What Will I Learn in the Exercise Science Major? 

Are you passionate about health, fitness, and physical activity? With the exercise science major at University of Portland, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles underlying physical activity, exercise, and human movement. You’ll develop expertise in analyzing the complex relationships between movement patterns, exercise interventions, and health promotion strategies. Grounded in the natural sciences—including biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology—the program challenges students to understand how physiological systems adapt to physical stress and the biomechanical principles that govern movement. The program emphasizes critical evaluation and practical application of current research in exercise science, kinesiology, and wellness fields. Through hands-on learning experiences, you’ll master evidence-based approaches to understanding human performance and movement analysis, making you well-prepared for a career in fitness, health promotion, physical therapy, sports performance, or wellness program development. 

Exercise Science Courses

Through a blend of rigorous coursework and hands-on experiential learning, you’ll develop the skills necessary to integrate scientific knowledge, conduct original research, analyze health trends, and prepare for professional success in a variety of fields related to exercise science. 

Organized into five core pillars of inquiry, the program’s coursework is designed to build deep expertise in the following areas:

•  Foundations of human performance
• Metabolism and Nutritional Science
• Clinical Assessment and Prescription
• Injury Prevention and Sports Medicine
• Behavioral Health and Wellness
• Professional Research and Career Readiness

University Core

At University of Portland, the Core Curriculum enhances your bachelor’s degree with liberal arts courses that sharpen your critical thinking and decision-making skills, preparing you to analyze data with precision and purpose.  

The Core