Bachelor of Science Human Performance and Physical Education

UT Southern’s Human Performance and Physical Education program stands out with its two dynamic concentrations: Exercise Science and Physical Education. Whether you’re passionate about enhancing athletic performance, promoting fitness and wellness, or inspiring future generations through physical education, our program is designed to cater to your interests and career goals.

In the Exercise Science track, you will learn the relationships between exercise, fitness, nutrition, sport performance, and overall health. This pathway prepares graduates for a wide array of rewarding careers, including roles in biomechanics, exercise physiology (both applied and clinical), exercise prescription, motor control and learning, personal training, and research. Moreover, it serves as a steppingstone to allied health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistantship, and chiropractic programs.

If you’re inspired to teach and love working with children, our Physical Education concentration, with licensure to teach grades K-12 in Tennessee, may be your choice. This professional program equips graduates with a bachelor’s degree and the credentials to inspire and educate students in physical fitness and wellness.

It’s important to know that licensure programs are professional programs that require you to apply and be granted admission into the program. You can learn more about these requirements in the UT Southern Course Catalog. Further, Tennessee teacher licensure includes a clinical practice component. This hands-on experience, which lasts fifteen weeks and involves two placements within a 50-mile radius of our campus, prepares you for the challenges and rewards of classroom leadership.

Guided by expert faculty and comprehensive advising, you can complete your undergraduate degree in Human Performance and Physical Education and fulfill most graduate program prerequisites within 120 credit hours, setting a solid foundation for your future academic pursuits. Additionally, students can opt for a minor in Coaching, and all education majors can pursue specialized training through our state-approved Driver’s Education Endorsement.

A Word About Minors

A minor in Coaching is possible. Or you could complement your Human Performance and Physical Education major with a minor in another field. Check out the Related Programs list and reach out to a program coordinator for more information.

A minor, which is typically eighteen credit hours, is a grouping of courses in a particular academic field of study designed to provide you with expanded knowledge and competency in an area outside your major.