Curriculum

This course emphasizes the understanding and translation of principles related to the anatomy and physiology of the neuromuscular system toward the advancement of human performance within competitive settings. Focus will be placed on planning and preparatory tactics used within strength, power, and speed-based sports. Students will also gain knowledge and experience on the current practices of data collection and interpretation within an athlete monitoring system.

This course emphasizes the use of science technologies to analyze and optimize human movement. Students will develop skills to enhance athletic performance, assess movement efficiency, and use biomechanical data to inform training strategies and mitigate injury risk.

This course introduces data science techniques within sport performance analysis. Students will explore various sport science technologies, such as GPS systems, accelerometers, and force platforms, to understand their role in capturing and assessing athletic performance data. The course also covers essential data management skills, including data cleaning, organization, storage, and visualization. Additionally, students will learn foundational statistical methods and how to apply these techniques to interpret performance data, leading to data-driven decision-making for optimizing athletic outcomes.

This course is designed as an advanced study of the physiological responses to performance training with an emphasis on aerobic sport involvement. The course is structured to focus on the cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary responses to aerobic exercise and implications for the design of comprehensive athletic performance plans. Students will also gain practical experience in the usage of both laboratory and field-based tests in the study of adaptive responses to training. 

Prerequisites: KINES 801: Physical Preparation I

This course provides an in-depth exploration of motor learning and skill acquisition theories and their practical applications in human performance fields. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how motor skills are developed and refined through training, practice, and feedback. Core topics include procedural memory development, long-term potentiation, the constraints-led approach, and various practice design methods (blocked, serial, random). By the end of the course, students will be able to design and implement effective practice regimes for optimizing skill acquisition.

This course extends the foundational knowledge of data science techniques in sport performance introduced in HPS 803. Students will engage with advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization methods, learning to transform raw performance data into actionable insights that can optimize athletic performance. The course emphasizes practical applications, including injury prevention, athlete development, and performance enhancement. Using data analytic tools, students will create visual data representations and effectively communicate their findings to coaches and performance staff. This course is designed to prepare students for applied sport science roles, focusing on data-driven decision-making in a performance context. 

Prerequisites: HPS 803: Data Science for Performance Practitioners I

HPS 807: Player Care and Injury Management for Performance Practitioners

This course focuses on injury care and management from an interdisciplinary perspective, preparing students from diverse performance fields to collaborate in mitigating, treating, and managing sports injuries. This course explores common injuries and introduces best practices within sport medicine modalities. Students will develop interdisciplinary Return to Play protocols that address the athlete’s physical and mental health, highlighting the importance of teamwork across various professions in sports performance. 

Prerequisites: HPS 801: Physical Preparation I, HPS 802: Functional Biomechanics, HPS 804: Physical Preparation II, and HPS 805: Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition for Performance Practitioners

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills to manage high-performance environments using systems thinking. Students will explore how to apply systems theory to optimize organizational structures, resource management, and personnel decisions within sport and human performance settings. Key topics include crisis management, conflict resolution, and fostering high-performance cultures by leveraging the interconnectedness of human performance initiatives.

This course prepares students to understand and apply psychological principles that enhance athlete performance and well-being. The course covers key topics such as motivation, goal setting, resilience, focus, and mental strategies for coping with pressure, providing students with tools to support athletes' mental and emotional development. Students will engage with evidence-based mental performance training methods and learn to work collaboratively with performance professionals in various fields, including coaching, athletic training, sport nutrition, and sport science.

A course designed as a culmination of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Human Performance Science program. This 1-credit-hour course will guide students through compiling a professional portfolio, showcasing their expertise in human performance. Students will collect and synthesize the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their academic studies and experiential work in intercollegiate athletics into a comprehensive capstone project. The portfolio will include strength and conditioning plans, return-to-play protocols, practice plans, applied sport science reports, and case studies that demonstrate interdisciplinary performance-related problem-solving. The course emphasizes professional development, critical reflection, and the ability to present complex information effectively. 

Prerequisites: HPS 801: Physical Preparation I, HPS 802: Sport Biomechanics, HPS 803: Data Science for Performance Practitioners I, HPS 804: Physical Preparation II, HPS 805: Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition for Performance Practitioners, HPS 806: Data Science for Performance Practitioners II, HPS 807: Player Care and Injury Management for Performance Practitioners, and NUTR 487: Advanced Performance Nutrition

This course offers hands-on experience in human performance, with a focus on sport science, strength and conditioning, and skill acquisition. Students will work within Penn State University’s Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) High Performance Department, applying their knowledge in real-world settings to enhance athlete performance and well-being. Throughout the course, students will engage in performance monitoring, data analysis, and program development. They will design sport-specific training plans, implement injury prevention strategies, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams that include strength coaches, nutritionists, and sport scientists. This practical experience is supported by reflective journals, performance reports, and final presentations that demonstrate the student's learning and professional growth.

This course will provide a review of metabolism as it relates to performance nutrition, and go in-depth on substrate utilization, including supplements, hormones, and hydration during performance, recovery, and rest. Students will learn about the nutritional considerations for special populations (e.g., those with eating disorders, celiac disease/other autoimmune diseases, tactical groups, specific sports, etc.). Students will be asked to apply the Nutrition Care Process to these populations. Students will also have the opportunity to apply nutrition timing, periodization, and menu planning for specific performance needs as they apply performance nutrition to specific populations. Students in this course may help provide meals, snacks, and/or taste tests to student athletes.