BS in Human Performance and Fitness
Aberdeen, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Preparing you to work in any fitness and health-related career.
As a human performance and fitness major, you’ll be part of a growing program that will help you build a strong science foundation through courses such as anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology.
Choose from two concentrations:
- Human Performance will prepare you for certifications offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine.
- Fitness and Sports Administration will prepare you to manage/own fitness businesses.
You'll also have the unique opportunity to work with professors in our Nora Staael Evert Human Performance Lab, fully equipped to enhance teaching and training in the clinical and applied aspects of exercise physiology!
This program will be a good fit if you are:
- Driven and committed, wanting to pass knowledge along and stay on top of the latest research
- Personable, with good communication skills; a lot of daily contacts
- Adaptable and dependable; not a typical schedule and many demands can be placed with little notice
- Invested in helping others and seeing them succeed
- Caring, compassionate and empathetic; people that are in it for the long-term wellbeing of others are needed in these positions
- Hands-on, and skilled at monitoring/assessing
- Develop analytical skills and knowledge to apply content related to Kinesiology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
- Critically evaluate research related to physical activity and its impact on development, health, and human performance. Creatively evaluate and promote programs or current issues in physical activity, fitness or health that improve quality of life. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
- Develop and retain foundational and advanced content knowledge in the Kinesiology field. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
- Develop knowledge of professional and ethical standards and their responsible application within Kinesiology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking Ethical Reasoning)
- Demonstrate an appreciation for diversity and inclusiveness in the discipline of Kinesiology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity)
First Year Fall
- IDL 190, Freshman Seminar 2
- SPCM 101, Fundamentals of Speech* 3
- PE 180, Foundations of HPER 2
- HLTH 100/L, Wellness for Life 2
- MATH 114/L, College Algebra* 3-4
- ENGL 101, Composition I 3
First Year Spring
- ENGL 201, Composition II 3
- ARTH 100, Art Appreciation* 3
- HIST 122, Western Civilization II* 3
- ECON 201, Principles of Microeconomics 3
- GEOG 131/L, Physical Geography: Weather* 4
Second Year Fall
- BIOL 211/L, Environmental Biology* 3
- SOC 100, Introduction to Sociology* 3
- BADM 220, Business Statistics 3
- PE 203, Professional Preparation: Team 1
- PE 354/L, Prevention, and Care of Athletic Injuries 3
- PE 352, Adapted Physical Education 3
Second Year Spring
- PE 200, Professional Preparation: Fitness 1
- PE 202, Professional Preparation: Individual and Dual Activities 2
- HLTH 251, First Aid and CPR 1
- Additional Math or Science Course 3
- PE 334, Behavioral and Social Science Issues in Physical Education 2
- PE 440, Organization and Administration of HPER/A 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
Third Year Fall
- PE 250/L, Human Anatomy and Physiology 4
- ACCT 210, Principles of Accounting I 3
- BADM 360, Organization and Management 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
Third Year Spring
- PE 350, Exercise Physiology 3
- HLTH 320, Community Health 3
- ACCT 211, Principles of Accounting II 3
- BADM 457, Business Ethics* 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
Fourth Year Fall
- PE 414, Law and Ethics 3
- PE 451, Tests and Measurements 2
- PE 400, Exercise Test and Prescription 3
- PE 412, Financial Aspects of Sport 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
Fourth Year Spring
- PE 395, Practicum 3
- PE 454, Biomechanics 3
- PE 452, Motor Learning and Development 3
- PE 457, Exercise Psychology 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
*Fulfills a General Education Requirement. Other course options may be available.
**Fulfills a major requirement. Other course options may be available.
***Fulfills a general elective. Other course options may be available.
This plan of study is not an official document. Depending on placement scores, developmental courses may be required. Course rotations may change. Please visit with a professional advisor at least once a semester to review appropriate course choices and plan updates.
Suggested Majors: Biology, PE, Psychology
Suggested Minors: Business, Coaching, Health, Marketing, Psychology, Sport Management
Possible Professional Programs: pre-Physical Therapy/pre-Occupational Therapy endorsement
With a degree in human performance and fitness, you could work as an:
- Activities Coordinator
- Athletic Trainer
- Corporate Wellness Trainer
- Dietician
- Nutritionist
- Physical Education Instructor
- Resort Manager
- Camp Director
- Cruise Recreation Director
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Health Information Coordinator
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Recreation and Fitness Worker
- Spa Director
- Athlete/Coach
- Dancer/Dance Teacher
- Exercise Physiologist
- Personal Fitness Trainer
- Recreational Therapist
Internships
At Northern, getting out of the classroom and into a real-world workplace setting is a critical part of your education. In this program, you’ll work with your professors to find the internship opportunity that’s right for you, with two options available:
- PE 395: A field experience where you'll explore a possible career field for 150 hours
- PE 496: You'll work directly with professionals in the field for 150 hours