Graduate School Programs for Careers in: Health, Fitness, & Human Performance

How Do You Turn a Passion for Health & Fitness Into a Career? (3 Grad School Paths I'm Considering as a Senior) - Ryan O’Boyle Providence College, class of 2027

If you are anything like me, you love everything health and fitness related. Whether it is experimenting with your nutrition and training, learning about human physiology, or helping others on their own journey, the question becomes: How can I turn my passion into a career?

As a senior in college, I am currently asking myself this question. It seems like one of the best options is graduate school. Graduate school is a level of education pursued after earning a bachelor's or undergraduate degree. But why is it important? It provides specialized expertise in a specific field, which can boost your earning potential while also providing training, skills, and credentials that undergraduate programs may not offer.

I am going to focus on three categories of graduate programs that might interest you, along with schools that offer them:

Nutrition or Nutritional Sciences (M.S.)

A Master of Science in Nutrition or Nutritional Sciences can provide you with more in-depth knowledge of how food and nutrients impact the human body.

In these programs, you may learn about:

  • How nutrients affect metabolism and energy production
  • How nutrition can help prevent and/or manage diseases
  • How nutrition can improve exercise and athletic performance
  • The relationship between nutrition, training, recovery, and body composition
  • Subjects such as metabolism, sports nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, and human physiology

Good to know: An M.S. in Nutrition by itself does not automatically make someone an RDN or CNS. Those credentials require additional courses, supervised experiences, and/or exams, depending on the credential.

1. Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)

Master of Science in Human Nutrition

Length
1.5 to 2 years
Cost per two semesters
$15,000 in-state  |  $46,000 out-of-state

Ohio State University's M.S. in Human Nutrition is the first program I am going to highlight. The program offers two specialization options:

  • Professional Studies
  • Nutrition Research

Students can take classes such as:

  • Nutrition and physical performance
  • Personalized nutrition
  • Metabolism
  • Dietary supplements
  • Other advanced nutrition courses

During your time in the program, you will learn how nutrition impacts exercise performance and recovery. You will also learn how nutrition affects things like body composition and overall health.

2. University of Arizona

Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences

Length
2 years
Cost per two semesters
$31,400 in-state  |  $36,000 out-of-state

Some important aspects of the program include:

  • It is research focused and typically takes about two years to complete.
  • Coursework covers areas such as:
    • Nutrition and exercise
    • Metabolism
    • Nutrition and disease
    • Micronutrients
    • Nutrigenomics
  • Students have opportunities to participate in research examining how nutrition affects the human body and overall health.
  • The focus on metabolism and the relationship between nutrition and exercise could be especially useful for understanding athletic performance and recovery.
  • The program can prepare students for careers in nutrition, health and wellness, research, or further graduate education.

3. University of Tampa

Master of Science in Exercise and Nutrition Science

Length
1 year
Total cost
$26,000

A lot of graduate degrees focus on exercise or nutrition separately. This program is unique because it focuses on how exercise and nutrition go hand in hand to enhance athletic performance and overall health.

Some highlights include:

  • Advanced exercise physiology
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Nutrition
  • How nutrition plays a role in training and physical performance
  • Hands-on experience in the Human Performance Research Lab
  • Technology used to measure:
    • Body composition
    • VO2 max
    • Metabolism
    • Strength
    • Athletic performance
  • Opportunities to study and prepare for certifications such as:
    • CSCS
    • CISSN
    • ACSM exercise physiology exam

Possible career paths with nutrition-related graduate education

Depending on the specific program you complete and whether the job requires additional certifications or credentials:

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)*
  • Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)*
  • Sports Nutritionist
  • Nutrition Consultant
  • Nutrition Educator
  • Health and Wellness Specialist
  • Corporate Wellness Professional
  • Nutrition Researcher
  • Human Performance Specialist
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Sports Performance Professional
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach

*Additional credentialing requirements apply.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

A DPT typically requires about three years of study after earning a bachelor's degree and combines classroom courses with hands-on clinical experiences.

Students learn about:

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise
  • Rehabilitation
  • Injury prevention
  • Movement assessment
  • Patient evaluation and treatment
  • Therapeutic exercise

Physical therapists can work in a variety of environments, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports rehabilitation and performance facilities, and much more. There are also opportunities to specialize further in areas such as sports or orthopedic physical therapy, which may be especially interesting if you want to work with athletes.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Length
3 years
Total cost
$110,000 in-state  |  $138,000 out-of-state

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the first DPT program I am going to highlight. The program lasts around three years and includes:

  • Classroom learning
  • Lab work
  • Hands-on clinical experience

Students build a foundation of how the human body works through courses including:

  • Anatomy
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Kinesiology
  • Exercise prescription
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiopulmonary education
  • Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Neurological rehabilitation

The UNC DPT program is very hands-on and teaches students how to:

  • Assess movement
  • Measure strength and range of motion
  • Prescribe exercise
  • Correct gait
  • Create personalized treatment programs

Students are required to complete four full-time clinical rotations totaling 36 weeks of clinical experience. They learn how to use movement, strength training, exercise, and rehabilitation to help patients recover from injuries and return to sports or daily activities.

UNC also teaches students how to work with neurological, cardiopulmonary, and complex medical patients, allowing graduates to develop a broader understanding of health and how the body functions.

2. University of South Florida

Length
2 years, 10 months
Total cost
$64,000 in-state  |  $93,000 out-of-state

At the University of South Florida, the full-time DPT program takes approximately 2 years and 10 months to complete, with each semester designed to expand upon the skills and knowledge from previous semesters.

In the DPT program, you will learn how to:

  • Conduct patient examinations
  • Analyze posture and movement
  • Assess strength and range of motion
  • Develop treatment plans
  • Prescribe therapeutic exercises
  • Use rehabilitation techniques to improve how patients move and function

USF also has a simulation laboratory where students can practice working with patients and become more comfortable in healthcare-based environments before beginning full-time clinical experiences.

Other highlights include:

  • Clinical education accounts for approximately 30% of the DPT program.
  • USF has partnerships with more than 600 clinical sites.
  • Students can gain additional hands-on experience at USF's student-run BRIDGE Clinic, providing care to underserved patients in the Tampa area.

Possible career paths with a DPT

After completing a DPT and meeting the requirements to become a licensed physical therapist:

  • Outpatient Physical Therapist
  • Sports Physical Therapist
  • Orthopedic Physical Therapist
  • Hospital-Based Physical Therapist
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Physical Therapist
  • Neurological Physical Therapist
  • Pediatric Physical Therapist
  • Home Health Physical Therapist
  • Geriatric Physical Therapist
  • Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapist
  • Sports Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Physical Therapist Working with Athletes or Sports Teams
  • Clinic Owner / Private Practice Physical Therapist

Human Performance, Injury Prevention, and Exercise Science

The programs in this section do not directly fit into Nutrition or DPT, but most of them have some connection to both, as does just about everything in health and human performance.

1. University of Florida

M.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology

Length
1 to 2 years (30 credits)
Total cost
$16,000 in-state  |  $43,500 out-of-state  |  $17,500 online

There are four concentrations you can choose from that focus more on athletic performance, exercise science, research, or coaching.

Human Performance (non-thesis)

The curriculum covers:

  • Exercise physiology
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Sports nutrition
  • Biomechanics
  • Sports psychology
  • Corrective exercise
  • Sport science and analytics

You even have the option to complete a graduate internship or advanced practicum.

Strength & Conditioning Practitioner (non-thesis)

This option is designed more for students who wish to apply exercise science to:

  • Strength
  • Conditioning
  • Athletic development
  • Sports performance

This could be a good option if you see yourself working in a collegiate athletic department, private performance facility, or strength and conditioning environment.

Exercise Physiology (thesis)

This is the more scientific and research-intensive option. Students take courses in:

  • Exercise metabolism
  • Cardiovascular exercise physiology
  • Neuromuscular adaptations to exercise
  • Biomechanics
  • Other physiology-based subjects

You also conduct research and have to complete and defend a master's thesis.

Biobehavioral Science (thesis)

Within Biobehavioral Science, students can choose to focus their thesis on areas such as:

  • Biomechanics
  • Motor control and learning
  • Exercise and performance psychology

For instance, if you are interested in biomechanics, you might analyze movement and use technology to better understand how athletes move. If you are interested in performance psychology, you might research:

  • Motivation
  • Attention
  • Decision making
  • Emotion
  • Other psychological factors related to performance

2. Ithaca College

M.S. in Exercise & Sport Sciences, Human Performance

Length
Thesis: 2 years  |  Non-thesis: 16 months
Total cost
Thesis: $32,700  |  Non-thesis: $39,300

Courses and concentration topics include:

  • Exercise physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Motor behavior
  • Sport psychology
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Performance testing

Required courses include:

  • Physiological Mechanisms of Exercise
  • Human Movement Biomechanics
  • Tests and Measurement and Analytics
  • Mental Performance
  • Research and Statistics

Thesis option

  • Requires 30 credits
  • Includes an applied research project
  • Usually takes about two years

Non-thesis option

  • Requires 36 credits
  • Includes summer courses
  • Can be completed in approximately 16 months
  • Includes additional courses in strength and conditioning, working with special populations, and leadership
  • Includes an applied capstone where students provide sport science services to an athlete or client

Possible career paths in human performance, exercise science, and related fields

Depending on the program, concentration, experience, and certifications you obtain:

  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Sports Performance Coach
  • Human Performance Specialist
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Sport Scientist
  • Performance Testing Specialist
  • Biomechanics Specialist
  • Fitness and Wellness Specialist
  • Corrective Exercise Specialist
  • Research Assistant or Exercise Science Researcher
  • Collegiate Athletics Performance Staff
  • Private Sports Performance Facility Coach
  • Performance Data / Analytics Professional
  • Exercise Programming Specialist
  • Further education (Ph.D., DPT, or another health/performance graduate program)

Final Thoughts

Each program has its strengths and weaknesses. One question I find myself asking is: What program or graduate degree will provide me with the best return on investment (ROI)? Grad school is expensive and a large time commitment, so you should think about what program will benefit you most for what you want to do later on.

Before committing to a program:

  • Get hands-on experience. If you "kind of" enjoy physical therapy, maybe working in a PT internship and getting hands-on experience will be more beneficial than jumping right into grad school for another 3+ years.
  • Talk to people working in the field. Ask them what they like and dislike about their careers.
  • Shadow professionals who are doing something you think you might want to do.
  • Research different programs instead of assuming every program with a similar name is the same.
  • Learn what the day-to-day work actually looks like in each career.
  • Weigh the cost and time commitment of the degree against the career opportunities it provides.

If you can find a graduate program that meshes those things with your passion, you have answered the question we began with: how can I turn my passion into a career?

Works Cited

Matthew Sweeney