Gain advanced skills for industry or research.

Lebanon Valley College’s master of science in exercise science—human performance degree is designed for graduate students who want to pursue careers in industry or research. Our program is tailored for recent graduates or professionals eager to advance their careers.

Working closely with graduate faculty who have conducted research at Johns Hopkins, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, WellSpan, and other renowned organizations, you’ll learn how to operate state-of-the-art computer motion analysis systems to support the needs of medical and academic research scientists or research scientists in the athletics and fitness industry. You’ll have the opportunity to be innovative and exploratory in your research. 

The courses you’ll take include advanced biomechanics and biomechanics of sport, the scientific bases of rehabilitation, advanced performance assessment methods, and computerized movement analysis. Complete your didactic coursework in as few as 12 months or three semesters. The courses are delivered via seven-week on-campus, hybrid, and fully online classes.

Learn in labs and facilities that rival those at research institutions and medical centers.

LVC is proud to be one of the only colleges of its size in Pennsylvania with a fully-integrated motion analysis system to support this work.

Housed in the College’s acclaimed Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion, the Lewis Human Performance Lab rivals those found in larger academic research institutions, research labs in academic medical centers, and research and development facilities in the exercise/fitness industry. The Lewis Human Performance Lab and accompanying Exercise Physiology Lab facilitate faculty research in areas of human performance and support collaborative student-faculty research. 

Human Performance Graduate Fellowships may be available. For more information, contact Claudia Gazsi, PT, MHA, Ph.D.

Your Choice: Thesis or Internship

If you have research interests, you can complete a thesis as part of your master’s degree to pursue advanced study (Ph.D.) in human performance. You’ll develop proficiency working with computerized biomechanical motion capture data collection systems, assess and analyze data, and produce high-quality research alongside faculty in the Lewis Human Performance Lab.

The internship option allows you to pursue positions requiring advanced technical proficiency (e.g., computerized data acquisition systems). You’ll complete a four to six-month internship in an industrial research and development setting.

Career opportunities abound.

Employment opportunities for exercise science graduates in human performance include research positions in academic medical centers, R&D positions with sports equipment manufacturers (e.g. Nike, Under Armour), and engineering firms specializing in human-machine interaction. Your faculty, along with career coaches in LVC’s Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Graduate Success, will support you throughout your internship and career journey.