What You’ll Learn in the Health and Human Performance Program
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance that prepares students for dynamic careers improving individual and community wellness. This versatile health and human performance degree empowers you to help others achieve positive health outcomes, physical fitness, and overall well-being.
Students can tailor their education by selecting an emphasis in exercise science, health promotion-wellness, or physical education teaching—each offering a unique path into the field of human performance. You can also customize your learning further by adding a minor in coaching, health education, health promotion-wellness, or sports management, depending on your career goals and interests.
Throughout the program, you’ll explore the foundations of kinesiology, the study of human movement, and gain a deep understanding of the physiology of exercise, sport science, and healthy nutrition. You'll study how the body responds and adapts to exercise, while building a solid background in health science, athletic training, and exercise physiology. Whether you aim to become a fitness trainer, exercise physiologist, or work in physical therapy, you’ll be equipped with both scientific knowledge and real-world skills.
The curriculum also emphasizes communication and leadership, preparing you to promote evidence-based practices in a variety of settings. From designing health education initiatives to supporting community health efforts, you’ll gain the tools needed to make an impact. Students also explore the broader role of public health and how physical activity contributes to lifelong wellness across populations.
With flexible degree requirements and a strong focus on student learning outcomes, this program is also excellent preparation for those pursuing graduate study or careers in sports medicine, occupational therapy, personal training, or sport administration. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to thrive in today’s fast-growing wellness and health-related industries—and to lead others toward healthier, more active lives.
Career Opportunities in Health and Human Performance
A health and human performance degree prepares you for a wide range of careers focused on improving well-being, promoting healthy lifestyles, and supporting community health. Depending on your emphasis—exercise science, health promotion-wellness, or physical education teaching—you’ll be equipped for roles such as:
- Clinical rehabilitation specialist
- Corporate wellness coordinator
- Exercise physiologist
- Fitness trainer/personal trainer
- Health educator
- K–12 physical education teacher
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Wellness coach
All students gain real-world experience—100% complete an internship or student teaching assignment. Past placements include cardiac rehab centers, wellness programs, international sports teams, and public schools.
Additional hands-on learning includes helping UW-Platteville students meet fitness goals, leading ropes courses for K–12 students, and participating in health-focused student organizations. Graduates leave with practical, transferable skills suited for careers in private, public, nonprofit, and educational sectors. Many go on to pursue advanced degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, sports medicine, public health, or sport administration—while others enter the workforce or start their own ventures in personal training or health coaching.
This degree offers the flexibility to shape a meaningful, impactful career in human performance, health promotion, and physical activity.
What Makes Our Program Unique
Whether your next step will be graduate school, a professional training program, or employment, you will be on the right track. Our Health and Human Performance program focuses on hands-on learning that teaches a mix of theory and technical skills.
We offer small class sizes, which means you receive mentoring from faculty and opportunities to build connections with students in your program.
You will learn professional skills through internships and build your fitness training skills working with UW-Platteville students. Our state-of-the-art facilities will aid you in gaining teaching experience working with local K-12 students on our exciting ropes and challenge course, and other educational activities.
The emphasis areas we provide mean you can chart your own path. If you’re interested in teaching in an elementary school, starting an athletic coaching career, opening your own gym, or working as a corporate wellness director, we’ll help you get there. In our program, you will explore different career fields and learn the industry practices and standards you will need for your future career.
Discover by doing
Providing personal training services to UW-Platteville students is a highlight of the Health and Human Performance degree. You’ll help students meet their fitness goals while gaining marketable, professional skills under the guidance of our faculty.
Gain Real-world Experience
Our students gain real-world experience that will prepare them for their future careers. Two on-campus internships are required for the Exercise Science program. For the Health Promotion-Wellness program, you will complete a third internship, off-campus.
Students have completed internships across the state, around the country, and internationally, including Grant Regional Hospital's Cardiac Rehab Services, University of Wisconsin Strength and Conditioning, Stonehill Wellness, Germany’s American Football Team Fürstenfeldbruck "Fursty" Razorbacks, Northrop Grumman Corp., and Get Fast Inc., Chicago.
Students majoring in physical education teaching will also gain practical experience through student teaching during the final semester. We encourage students to challenge themselves by teaching in schools outside of their home community. We have partnerships with K-12 schools in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, as well as Germany and England.
Emphasis Areas
Tailor your health and human performance degree with one of three emphasis areas.
Exercise Science
Our exercise science emphasis mixes theory and application and will prepare you for a rewarding career. You’ll explore exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning, and more with our faculty who are experts in the field. This emphasis also holds opportunities for undergraduate research along with access to the Biochemistry Lab, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner, and metabolic cart testing.
You’ll gain technical skills in our Exercise Science Lab by learning how to measure body composition, metabolism, and muscular fitness levels. The exercise science emphasis includes completing two internships on campus, where you will work with students on fitness testing and personal training.
In this program, you will also get to lead exciting adventure education and outdoor experiences with local youth and practice the seasonal recreational activities popular in Wisconsin and beyond, such as inline skating, ice skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Through this emphasis area, you will be prepared for advanced studies in kinesiology; athletic training; clinical exercise physiology; physical or occupational therapy; or ready to launch your career working youth, adults, or seniors.
Health Promotion-Wellness
With the health promotion-wellness emphasis, you will learn how to advocate for positive health behaviors and practice preventative healthcare in private, corporate, or public wellness settings. The program focuses on promoting health and fitness through the theories and practices of personal training and wellness.
You’ll learn how to design effective plans for physical activity, health, and wellness; how to teach, encourage, and motivate people to achieve positive health and wellness outcomes; and how to communicate health and wellness-specific messaging effectively.
You will support campus wellness and fitness initiatives by participating in small group weight room training with UW-Platteville students and teaching general nutrition and performance seminars. You’ll also increase your marketability after graduation by doing internships, where you can gain real-world experience through designing, implementing, and conducting health promotion and wellness programs.
Through this emphasis area, you will be ready to pursue a career promoting worksite wellness, community health, fitness, and rehabilitation, with the versatile skills to work with government, corporate, education, nonprofit or community-based organizations.
Physical Education Teaching
Across Wisconsin, trained physical education teachers are in demand. You'll gain the experience you need for the career you want in our bachelor’s program. Learn the skills and knowledge to become a teacher in physical education, health education, or adapted physical education.
With this emphasis area, you will earn real-world experience through a variety of student teaching opportunities. For example, you'll observe classes and practice teaching at local schools, in the on-campus Children's Center, at conferences, in homeschool physical education programs, and other community-based activities. You may also have the chance to practice teaching swimming lessons to students with disabilities, as well as volunteer with the Special Olympics.
In this emphasis area, coursework includes learning in our Adventure Education Facilitation Lab, and studying anatomical kinesiology, fitness testing, emotional health, and nutrition. You'll learn teaching methods, and leadership and communication skills designed to help you develop educational activities and lessons, lead physical education programs, and work with students from diverse backgrounds.
