Overview
This unit examines responses and adaptations of various physiological body systems to exercise. Specifically, you will learn the physiological mechanisms underpinning acute and chronic changes in the metabolic, pulmonary, cardiovascular, endocrine, and neuromuscular systems as a response to exercise. Furthermore, you will learn how physiological function relating to exercise changes across the lifespan and in different environments. You will also develop practical skills in conducting and interpreting laboratory and field tests assessing physiological function, fitness, and performance.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
PrerequisitesESSC11001 Physical Activity, Fitness and Health AND ESSC11003 Skill Acquisition and Movement
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Informal student feedback and Unit Teaching Evaluation feedback
It would be useful to discuss the key themes from module content and apply it to discipline areas.
It is recommended that lectures are pre-recorded for each module where possible and sessions set to allow for discussion and activities that promote higher-order thinking and application to exercise science and education disciplines.
Feedback from Informal student feedback and Unit Teaching Evaluation feedback
The content was overwhelming at times due to the amount delivered in some module topics.
It is recommended that lengthy module topics be split or re-structured to ensure content are delivered in more consistent, digestible formats.
- Explain the individual and integrated changes that occur in different physiological body systems in response to acute and chronic exercise
- Describe how physiological responses relating to exercise change across the lifespan and in different environments
- Collect and interpret physiological measurements obtained during laboratory and field exercise tests.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 20% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Examination - 40% | |||
| 4 - On-campus Activity - 0% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Exercise Physiology
- Edition: 9 (2023)
- Authors: McArdle, W., Katch, F., and Katch, V.
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- ISBN: 9781975217297
Digital versions of the textbook are available to purchase.
- Binding: Other
Digital versions of the textbook are available to purchase.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer
- Microsoft office or similar word processing, spreadsheeting and presentation software
- Calculator
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.scanlan@cqu.edu.au
Week 1 - Module 1
Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 1. Pre-exercise screening and metabolism
1.1 Risks of exercise
1.2 Pre-exercise screening
1.3 Energy transfer during exercise
1.4 Anaerobic energy systems
1.5 Aerobic energy system
1.6 Macronutrient metabolism
Chapter
Adult Pre-Exercise Screening System and Guidelines.
McArdle, Katch, & Katch. (2022). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy and Human Performance (9th ed.). New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapters 5, 6, and 8.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz 1 opens at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 12 March
Week 2 - Module 2
Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 2. Pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to exercise
2.1 Pulmonary system physiology
2.2 Gas exchange and transport
2.3 Cardiovascular system physiology
2.4 Cardiopulmonary regulation
2.5 Pulmonary system responses to exercise
2.6 Cardiovascular system responses to exercise
Chapter
McArdle, Katch, & Katch. (2022). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy and Human Performance (9th ed.). New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapters 12-17.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz 2 opens at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 19 March
Week 3 - Module 3
Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 3. Endocrine and other systemic responses to exercise
3.1 Endocrine system physiology
3.2 Hormone pathways and actions
3.3 Endocrine system responses to exercise
3.4 Exercise and the immune system
3.5 Acid-base regulation during exercise
3.6 Fatigue during exercise
Chapter
McArdle, Katch, & Katch. (2022). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy and Human Performance (9th ed.). New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapters 14, 19, and 20.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz 3 opens at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 26 March
Week 4 - Module 4
Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 4. Exercise across environments and the lifespan
4.1 Exercise responses to altitude
4.2 Thermoregulatory mechanisms
4.3 Exercise responses to heat and cold
4.4 Growth and development concepts
4.5 Exercise considerations in children and across sexes
4.6 Exercise considerations with aging
Chapter
McArdle, Katch, & Katch. (2022). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy and Human Performance (9th ed.). New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapters 24, 25, and 31.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz 4 opens at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 2 April
Week 5 - Module 5
Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Module 5. Training concepts, programming, and adaptations
5.1 Oxygen uptake kinetics
5.2 Physiological thresholds
5.3 Exercise training principles
5.4 Adaptations to aerobic exercise
5.5 Programming for aerobic exercise
5.6 Implementing training programs
Chapter
McArdle, Katch, & Katch. (2022). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy and Human Performance (9th ed.). New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapters 7, 14, and 21.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz 5 opens at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 9 April
Vacation Week - residential schools
Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school at Cairns Basketball facilities from Tuesday 15 April 9:00 am to Wednesday 16 April 2:00 pm AEST
Week 6 - residential schools
Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school at the Mackay City campus from Wednesday 23 April 9:00 am to Thursday 24 April 2:00 pm AEST
Week 7 - residential schools
Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school at the Rockhampton campus from Monday 28 April 9:00 am to Tuesday 29 April 2:00 pm AEST
Attendance and participation at residential school Due: Week 7 Tuesday (29 Apr 2025) 2:00 pm AEST
Week 8 - review
Begin Date: 05 May 2025Module/Topic
Unit review lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9 - self-directed study
Begin Date: 12 May 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10 - exam preparation
Begin Date: 19 May 2025Module/Topic
Exam preparation lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11 - Self-directed study
Begin Date: 26 May 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12 - Self-directed study
Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential schools
This unit includes compulsory on-campus practical activities. You must attend one of the residential schools from the three options in different locations outlined below.
Cairns: Students enrolled on-campus in Cairns are required to attend the residential school scheduled in Cairns (Exercise and Sport Sciences Laboratories located at the Cairns Basketball Association facilities) on Tuesday 15 April and Wednesday 16 April. Mixed-mode students who reside in the Cairns region or who would prefer the option in Cairns can attend this residential school, but should seek approval from the unit coordinator prior to registration. Please see the CQUniversity Handbook and the unit Moodle site for up-to-date information.
Mackay: Students enrolled on-campus in Mackay are required to attend the residential school scheduled on the Mackay City campus (Building 4, Exercise and Sport Sciences Laboratories) on Wednesday 23 April and Thursday 24 April. Mixed-mode students who reside in the Mackay region or who would prefer the option in Mackay can attend this residential school, but should seek approval from the unit coordinator prior to registration. Please see the CQUniversity Handbook and the unit Moodle site for up-to-date information.
Rockhampton: Students enrolled on-campus in Rockhampton or via mixed-mode are required to attend the residential school scheduled on the Rockhampton campus (Building 81, Exercise and Sport Sciences Laboratories) on Monday 28 April and Tuesday 29 April. On-campus Mackay and Cairns students who would prefer the option in Rockhampton can attend this residential school, but should seek approval from the unit coordinator prior to registration. Please see the CQUniversity Handbook and the unit Moodle site for up-to-date information.
1 Online Test
You will be required to complete five online quizzes, with a separate quiz developed for each module. Online quiz 1 will assess knowledge of the content covered in module 1; online quiz 2 will assess knowledge of the content covered in module 1; online quiz 3 will assess knowledge of the content covered in module 3; online quiz 4 will assess knowledge of the content covered in module 4; and online quiz 5 will assess knowledge of the content covered in module 5. Each online quiz will consist of 15 randomly-selected questions from a wider bank of 30 questions. Questions will be relevantly distributed across all topics covered in each module.
Each online quiz will open at 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday following the scheduled lectorial for the corresponding module and all online quizzes will close at the same time in week 8 (Friday 9 May 5:00 pm AEST). You will have a 25-minute time limit to complete each online quiz upon commencing. Questions will be in multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank formats.
You must log onto Moodle after each online quiz is opened and complete all online quizzes before the closing time. You can only attempt each online quiz once and each must be completed in a single session. Online quizzes should be completed on a computer, as attempting them on a phone can result in your session being ended in the event of a phone call or notification. You cannot save your answers and return to online quizzes at a later time. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no late submissions allowed for any of the online quizzes. Each online quiz must be completed individually be each student.
Use of Generative AI: The submitted responses must be your own work, and not written, prepared, or composed using Generative AI tools (GenAI/LLM). Cutting and pasting of GenAI/LLM material into assessments may be considered contract cheating and/or plagiarism. If you have any questions about the appropriate use of GenAI/LLM material, please speak with your unit coordinator and/or contact an Academic Learning Centre advisor. use of generative AI is not allowed for this assessment and each online quiz must be completed individually be each student.
Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
In the absence of an approved extension, no attempts after the due date will be permitted and a score of zero will be awarded.
Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025)
You will receive the overall result for each online quiz upon completion; however, you will see detailed feedback regarding the correct answers for each question in each online quiz upon their closure.
Each online quiz will have an equal contribution to your overall unit grade. Together, the five online quizzes will comprise 20% of your overall grade.
There will be 15 questions per online quiz, with each question allocated 1 mark. Each question in each online quiz will be graded as correct or incorrect.
For questions with fill-in-the-blank responses, you should take care to ensure accurate spelling (Australian English) and correct grammar are used given answers are spelling- and grammar-sensitive.
- Explain the individual and integrated changes that occur in different physiological body systems in response to acute and chronic exercise
- Describe how physiological responses relating to exercise change across the lifespan and in different environments
2 On-campus Activity
This assessment involves compulsory attendance and participation in the on-campus practical activities involved in the unit. You are required to attend and participate in one of the scheduled residential schools. Different residential school options are available to attend. Further details regarding these residential schools can be found on the unit Moodle site or via the CQUniversity Handbook.
Week 7 Tuesday (29 Apr 2025) 2:00 pm AEST
You will successfully complete this assessment item following sufficient attendance and participation at your residential school.
You will immediately pass this assessment following sufficient attendance and participation at your residential school.
Attendance at a residential school with sufficient participation will result in a passing grade for this assessment. Failure to attend and adequately participate in a residential school may result in failing this assessment item, and being unable to pass this unit. Attendance for all practical activities will be assessed through attendance records documented by staff managing the sessions.
If you miss any part of the residential school without an approved reason, there will not be an opportunity to simply catch up at any time. The Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) outlines acceptable reasons for adjusting assessment. If you do not attend part of the residential school and provide a valid reason with supporting documentation, then an attempt to make alternate arrangements will be made in consultation with your unit coordinator.
- Collect and interpret physiological measurements obtained during laboratory and field exercise tests.
3 Written Assessment
When completing the practical activities at your residential school in this unit, you will be required to complete a series of tasks involving physiological measurement.
You will need to document the completion of practical activities by completing a practical workbook available on the unit Moodle site.
The practical workbook will require you to physically complete the practical activities, record collected data for various tasks, perform calculations with collected data, interpret and critically analyse your findings, and answer relevant questions. The assessment must be completed individually by each student.
Use of Generative AI: The submitted assessment item must be your own work, and not written, prepared, or composed using Generative AI tools (GenAI/LLM) - this includes manipulation or analysis of images and data. Cutting and pasting of GenAI/LLM material into assessments may be considered contract cheating and/or plagiarism. If you have any questions about the appropriate use of GenAI/LLM material, please speak with your unit coordinator and/or contact an Academic Learning Centre advisor.
Week 11 Friday (30 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
In the absence of an approved extension, any submissions received after the due date will incur penalties in accordance with CQUniversity Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 June 2025)
Grades and feedback for the practical workbook will be made available on the unit Moodle site no later than the set return date and prior to the final exam being scheduled.
The practical workbook is designed to evaluate your ability to use relevant equipment, collect physiological and performance data, and using your developed knowledge to interpret and apply findings. Marks will be allocated to the different activities completed for the following: recording of collected data, presentation of graphical information, analyses using collected data, responses to questions, written interpretation and application of results, and referencing. The practical workbook will be graded out of 400 marks equally divided into the following practical sessions:
1. Pre-exercise screening, fitness assessment, and anthropometry (80 marks)
2. Aerobic metabolism and substrate utilisation during exercise (80 marks)
3. Assessing cardiopulmonary function with spirometry and ECG (80 marks)
4. Thermoregulatory responses to exercise (80 marks)
5. High-performance testing of anaerobic and aerobic fitness (80 marks)
- Collect and interpret physiological measurements obtained during laboratory and field exercise tests.
Examination
Calculator - non-programmable, no text retrieval, silent only
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
