Master of Science in Exercise Physiology (MSc)
Program Chair: Prof. Yoram Epstein (hlrinst@tauex.tau.ac.il)
Program Advisor: Dr. Israel Halperin (ihalperin@tauex.tau.ac.il)
Secretary: Ms. Tali Herman (taliher@tauex.tau.ac.il)
Exercise physiology is a unique field within physiology that focuses on physical activity and exercise in different sects of the population; from top performance athletes, to patients in need of preventive and rehabilitative care. As such, exercise physiology has a wide impact on public health.
Exercise physiology research is unique, combining integrative knowledge of cellular level mechanisms related to physical activity, and understanding whole-body physiological processes.
These two levels of research allow for a deep understanding of the processes associated with normal functioning of the body's systems, performance improvement, injury prevention, and physical activity performed under extreme environmental conditions.
Exercise physiology research allows for the development of programs to expand athletes' physical capacity, training programs for healthy populations as a form of primary prevention, and dedicated rehabilitation programs as a form of secondary prevention.
Program faculty members deal with basic and applied studies of different populations within the broad aspects of exercise physiology, sports medicine, rehabilitation and lifestyle research.
The program is intended for students with undergraduate degrees in physical education and students with a background in the health professions, medical or life sciences who wish to enrich their education in exercise physiology.
Applicants with degrees in other fields will also be considered.
The exercise physiology degree program includes participation in mandatory and elective courses. The program is a research-based program and requires all students to write a thesis. Students without suitable background in life sciences will be required to complete supplementary courses.
Program Objectives:
- Providing in-depth knowledge of the theoretical and practical scientific elements of exercise physiology.
- Teaching research method skills and particularly in exercise physiology and sports medicine, including proficiency in physiological tests using advanced instrumentation.
- Teaching students to engage in basic, applied, rehabilitative, and health promotion research, and performance improvement for athletes. Program graduates will be able to integrate into the practical and research parts of the workforce in various institutions or pursue academic careers.
- Encouraging research as a basis for behavior change to prevent human morbidity.
- Learning high-level scientific writing and critical evaluation of research findings.
Admissions Requirements:
Admission requirements for the Exercise Physiology (MSc) are parallel to those for thesis-track graduate students at the School of Public Health, and subject to the School of Graduate Studies at the Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine.
Admission is open to graduates of a university accredited by the Council for Higher Education who were awarded an undergraduate degree one of the following areas: life sciences, exact sciences, engineering medical sciences, health professions, nutrition sciences, and physical education with a minimum grade of 80.
Students from the humanities, social sciences and exact sciences, as well as students without sufficient health-related backgrounds, will be required to complete supplementary courses as required by the School of Public Health. Supplementary courses can be taken before or during the first year of the program. A list of required courses will be built for each student according to their academic background. Following are examples of supplementary courses:
- Introduction to Physiology and Pathology of Diseases (Course No. 0158.1118; 2 credits)
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Course No. 0103.5113 and 0103.5114; year-long course, not included in grade average for degree)
Students without a background in physical education or personal training will be required to complete a "gym instructors" course while completing their graduate studies (i.e. through the Siim Campus at the University Sports Centre).
All applicants will be required to pass a personal admissions interview by the School of Public Health Admissions Committee.
A student will be admitted to studies according to one of the following statuses:
- “Regular acceptance”- Candidates who have a bachelor's degree from an accredited academic institution with at least a grade of 80, and meet all admission criteria.
- “Conditional acceptance”- Candidates who have not yet received their bachelor's degree diploma: the candidate must submit their diploma with a final average of at least 80 by the beginning of the school year.
- “Provisional acceptance” - A candidate who has not yet completed their bachelor's degree by the beginning of the academic school year. If the admissions committee has recommended it, the student will be accepted as a "provisional student", provided the outstanding requirements for completing their bachelor's degree does not exceed three courses (up to 6 credits) and their average grade upon registration is at least 80.
- “Special status”- Requiring completion of undergraduate courses. A student whose undergraduate studies did not include the following courses: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Organic Chemistry, and General Chemistry, will study under "special status" for the duration of the supplementary program as determined by Admissions Committee. A student’s status will become “regular” after completion of supplementary courses with a grade of at least 80 in each of the courses, within one year.
Curriculum:
The Master Degree in Exercise Physiology (MSc) is a research program that requires the writing of a thesis.
The curriculum included mandatory faculty courses (6 credits), mandatory program courses (10 credits), and electives (12 credits).
In addition, students must attend at least 25 School of Public Health seminars.
During the first year of study, each student in the program is required to find a thesis advisor for with an academic rank of lecturer and above.
During the first week of the third semester of study, each student is required to submit a thesis proposal to the school-wide Thesis Committee.
Program-specific curriculum
Scope of courses required to obtain the degree: Thesis-track, 28 credits
As part of the program curriculum, each student must participate in:
- Supplementary courses (for students who lack sufficient background in life sciences) – on an individual basis as required the Admissions Committee.
- Mandatory faculty courses: 6 credits
- Mandatory program courses: 10 credits
- General electives: 12 credits
Additional requirements
- Attending School of Public Health seminars and accumulating 25 signatures.
- Finding a thesis advisor (first year)
- Submitting a thesis proposal in the first week of the second school year.
- Thesis submission as per the School of Public Health guidelines.
- An oral thesis defense, after approval by Thesis Committee.
Program Structure:
The duration of the program is 4 semesters, spread over two years (28 credits). Students will participate in required, specific and elective courses offered in the School of Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine. Students without sufficient health-related backgrounds will be required to complete supplementary courses as required by the School of Public Health. Supplementary courses can be taken before or during the first year of the program.
Supplementary courses:
- Introduction to Physiology and Pathology of Diseases (Course No. 0158.1118; 2 credits)
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Course No. 0103.5113 and 0103.5114; year-long course, not included in grade average for degree)
Mandatory faculty courses (6 credits):
- Biostatistics (Advanced/School of Graduate Studies). 4 credits; 0103.0010
- Scientific Writing (Advanced/School of Graduate Studies). 1.5 credits; 0103.7000
- Research Ethics (Advanced/School of Graduate Studies). 0.5 credits; 0103.6000
- Safety in the Laboratory. 0 credits; 0400.1001
- Life Sciences and Medicine Library Resources. Virtual Course. 0 credits; 0146.4400
Mandatory program courses (10 credits):
- Exercise Physiology in Older Age. 2 credits; 0148.1011
- Exercise in Children. 2 credits; 0148.1009
- Exercise and Public Health. 2 credits; 0148.1008
- Exercise Physiology. 2 credits; 0148.1007
- Coaching Theories and Exercise Physiology in Achievement Sports. 2 credits; 0148.1010
Program electives (12 credits):
- Hormonal System and Exercise. 2 credits; 0148.1113
- Physical Training and Rehabilitation in Chronic Lung Disease. 2 credits; 0148.1114
- Cardiovascular System and Exercise. 2 credits; 0148.1116
- Exercise for Cardiac Rehabilitation. 2 credits; 0148.0017
- Physiology in Extreme Conditions. 2 credits; 0148.1118
- The Genetic Basis of Athletic Performance. 2 credits; 0148.1115
- Gender Differences in Physiological, Health, and Functional Variables in Exercise Performance. 2 credits; 0148.0019
- Human Anaerobic Ability- metabolic basis, importance and measurement methods. 2 credits; 0148.1111
- Advanced Aspects in Resistance Training. 2 credits; 0148.1120
- Lifecycle Nutrition. 2 credits; 0148.1121
School of Graduate Studies Elective courses:
- Bone Structure and Function. 2 credits; 0113.5552
- Stroke and Dementia. 2 credits; 0116.5939
- High Blood Pressure. 2 credits; 0116.5948
Any students whose thesis includes observational or population intervention studies will be required to take the following courses, according to requirements from their advisor:
- Introduction to Epidemiology. 2 credits; 0158.1011
- Biostatistics B. 3 credits; 0158.1110
- Survey and Research Methods in Epidemiology. 2 credits; 0158.1013
These courses will be included in the required 28 credits
Thesis:
Each student will be able to carry out their research work at the Sylvan Adams Institute of Sport, any university-affiliated institutes, and research institutes not necessarily associated with the School of Public Health, including the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine. All research work will be approved individually by the program administration. Thesis submission is subject to School of Public Health requirements and will include an oral defense, after approval by the Thesis Committee.
Composition of final grade for degree:
- Course Grades: 40%
- Thesis Grade (60% total):
- Advisor(s) Scores: 20%
- Judge Scores: 20%
- Oral Exam: 20%
All courses are taught in Hebrew unless specified otherwise.
