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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2027-03-01 | - |
| 2027-06-01 | - |
| 2027-09-01 | - |
| 2028-03-01 | - |
Program Overview
Exercise and Human Performance Program
The Master of Science in Exercise and Human Performance is a 36-credit hour program that investigates advanced studies in kinesiology, including strength and conditioning, exercise physiology, health coaching, and sports nutrition.
Program Overview
The program is designed to prepare students academically for additional advanced graduate education or professional graduate school, and professionally for career opportunities in exercise and human performance-related fields. Students will gain expertise on how the body moves, functions, and is fueled, and explore how to improve quality of life and performance for a variety of populations.
Program Foundations
The curriculum features three aspects:
- Core courses offering advanced training in exercise physiology, organizational behavior, and research
- Focus areas based on the student's interest and expertise
- A culminating capstone (thesis or portfolio)
Focus Areas
The following focus areas are available based on the student's selection of elective courses:
- Sport Nutrition
- Strength & Conditioning
- Health Coaching (coming Fall 2025)
- Exercise Physiology
- General
Research
The faculty are highly involved in laboratory and clinical research and publish and present their work regularly. Research areas include:
- Exercise physiology
- Sports nutrition
- Strength and conditioning
- Health coaching
Facilities
The EXHP program is housed in the state-of-the-art Hughes Center and features five fully-equipped lab spaces, including:
- Body Composition Laboratory
- Cardiovascular Laboratory
- Human Performance Laboratory
- Foods Laboratory
- Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Admissions Requirements
To be admitted to the program, students must:
- Submit an application with a $50 nonrefundable fee
- Have a bachelor's degree, including prerequisites of 12 or more credit hours from anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and/or biochemistry
- Have a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate work
- Provide three recommendations, including at least one academic reference and one professional reference
- Submit an essay (maximum of 750 words) reflecting on personal philosophy of exercise/human performance, career aspirations, and purpose, passion, faith, etc.
- Provide a resume
- Participate in an in-person (or virtual as needed) interview for finalists
Courses
The program requires 36 semester hours, including:
- Core courses (21 hours)
- KIN 5000 - Orientation (0)
- KIN 5001 - Organizational Behavior I: Philosophy & Ethics (1)
- KIN 5021 - Organizational Behavior II: Entrepreneurship (1)
- KIN 5041 - Organizational Behavior III: Financial Considerations (1)
- KIN 5103 - Research Methods I: Biostatistics (3)
- KIN 5123 - Research Methods II: Design & Analysis (3)
- KIN 5203 - Advanced Exercise Physiology I (3)
- KIN 5223 - Advanced Exercise Physiology II: Adaptations to Exercise (3)
- KIN 6900 - Comprehensive Examination (0)
- KIN 6953 - Portfolio I (3) or KIN 6973 - Thesis I (3)
- KIN 6963 - Portfolio II (3) or KIN 6983 - Thesis II (3)
- Elective courses (15 hours)
- KIN 6213 - Advanced Exercise Physiology III: Laboratory Techniques (3)
- KIN 6243 - Electrocardiography and Cardiovascular Diseases (3)
- KIN 6263 - Exercise Evaluation & Prescription for Special Populations (3)
- KIN 6303 - Advanced Exercise and Sports Nutrition I (3)
- KIN 6313 - Advanced Exercise & Sport Nutrition II: Supplementation (3)
- KIN 6503 - Behavior Change I: Exercise (3)
- KIN 6513 - Behavior Change II: Sport Performance (3)
- KIN 6523 - Behavior Change III: Sociological Perspectives (3)
- KIN 6603 - Advanced Strength & Conditioning Methods I (3)
- KIN 6613 - Advanced Strength & Conditioning Methods II (3)
- KIN 688V - Independent Study (1-3)
- KIN 6893 - Special Topics (3)
Tuition and Aid
Tuition for the program is $799 per credit hour. Financial aid options include:
- Assistantships and scholarships
- Student loans (federal and private)
- Veteran aid/Yellow Ribbon Program
Career Paths
Graduates of the program may pursue careers in:
- Exercise physiology
- Strength and conditioning
- Health coaching
- Sports nutrition
- Wellness and health coaching
- Additional schooling (e.g., physical therapy, physician's assistant)
Faculty
The program is led by experienced faculty, including:
- Matthew Ruiz, Department Chair - Kinesiology
- Kent Johnson, Adjunct Faculty
- Laurel Littlefield, Professor
- Autumn Marshall, Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition
Networking and Small Class Sizes
The program offers opportunities for networking with leaders in the industry and features small class sizes, allowing for meaningful discussion and one-on-one faculty mentorship.