Health & Human Performance Learning Opportunities
You will gain valuable, professional work experience by participating in student teaching, internships or clinical opportunities that strengthen your marketability and employability. The combination of theoretical and practical learning with professional growth and development will prepare you for success in national certification exams, graduate school and a variety of health professions, including teachers, trainers, coaches and fitness-related roles.
Health and Human Performance program-related associations and student clubs, such as Health and Physical Education Club, Dragons 4 Wellness and the Athletic Training Student Association, sponsor educational seminars, networking opportunities and social events to familiarize students with HPE careers and connect you with others who share your career interests.
Adopt a School is a partnership with Tri-College University and Fargo-Moorhead public schools designed to increase physical activity among K-12 students. You’ll work with principals and teachers to create physical activity/health education programs. MSUM is participating in the piloting of eight elementary schools in conjunction with NDSU and Concordia. Each semester, our HPE teacher candidates continue prior projects and/or add to the programming at their adopted school.
The MSUM ATSA is a student-led organization that promotes the profession of athletic training. This club provides athletic training majors many opportunities to connect with professionals, attend conferences and events and sharpen leadership skills, along with the chance to give back to the community.
The Fargo-Moorhead area offers numerous opportunities to explore new and different activities that can be brought into your classroom teaching, from a curling club, trampoline park and pickleball courts to Frostival’s yoga in the snow and Streets Alive’s celebration of outdoor physical activity.
Learning Communities at Minnesota State University Moorhead allow you to live and learn with peers pursuing similar degrees and with similar interests. The Education Learning Community is open to students pursuing a career within education and wanting to building relationships with their classmates outside of the classroom.
As an Exercise Science major you’ll gain practical experience performing fitness testing on students in the Personal Health and Wellness course.
MSUM's Field Experience is committed to providing exceptional early and ongoing field experiences in education for teacher candidates. We collaborate with school partners in planning, implementing, and assessing each experience. Teacher candidates will have opportunities for a wide array of experiences by the time they have completed their education programs.
The Health and Wellness Learning Community allows you to live and learn with other students pursuing a career in the areas of exercise science, athletic training and health and physical education and helps you build relationships with classmates outside of the classroom.
MSUM’s human performance lab provides practical, hands-on experience utilizing state-of-the-art exercise testing equipment. The laboratory includes a hydrostatic weighing tank, treadmill, cycle ergometer, clinical spirometer, heart rate monitor equipment and Microfit. You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills to perform advanced fitness assessments, including how to conduct body composition, cardiorespiratory, electrocardiogram, anaerobic capacity, anaerobic threshold, lactate threshold and pulmonary function tests.
A required internship gives you experience as a fitness professional working under the supervision of an exercise physiologist, personal trainer or allied health professional. Based on your interests and career goals, you can intern at a variety of sites, including fitness centers, sport training facilities, sports medicine and cardiac rehabilitation departments in the Fargo-Moorhead area or outside the region. MSUM students have recently interned and/or observed at the following organizations.
MSUM participates in SHAPE America, or the Society of Health and Physical Educators, by helping students develop their professional skills at national and regional conferences. Not only have our students’ research been published in the Society’s journals and served in statewide leadership roles, but each of the last three years MSUM students have received “Major of the Year” awards by the Society.
MSU Moorhead’s Student Academic Conference (SAC) provides an opportunity for student researchers to present their work to faculty, administration, peers and the community in a formal academic setting each April. You’ll have the chance to present your hard work in a variety of ways—panel discussions, workshops, multimedia presentations, displays and demonstrations—and gather constructive feedback to help you better analyze and continue exploration.
The Strength and Conditioning practicum is part of the Strength and Conditioning minor and gives you the opportunity to learn from a strength and conditioning coach.
Our beautiful campus Wellness Center provides excellent opportunities for you to gain internship experience or work a part-time job in your area of interest.
As a Wellness Educator you may gain organizational management and leadership experience by developing and implementing campus-wide health promotion campaigns designed to promote healthy choices and lifestyles among college students.