运动生理学广泛地基于基础科学：人体解剖学，生理学，化学和生物学。该领域的主要目标是了解各种细胞，组织，器官和器官系统如何应对运动和体育锻炼带来的挑战。运动生理学专注于最佳表现，例如精英和训练有素的运动员所能达到的最佳表现。与许多领域不同，运动生理学一直保持综合性，研究一种生理系统的衰竭或增强如何影响另一种生理系统。该领域还考虑了在运动过程中环境如何通过热，冷，湿和海拔等手段对身体施加限制。
Human performance pertains to more than the performance of athletes in sport, it pertains to the physiological, neurological, psychological, and mechanical aspects of our daily lives. Whether you are interested in researching how exercise affects elite athletes, older adults, cancer survivors, children with disabilities, or other populations, our doctoral degree in human performance can be customized to fit your interests. Understanding how the various cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems respond to challenges posed by acute exercise and exercise training is the primary goal of this emphasis. Exercise physiology often aims to optimize physical performance and/or improve health outcomes in a range of populations, including elite athletes, manual laborers, older adults, and those with chronic diseases. This area of emphasis will prepare students well for post-doctoral training and a tenure-track faculty appointment at a research-oriented institution.