Department Contact:
Chair and Program Director: Dr. Kristofer Wisniewski, (814) 471-1132, 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 Exercise Oncology curriculum provides education in biology, epidemiology, psychosocial and methods of treatment, and exercise interventions for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of cancer. Graduates from this program have a complete understanding of the disease as well as the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to assist patients and their caregivers to deal with this disease and its limitations. The program is interdisciplinary in nature to provide an effective and patient-centered focus. The curriculum is designed so that all students 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 Exercise Oncology 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 cancer prevention and survivorship. An American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) task force is seeking to advance the role of Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEP) as qualified health professionals. Therefore, graduates from this program will be at the forefront of the need for CEPs who specialize in Exercise Oncology to advance the health and well-being of individuals suffering from chronic diseases, specifically cancer.
Estimated Time to completion:
Typically, 16 months of study
Admissions Requirements:
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A completed bachelor’s degree prior to the beginning of the program
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Preferably in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology or related field, or Biology
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Students with a Bachelor’s degree in other disciplines, will be evaluated by the Chairperson and the Program Director for provisional admissions, which may include
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*Students not possessing the above requirements may enroll in Saint Francis University courses to meet the requirement.
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Coursework in Chemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics and Immunology are suggested but not required.
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EP-C or similar BS level Certification is recommended but not required.
Admission deadline:
Priority deadline for admission is May 1
This Master’s degree is 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.
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