Learn it in class. live it in the real world.

What You’ll Study in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology

In Applied Physiology & Kinesiology (APK), you’ll study how the human body moves and responds to exercise, injury, and rehabilitation.

In APK, your classes are designed to connect directly to real careers. You’ll mix foundational coursework with labs, projects, internships, and experiences that feel like the work you want to do after graduation.

Skills Learned in APK

Students in the APK program develop a wide range of skills including the ability to:

Understand how the human body works, with a focus on muscles, bones, and movement
Analyze movement, assess performance, and identify ways to improve and prevent injury
Apply exercise and health science to real-world settings, from athletes to clinical populations
Design effective exercise and wellness programs for a wide range of individuals
Explore how motivation, behavior, and psychology influence health and physical activity
Interpret health and performance data to make informed decisions
Build a strong foundation for graduate programs and careers in healthcare and human performance

APK Course Sampling

If you’re thinking about a career in fitness, wellness, or allied health professions, you can choose classes that dive deeper into exercise programming, techniques, and the physical aspects of movement. These classes will prepare you to help various populations reach a higher quality of life through safe and effective exercise.

On the other hand, if you’re aiming for graduate school, medical school, or other advanced programs in health sciences after you graduate, we offer classes with more clinical and advanced physiological content. These classes will give you the extra knowledge and skills you need to get into and excel in those programs later on.

Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory
Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory
Artificial Intelligence for Movement Sciences
Exercise as Medicine
Exercise Psychology
Introduction to Sport Psychology
Motor Learning
Physical Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription
Physiology of Exercise and Training
Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
Principles of Athletic Training
Principles of Strength and Conditioning
Research Methods
Sport Nutrition

View Full List of APK Courses

Experiential Learning in APK

All APK students complete 12 credit hours of internship, built into the degree, as a capstone experience. By graduation, APK students leave with more than a transcript; they gain practical skills, industry connections, and real-world experiences they can speak about in interviews and personal statements. Examples of past internship sites include:

Apple, Inc.
Army West Point Athletics
Cleveland Guardians
Duke University School of Medicine
IMG Academy
Minnesota Twins
National Sports Medicine Institute
Naval Medical Research Unit
UF Athletic Association (UAA)
UF College of Medicine
UF Health
University of Georgia Athletic Association
University of Tennessee – Knoxville Olympic Sports Performance Department
United States Marine Corps
USAA
Verizon
Yale University

APK Internships and Practicums

Study Abroad Opportunties

HHP’s study abroad program offers hands-on learning opportunities at locations around the globe:

Antarctica: The Frozen Continent
Argentina: Global Sport Leaders
Australia: Fundamentals of Sport Performance
Austria and Germany: Sport Management
Greece: Kinesiology & Engineering
Ireland: Sports and Healthcare
Japan: Internship
Japan: Japanese Sport and Culture
London: Human Performance
North Queensland: Sustaining Humans and their Environment
Panama: Exploring the Canal Across Disciplines
Portugal & Spain: Cultural Nutrition & Health
Spain: Athlete Development & Career Management
Thailand: Clinical Shadowing

Explore HHP Study Abroad Opportunities

56%

In-Demand Major

APK enrollment has grown nearly 56% since 2014: a clear sign of rising interest, strong student outcomes, and the program’s expanding reputation

Nationally Recognized Program

Ranked #1 among Kinesiology & Exercise Science programs in the U.S.

60%

Faculty Who Know Your Name

Nearly 60% increase in faculty since 2014 to maintain an exceptional student experience

Hear from APK students about the courses and professors who bring the science of human movement to life and make learning engaging, supportive, and relevant to your future goals.

A teacher engages with a smiling student in a classroom.

“I love that the class sizes are not too big and allow for constant opportunities to participate and collaborate.”

– Maddy P., APK Student

A group of five college students walk on a sunny campus path, smiling and chatting.

“Every professor seems to be so good and cannot be topped, but then the next one is just as good, I don’t think there is a drop off with any APK professor.”

– Kyle G., APK Student

Four students sit on a window ledge, engaged in a lively conversation.

“APK coursework is extremely relatable because the concepts we learn directly apply to real-world health settings. Classes emphasize practical applications, rather than textbook definitions.”

– Justin D., APK Student

A woman wearing an EEG cap sits in a lab holding a joystick, focused on a computer displaying brainwave patterns. Two researchers observe attentively.

“The coursework in APK is unique because of the practicum experiences built into our programs. They allow us to gain hands-on, real-world experience before graduating, which truly prepares us for our future careers.”

– Julian C., APK Student

A professor stands at the front of a lecture hall, engaging a group of attentive students seated in tiered rows.

“The learning environment at HHP is so unique because of its smaller size. I’ve been able to form much closer relationships with faculty and learn in a much smaller setting than what is available in other majors at UF.”

– Anthony S., APK Student