Health & Human Performance, BS

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the BS: Health & Human Performance (HHP) degree is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the nutritional, physiological, biomechanical, psycho-social, artistic, and recreational dimensions of human activity and health, and to prepare them with the skills to successfully apply this knowledge to graduate study or professional careers in the field. Through extensive hands-on and authentic field research and experiences, students will become critical thinkers capable of applying knowledge, evaluating complex issues in the field of health and human performance, and creating new relevant knowledge based on their own investigations.

Program Information

The BS: Health & Human Performance program provides preparation for students planning to pursue graduate studies or employment in the rapidly expanding fields of personal/corporate fitness and wellness programming, public health, exercise science, and exercise prescription. Students who wish to become teachers should refer to the Physical Education & Health K-12, BS  degree program (Earth Science & Secondary Education, BS ).

The degree includes extensive coursework in the health and human performance field along with an opportunity to select electives to further specialize their degree to match career or graduate school goals. Since this degree is a subject area degree rather than an education degree, it would also facilitate admission to graduate studies in the field or to post-baccalaureate or graduate level teacher licensure programs requiring an undergraduate major in a specific subject area. Students currently pursuing the Physical Education & Health K-12 teaching degree can easily transition into the BS: HHP degree if they decide not to seek teacher licensure, and students in the BS: HHP degree could easily transfer into the Physical Education & Health K-12, BS  degree if they decide they do want to teach.

Graduate Outcomes

Program graduates will:

• Demonstrate, apply, and communicate knowledge about factors affecting and enhancing human health and physical performance.
• Demonstrate the skills and dispositions necessary to collect, analyze, and communicate information relevant to human health and physical performance .
• Demonstrate the skills and dispositions necessary to work and communicate effectively with peers, clients, and the community.

Assessment

Graduate outcomes for the BS: Health & Human Performance degree are assessed through continuous student performance assessments and feedback, graduate/exit surveys, employer/graduate major professor surveys, alumni surveys, program self-study, and accreditation reviews. An assessment plan can be obtained from the Department Chair of Health & Human Performance.