Use your head, heart and hands to help others through a career in the healthcare field.
Health science and human movement is exactly what it sounds like – the study of human movement and how it affects our physical and mental health.
In this interdisciplinary major that is grounded in exercise science, biology and chemistry, students learn how to take a holistic look at human movement as a way to better understand medical and healthcare issues. This degree prepares students for future careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic medicine, and athletic training. It can also be used as a springboard to begin a career right after graduation in a variety of fields including health-and-fitness coaching, personal training, community health education and public health. Whichever path you choose, our professors will guide you along the way.
Health science students study important science foundations in lab science courses, but also about the motivation for movement, developing movement skills, and building and modifying movement habits to fit individual needs and abilities.
Hands-on health sciences
Our professors practice what they teach - movement is essential in life and in the classroom. The best way to learn is by doing, which is why our professors incorporate movement into classes to help students understand major muscle groups and human physiology in real time.
Students also have access to conduct research independently or alongside professors starting as early as the freshman year.
Wondering if wearable technology like pedometers and Apple watches makes a difference in promoting positive health habits? Curious about how stress impacts the performance of college athletes and coaches? Investigate questions like these and ideas of your own with the help of our professors, or join in other research projects.
We’re also one of the few small, liberal arts colleges with a human anatomy lab where students can get hands-on experience working with a human cadaver before grad school. Cadaver sounding like a little much? Students can also peek inside the human body and turn gaming into learning using our VR anatomy headsets.
Our Center for Science and Business classrooms and labs are fully stocked with research facilities and specialized equipment to support the health science and human movement program. The Center for Science and Business may be health science students’ home away from the residence hall, but we also believe learning takes place all over campus. Whether on the outside steps of Wallace Hall, in the Huff Athletic Center training rooms or in the community working with people at local organizations, you will learn by doing.
Learn from the experts
Our health science program is unique to many others in Illinois. In addition to professors from the lab sciences of biology and chemistry, our health science and human movement major is taught by professors with expertise and professional experience in exercise physiology, human movement, nutrition, dietetics, muscle biology and health education.