Human Performance Concentration

Explore this concentration for the Master of Science in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology.

About This Program

The Human Performance concentration is a non-thesis track within the Master of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (M.S. APK). The concentration allows students to advance their knowledge and skills in the sport and exercise physiology, motor learning, sport nutrition, strength and conditioning, and sport and exercise psychology.

Students graduating from the M.S. APK degree program will acquire valuable knowledge and skills that can be broadly applied to promote scientifically based interventions that enhance motor performance and optimize physiological response to exercise or physical activity.

Previous graduates have successfully entered careers as practitioners within sport organizations, corporate fitness programming, health agencies, educational institutions and tactical professional training programs. Additionally, numerous graduates have continued training within the allied health fields or research-intensive Ph.D. programs.

Program Requirements

Concentration Courses (18 credits)

Concentration courses are designed to provide students with a foundation in the science of Human Performance.

Elective Courses (12 credits)

Elective courses allow students to further specialize their knowledge and skill sets within Human Performance.

Comprehensive Final Examination

Before graduating, each student must demonstrate proficiency across the curriculum by successfully passing a written final examination administered by their advisory committee.

Concentration Courses

Students take one course from each fundamental topic area to meet the 18 credit hour Concentration Courses requirement.

Fundamentals in Exercise Physiology

Physiological Bases of Exercise & Sport Sciences: APK 6116 (3 credits)
Advanced Exercise Physiology: APK 6170 (3 credits)
Human Pathophysiology for the Exercise Sciences: APK 5133 (3 credits)

Fundamentals In Research

Research Methods: HLP 6535 (3 credits)
Applied Sport Science & Analytics: APK 5702 (3 credits)

Fundamentals in Exercise Conditioning

Strength and Conditioning for Beginning Practitioners: APK 5107 (3 credits)
Strength & Conditioning: APK 6176 (3 credits)
Neuromuscular Adaptations to Exercise: APK 6118 (3 credits)
Tactical Strength and Conditioning: APK 6611 (3 credits)

Fundamentals in Assessment

Biomechanics of Human Motion: APK 6226 (3 credits)
Assessment in Exercise Science: APK 5127 (3 credits)
Kinetic Anatomy: APK 5102 (3 credits)
Corrective Exercise: APK 6320C (3 credits)

Fundamentals in Behavioral Aspects of Performance

Sport Psychology: APK 5404 (3 credits)
Performance Enhancement: APK 6408 (3 credits)
Nature & Bases of Motor Performance: APK 6205 (3 credits)
Exercise Psychology: APK 6406 (3 credits)

Fundamentals in Sports Nutrition

Nutrition Aspects of Human Performance: APK 6167 (3 credits)
Sports Supplements: APK 5166 (3 credits)

Approved Electives

APK/PET courses not counting towards a Concentration Fundamental Topic

Independent Study: APK 6900 (1-3 credits)
Advanced Practicum: APK 6940 (1-3 credits)
Graduate Internship in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology: PET 6947 (3-9 credits)
Any APK, PET, or HLP graduate course (5000 level or higher)
Athlete Development: SPM 5181 (3 credits)
Sport Law: SPM 6726 (3 credits)
Sport Sociology: SPM 5016
Sport Finance: SPM 5506 (3 credits)

Note: 1000–4000 level courses within the department and 1000–2000 level courses outside the department are not eligible to count toward the graduate degree requirements.

Comprehensive Final Examination

Per UF Graduate School policy, students must be enrolled in a minimum number of course credit hours (typically three) in their semester of graduation. Additionally, students must pass a Final Degree Milestone in their semester of graduation. The UF MS APK program administers a Comprehensive Examination as the Final Degree Milestone. The examinations comprises of six sub-exams representing each of the six fundamental topic areas. The examination is delivered over two days (a time commitment of roughly four hours each day). The Final Degree Milestone deadline is typically around the mid-point of the academic term. Therefore, the Comprehensive Exam is administered about one month prior to the mid-point of each semester (typically late October in Fall term, early March in the Spring term, and late June in the Summer term). These dates are dependent on the UF Graduate School’s deadline and may change from year to year.

Recommended Competencies/Background Knowledge Prior to Enrollment in the MS APK Program

Note: These competencies are not pre-requisites prior to applying. However, students lacking these competencies/background knowledge will likely need to spend more time studying while in the program:

Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription
Integrated Principles of Biology
General Chemistry
Fundamentals of Human Nutrition
Applied Human Anatomy
Applied Human Physiology
Physiology of Exercise & Training
General Psychology

Looking for an online option?

The Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology program is also available online.

View Online M.S. APK Program

APK Faculty Advisors

Elisabeth Barton, Ph.D.