Health & Human Performance, MS
Why Pursue a Health & Human Performance Master of Science Degree?
Modern health care is not just the domain of doctors and surgeons. Prevention, quality of life, health planning, and exercise are now all recognized as important aspects of attaining and maintaining total health. At Piedmont University, our Master of Science (MS) in health and human performance can hone your understanding of total health and set you up for success in a wide range of jobs and health care settings.
Piedmont students learn how to recognize their client’s needs, assess their abilities, create interventions to reach their goals, and implement behavior coaching principles to help them be successful. And while many university programs have transitioned to be fully on-line, we know students appreciate the advantages that come from the hands-on experiences found in face-to-face classes. That’s why Piedmont’s interactive and interdisciplinary learning experiences use collaboration to maximize student learning.
How a Piedmont Health & Human Performance, MS, Degree Helps You
- Gain an understanding of a wide range of skills involved in total health, including (but not limited to) fitness and health assessments, diet analysis, behavior coaching strategies, and epidemiology.
- Obtain a graduate degree that will increase your career opportunities.
- Gain real world experience through internships and research projects.
- Be thoroughly prepared to pass professional certification exams.
Career Opportunities
A health and human performance, MS, degree from Piedmont opens doors and a wide range of professional pursuits. For instance, our graduates have gone on to build successful careers in:
With advanced knowledge of human physiology and movement, graduates can design inclusive, safe, and engaging recreational programs. This degree also sharpens leadership and program evaluation skills essential for managing community or outdoor recreation initiatives.
A Master’s in Health and Human Performance strengthens the ability to assess population health trends and develop targeted wellness interventions. It prepares professionals to lead public health campaigns and promote active lifestyles across diverse communities.
This degree provides a deeper understanding of exercise physiology, biomechanics, and behavior change strategies that enhance client outcomes. Trainers with this background can create more personalized, science-backed fitness programs.
Though not a medical degree, it offers critical insights into injury prevention, performance enhancement, and rehabilitation techniques. Graduates are better equipped to collaborate with physicians, therapists, and athletic staff in optimizing athlete care.
Educators benefit from updated knowledge in motor learning, instructional strategies, and physical literacy. The program also enhances their ability to foster lifelong fitness habits in students through evidence-based teaching.
A strong focus on research and applied practice allows graduates to analyze and optimize human performance in clinical or athletic settings. It also opens doors to roles in kinesiology, fitness assessment, and health technology development.
This program complements athletic training by deepening expertise in strength conditioning, performance metrics, and recovery protocols. It also supports leadership growth for those pursuing head or supervisory roles.
Coaches gain a competitive edge through advanced understanding of athlete development, performance analytics, and psychological motivation. The degree also prepares them to integrate wellness, nutrition, and injury prevention into training regimens.
More About Health and Human Performance, MS, Degrees
Learn more about a Health and Human Performance, MS, degree and the variety of options available to you as a Piedmont student.
Piedmont University’s Master of Science in health and human performance is a full-time, residential program completed in 14-months (36 credits). The curriculum is focused on creating programming strategies that promote both sport performance and client wellness, while recognizing the impact of chronic and acute health conditions. This program works in collaboration with faculty, students, and staff across the field of health sciences (including exercise science, athletic training, and strength and conditioning) to create and promote effective learning and practice. Piedmont’s small cohorts and individualized student-teacher attention ensures that our students are prepared to practice in a variety of settings and take two professional certification exams:
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Piedmont’s MS in health and human performance is appropriate for students from a variety of majors including, but not limited to:
- Exercise Science
- Athletic Training
- Community and Commercial Recreation
- Community Health or Health Promotion
- Applied Health Science
- Physical Education
- Sport and Fitness Administration
The following courses are also recommended, but not required for program admission:
- Introduction to health science, exercise science, athletic training, physical education, or similar (3cr)
- Exercise physiology (3-4cr)
- Health Policy and Law or similar (3cr)
- Developmental or abnormal psychology (3cr)
- Sport Psychology (3cr)
- Health Promotion or similar (3cr)
Our MS students can maximize their learning across diverse disciplines through internships and research projects. During internship, our students engage in professional development through an immersive experience. This allows students to be hands-on in the realm of strength and conditioning, community health, or other aspects of health and human performance. Meanwhile, our students must also complete a thesis-style research project at the conclusion of the 14-month program. During this process, students work together with professors across the program to research, design, collect and analyze data on a chosen aspect of health and human performance. Students present their research project at a university-wide symposium and work with their professors to publish their research.
Related Programs
Intrigued by a health and human performance, MS, degree? You might also be interested in one of these programs:
Meet our Faculty
Meet our talented faculty with both academic and professional experience in Health & Human Performance.
Where do I start?
To begin your journey toward earning a Master of Science in Health & Human Performance degree at Piedmont University, you can start by applying today! Or, schedule a campus visit and meet with admissions and financial aid advisors, as well as faculty members in Health Science.