Master of Science in Exercise Oncology

Department Contact:

Chair: Dr. Stephen Baker, sbaker@francis.edu

Program Coordinator: Dr. Kristofer Wisniewski, kwisniewski@francis.edu

Program Description:

Cancer rehabilitation can assist individuals with cancer in improving their physical, psychosocial, and vocational function within the limitations imposed by the disease of cancer and its treatments. The healthcare system that delivers cancer care is changing with the recognition that there are urgently needed improvements to the quality of cancer care. This includes all stakeholders, cancer care teams, patients, their families, researchers, and payers working together to develop a higher system for cancer care.

The Cancer Care curriculum provides education in biology, epidemiology, psychosocial and methods of treatment, and exercise interventions of cancer so that the graduate has a more complete understanding of the disease as well as the skills, knowledge, and abilities to assist patients and their caregivers to deal with this disease and its limitations. The Cancer Care program is interdisciplinary in nature to provide an effective and patient-centered focus. The curriculum is designed so that all majors participate in practical experiences to learn from active practitioners in a variety of settings and disciplines.

The need for health professionals in cancer care is expected to grow well into the 21st century, which makes the study of Cancer Care an excellent choice for those seeking employment directly after graduation. The body of knowledge on the efficacy of exercise in disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation is firm. Exercise is becoming an accepted and expected standard of care, with significant advances in the area of cancer. The American Academy of Sports Medicine (ACSM) task force is seeking clinical exercise physiologists as qualified health professionals. The need for more efficient and effective means of preventing disease and maintaining the health of populations and our planet will continue to increase the demand for graduates with a focus on public health and patient-centered care.

Master of Science in Exercise Oncology:

This is a Master degree that will be offered in a hyflex modality.  The hyflex modality means that courses will be offered on campus in a face-to-face setting, the classes will also be available remotely in a synchronous modality. With the permission of the department chairperson and the program coordinator, students may submit a proposal for asynchronous completion of the lecture portion of the degree.  Specific courses do have a residency requirement, which can only be satisfied on campus in Loretto, PA.  Additionally, the internship site and experience need to be pre-approved by the department chairperson, the program coordinator, and the internship coordinator. The courses for this degree will be offered either as 8-week or 15-week courses.

Estimated Time to completion:

Typically, 16 months of study

Admissions Requirements:

• A completed bachelor’s degree prior to the beginning of the program
  • Preferably in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or Biology
  • Students with a Bachelor’s degree in other disciplines, will be evaluated by the Chairperson and the Program Director for provisional admissions, which may includeThe completion of the following prerequisites or their equivalent with at least a cumulative 3.000 QPA
    • General Biology with Lab
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
    • Exercise Physiology with Lab *
    • Clinical Exercise Physiology*
    • Exercise Testing and Prescription*
    • A Statistics and/ or Research Methods course
• A completed graduate Admissions application

Admission deadline:

Priority deadline for admission is May 1

Total credits required: 39 credits