Bachelor's in Health and Human Performance

Turn Your Passion for Fitness into a Career

If you're passionate about health, fitness, athletics, and helping others achieve their goals, the Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance at the University of Saint Mary provides the knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare you for a rewarding career.

This career-focused program combines exercise science principles with practical training, giving students the skills employers value while offering the flexibility to personalize their education. Whether you envision yourself working as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, wellness specialist, fitness manager, or corporate wellness professional, you'll graduate ready to make an immediate impact.

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Why Choose Health and Human Performance?

The Health and Human Performance program is designed for students who want to work in fitness and wellness without the extensive advanced science and math requirements typically associated with pre-professional health care programs.

Students complete 33 credits of exercise science coursework, building a strong foundation in:

• Kinesiology
• Fitness assessment
• Exercise prescription
• Strength and conditioning concepts
• Exercise physiology
• Nutrition
• Corrective exercise techniques

The program also provides the flexibility to add a minor that supports your career goals, such as coaching, psychology, or business.

Graduate Career Ready

USM's curriculum is intentionally designed to prepare students for real-world success. Students complete coursework that aligns with nationally recognized fitness certifications:

EX 380: Exercise Prescription for the General Population

• Prepares students for health and fitness certification exams
• Develops skills for designing safe and effective exercise programs

EX 485: Applied Corrective Exercise

• Includes content aligned with the NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) Certification
• Teaches students to identify movement dysfunctions and develop corrective strategies

EX 490: Internship in Exercise Science

• Resume development
• Professional networking opportunities
• Career preparation
• Applied industry experience

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Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Health and Human Performance program are prepared for careers such as:

• Personal Trainer
• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Fitness Specialist
• Wellness Coach
• Corporate Wellness Coordinator
• Fitness Center Manager
• Recreation and Community Wellness Professional
• Performance Coach

With practical experience, certification preparation, and individualized academic pathways, USM graduates are equipped to help people move better, perform better, and live healthier lives.

Note: Salaries above are calculated based on combination of all relevant occupations tied to the career, using the 50th percentile of workers (50% of employees make this salary or less), and is not limited to entry-level employees.

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Learn by Doing

At the University of Saint Mary, education extends beyond the classroom. Students gain hands-on experience through fitness assessments, exercise programming, applied laboratory activities, and internship opportunities that connect classroom learning with professional practice.

Small class sizes, personalized faculty mentorship, and experiential learning ensure students graduate with both confidence and career-ready skills.

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Curriculum​

*MA 205 and EN 111 require a minimum Accuplacer score. Students not achieving the minimum score will need to complete MA 134 or MA 135 and EN 006 or EN 110 before progressing.

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Meet the Faculty