The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Health and Physical Activity (HPA) is a national leader in academic, research, and service programs. These programs emphasize the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases through the promotion of health, fitness, and wellness. The department's mission is to promote physical activity and health that span a lifetime.
The Department of Health and Physical Activity offers unique interdisciplinary opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and the various curricula provide students with a well-rounded set of skills and experiences necessary to achieve career success given the competitive demands of the field. Students have the opportunity to work in research laboratories and centers with expert faculty in the areas of physical activity epidemiology, obesity and weight management, chronic disease management,
and applications related to health and fitness.
Areas of Specialization
- Developmental Movement - provides training in the area of control and learning of motor skills, the underlying neurological correlates, and the sociological context of human movement
- Exercise Physiology - The Exercise Physiology specialization tracks focus on the biodynamics of exercise, its role in the training and conditioning of sports participants, its benefits as a therapeutic agent in the rehabilitation of disease, and its use as a prevention agent for risk reduction and improved quality of life.
- Exercise Science - The Exercise Science specialization trains movement specialists to help all individuals achieve an optimal level of health and well-being. This program prepares students for entry level positions in health-fitness programs for business, community and athletic settings or in clinical programs which provide therapeutic exercise services to members of special populations. The Exercise Science specialization also provides a foundation for graduate study and facilitates the development of researc
- Health and Fitness - provides training in the promotion of optimal health and fitness through phyiscal activity
- Health, Physical Activity, and Chronic Disease - provides training in the area of prevention and treatment of chronic disease with an emphasis on physical activity and health
- Wellness - The Wellness specialization has responded to the growing need to prepare health and fitness specialists for continually changing and expanding professional roles and requirements for entry level positions. The unique features of this specialization are the four options available for professional focus in the following areas: Aquatics, Fitness, Aerobics, and a combined Aerobic-Fitness option. Students are presented opportunities to specialize in an area of focus, and this provides mechanisms to
Contact Information
Fredric Goss
EMAIL: goss@pitt.edu
PHONE: 412-648-8259
Admission Inquiries and Application Materials should be directed to:
School of Education Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management
5500 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
PHONE: 412-648-2230
FAX: 412-648-1899
EMAIL: soeinfo@pitt.edu
ONLINE (preferred): Inquiry Form
APPLICATION: Admissions Application
