Human Performance Master’s Degree - Curriculum

This course introduces the scientific and decision-making foundation of human performance. Learners examine physiological, biomechanical, and psychological principles that influence performance, injury, and recovery. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research and translating evidence into practical application. Learners develop skills to interpret data and apply evidence-informed strategies to support performance and clinical decision-making within interdisciplinary settings.  

This course examines human movement through biomechanical principles within performance and clinical contexts. Learners analyze movement patterns, evaluate injury risk, and assess performance outcomes across diverse populations. Emphasis is placed on applying biomechanical concepts to performance, rehabilitation, and return-to-play scenarios. Learners develop skills to interpret movement data and inform performance and clinical decision-making. 

This course focuses on the identification and management of factors that influence injury risk, recovery, and performance. Learners analyze intrinsic and extrinsic contributors to injury, evaluate rehabilitation and recovery strategies, and apply return-to-performance principles across athletic and active populations. Emphasis is placed on interpreting injury, fatigue, and recovery data to guide decision-making and integrating prevention and performance optimization strategies into training plans. 

This course addresses the performance needs of diverse and special populations within interdisciplinary care environments. Learners evaluate collaborative approaches to performance and clinical management, apply team-based decision-making, and integrate population-specific considerations into performance planning. Emphasis is placed on professional roles, ethical responsibilities, and effective communication within sport and human performance teams. 

Analysis of athlete monitoring systems and performance data supports decision-making related to readiness, workload, and performance. Learners evaluate load management strategies across training and competition environments, apply monitoring technologies, and interpret readiness, fatigue, and workload indicators. Emphasis is placed on integrating monitoring data into performance planning and return-to-play decisions.  

Examination of performance technologies and monitoring systems emphasizes their role in supporting data-informed decision-making in human performance settings. Learners interpret monitoring data to evaluate readiness and performance status, implement standardized data collection protocols, and determine the validity, reliability, and feasibility of performance tools. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations, data privacy, and the responsible use of technology in performance and return-to-play contexts.  

This course examines sport and performance demands across athletic and active populations to inform assessment and planning. Learners evaluate assessment strategies to identify performance strengths and limitations, apply needs analysis principles to establish benchmarks and goals, and integrate interdisciplinary input into performance planning. Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating assessment findings to support performance decision-making.  

This course develops the application of data analysis to support decision-making in human performance settings. Learners evaluate data quality and limitations, apply analytical techniques to performance and injury scenarios, and interpret findings to guide training and performance decisions. Emphasis is placed on translating data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.  

This practicum provides applied experience in sport science and human performance settings. Learners apply performance principles in real-world or simulated environments, using athlete or client data to inform decision-making and evaluate interventions. Emphasis is placed on integrating monitoring, assessment, and data strategies into practice while collaborating with interdisciplinary stakeholders to support performance outcomes.  

This capstone course integrates sport science, performance data, and evidence-informed decision-making in applied settings. Learners analyze complex performance scenarios using real-world datasets to develop and justify actionable recommendations. Emphasis is placed on translating data into meaningful insights, communicating findings to stakeholders, and supporting decisions within interdisciplinary performance environments.  

This course examines one of the most robustly used modalities of functional medicine: dietary and herbal supplements. It provides an overview of the entire dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, phytonutrients/phytochemicals and functional foods aspect of nutritional advice used in current health practice. In addition, this course provides a practical overview of pharmacologic therapy used in chronic illnesses or non-life-threatening acute illness management, including mechanism of action (pharmacodynamics); the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (A.D.M.E. of pharmacokinetics); potential toxic effects of medications; factors affecting the effectiveness of drugs; and interactions with drugs. The course provides an overview of the regulations that govern manufacturing, sales, and marketing of dietary supplements. Students will use reliable and peer-reviewed resources, as well as integrative care case studies to critically evaluate the proposed benefits, efficacy, and safety of supplements and pharmaceuticals in order to inform client recommendations.  

This course explores the roles and requirements of macro and micronutrients in fueling energy systems and the applications to make nutritional recommendations for physically active persons at all levels of performance (beginners, youth, and elite athletes) to meet training demands. Nutrition assessment and examination of popular performance-enhancing ergogenic aids, supplements, functional sports nutrition methodologies, and the fundamentals of energy balance, exercise, and body composition are discussed.  

Advanced and Applied Sports Nutrition expands on the concepts of NUTR 6212 to include the athlete specific variability from genetics, environment, sport-type, and training-level components and the role of functional nutrition to optimize athletic health and performance.  

Applied performance-focused nutrition planning is conducted within structured interdisciplinary human performance scenarios in this practicum experience. Assessment data, evidence-informed strategies, and professional communication practices are integrated to support performance and recovery outcomes. Emphasis is placed on applied problem-solving and collaborative practice. 

A comprehensive applied nutrition project addressing a complex performance or recovery-related issue is completed in this capstone course. Evidence evaluation, strategic planning, and interdisciplinary considerations are integrated to formulate a professional-level solution. The project demonstrates applied methodology, ethical reasoning, and implementation strategy.