects of cancer negatively impact the cancer survivor’s quality of life. Importantly, almost one-third of deaths from cancer are due to modifiable factors, such as high body mass index and lack of physical activity.
Exercise has been demonstrated to positively impact patients with cancer. Government and leading health organizations such as the American Institute for Cancer Research, American Cancer Society, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology have recently included exercise among their cancer-prevention guidelines. This has prompted the National Accreditation Programs of Breast Centers to publish standards, which will take effect in January of 2024, to include exercise for the breast cancer patient during treatment and into survivorship. National leaders are working with the Commission on Cancer to do the same for all tumor types.
In anticipation of this, we have created this Exercise Oncology Certificate program, housed under the umbrella of Kinesiology and Health Department, to build a workforce in this growing field. Advance your healthcare career, or give yourself more career options, by earning this certificate.
Careers
As exercise moves into a part of the standard of care for cancer treatment, the need to build a workforce is of upmost importance. When you graduate from this certificate program, you will be well-qualified to work with cancer survivors, from the time of diagnosis through the trajectory of cancer treatment and survivorship. This can take place in a clinical setting with patients currently undergoing treatment for cancer as well as the community-based setting with cancer survivors who have completed their treatment. In addition, you can work alongside physical and occupational therapists in a continuum of care model that incorporates an integrative approach to cancer rehabilitation.
Academics and Curriculum
Fall Semester Offerings
- HED 4570—Health and Fitness for Chronic Disease and Disorders (existing class - asynchronous)
- KNH 4310—Clinical Exercise Physiology for Cancer Survivors (synchronous)
Spring Semester Offerings
- KNH 4250—Introduction to Integrative Cancer Care (synchronous)
- KNH 4350—Fitness Assessment and Programming for the Cancer Survivor (synchronous)
- In this class, you can complete the national Exercise Oncology Instructor certification exam
- In this class, you can complete the national Exercise Oncology Instructor certification exam
Admission
Current Wright State Students
1
If you are a current Wright State student, you can be added internally through our department.
New Students
2
If you do not currently attend Wright State, submit a non-degree-seeking application. You will not need to submit transcripts or pay an application fee provided you are a high school graduate and in good standing with Wright State academically and financially.
Program Outcomes
Complete the Exercise Oncology Certificate, and, as a result of your learning experiences, you can:
- Explain cancer as a disease, its treatments, and the limitations it poses.
- Assist those who have struggled, or are struggling, with cancer utilizing rehabilitation and exercise counseling.
- Describe the biopsychosocial aspects of cancer survivorship.
- Identify the synergy of the individual, disease, and environment of oncology.
- Integrate information from interdisciplinary studies to approach the appropriate patient pathways based on triage assessments.
Questions?
For questions or application inquires, please email program director Karen Wonders, Ph.D.
