The Best Health Degrees

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Health and Human Performance vs. Exercise Science Degree Programs

Key Takeaways

  • HHP is broader, covering various health behaviors, while exercise science focuses specifically on the science of exercise.
  • HHP includes kinesiology, nutrition, psychology, and public health, offering diverse career paths.
  • Exercise science specializes in biomechanics, physiology, and sports science for targeted careers.
  • HHP offers flexibility and general knowledge; exercise science provides in-depth expertise.

There can be a lot of confusion among students and prospective students regarding what certain degree programs offer and who might be a good fit for those programs. This is particularly true when programs seem to occupy similar areas, as is the case with the two that we are going to discuss below.

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Health and human performance vs. exercise science is a debate that many previous students have found themselves facing, and you might be dealing with the same dilemma at the moment. What do these two types of programs have in common and how are they different? What would each one mean in terms of your future employment prospects? Let’s take a look at all of that and more below.

Defining Each Type of Program

Comparing HHP and exercise science degrees starts with first understanding what both are all about. Then, below, we can get into the specific differences and how those factors will impact the choice you make.

Health and Human Performance, or HHP, is all about the study of physical activity. This field of study include various health behaviors and how they impact human performance. The field of Health and Human Performance is rather wide, bringing together disciplines like kinesiology, nutrition, psychology, and public health. Anyone who successfully makes it through an HHP program is going to be well-equipped with knowledge in a range of areas and will be able to pursue many different career opportunities.

Exercise science, on the other hand, is more specifically focused on the science of exercise. The areas of study that make up a standard exercise science education will include biomechanics, physiology, sports science, and more. There is certainly some overlap between the curriculum that you will find in these two areas, but when comparing the differences between HHP and exercise science, it’s easy to see that exercise science is a narrower, more focused field.

Highlighting the Key Differences

We’ve already gotten at the fact that HHP is a wider area of study, and that’s really the key difference between it and exercise science. If you are thinking about getting an exercise science or health and human performance degree, it largely comes down to how specific you want to be with your studies.

When you are an HHP student, you are going to be exposed to many different fields and different kinds of thinking. Some will see this as an advantage, as it maintains your open mind and may permit you to consider future careers that you wouldn’t have thought of at first. At the same time, there is something to be said for getting deep in the weeds and learning as much as possible about a specific field like exercise science.

So, which degree is better: HHP or exercise science? There is no way to answer that question, and one isn’t “better” than the other. Ultimately, it’s just a matter of how you want to move forward with your education and your career, and where your interests are found.

Charting Career Paths and Potential Opportunities

The good news as you weigh the pros and cons of health and human performance degrees along with the pros and cons of exercise science degrees is that both can lead to exciting, rewarding careers. The types of jobs that are available to you within each field will look a little different, but both offer plenty of potential.

On the HHP side, you might have the opportunity to apply for positions as a health educator, a community health coordinator, or even a wellness coach. People with this type of degree are commonly found in corporate wellness, public health, or the private fitness world.

For exercise science graduates, potential jobs can include working as a strength and conditioning coach for a team or school, an exercise physiologist, or a clinical researcher. They tend to be employed by sports teams, rehab centers, clinics, and more.

The career outcomes for HHP vs. exercise science are exciting no matter how you look at them. Not all degrees offer such a range of potential outcomes moving forward once school is over and the students move out into the real world, but both of these educations offer many options.

Both Programs Offer Advantages – and Drawbacks

The obvious advantage of going with health and human performance is the generalist nature of such an education. If you are unsure about targeting yourself to a particular field or specialty so early in your educational life, going with HHP will keep your options open nicely.

Of course, that can also be seen as a drawback. This type of education is more general and you may not be seen as an expert or authority on a specific topic after graduation. Your degree will still be quite valuable and there will be many possibilities in front of you, but it may take some time and experimentation to find your way in the market.

On the other hand, going with exercise science is going to leave you feeling like a highly qualified candidate immediately. You’ll have in-depth knowledge and skills and will be able to start applying what you’ve learned as soon as you get a job. Yet, that specialization may create some limits for what options you have for your career down the line if you find that you want to make a change from where you started.

How to Make This Important Decision

The education pathways in HHP and exercise science are both appealing and exciting. Making the decision is likely going to come down to the little things, and it might not be entirely based on the programs themselves and what they offer.

For example, you might have a better offer in terms of financial aid to join a particular exercise science program. Or, there might be a health and human performance program that is in an ideal geographical location for your situation. Take these factors into account just like everything else before you decide and get started on your education.

If you are still feeling stuck on this choice, one other step you can take is to ask people who have gone before you. Reach out to alumni groups or professional organizations to see if you can get some advice and some perspective from someone who has experience in these areas. Even just a conversation or two can go a long way toward making you feel better about everything that you are facing and which way you want to go with your career.

The benefits of health and human performance degrees are easy to understand, but there are just as many benefits to be enjoyed by those who hold an exercise science degree. Either way, you should have many different possible employment paths to explore once you make it through graduation, so commit yourself fully to whichever path you choose and do your best to excel in school. This is an exciting opportunity to get a great education in an important field and we wish you all the best!