Our Mission

Program Overview

The Department of Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS) at UNC-Chapel Hill is an academic unit in the College of Arts and Sciences.  It offers the Bachelor of Arts Degree and the Master of Arts Degree in Exercise and Sport Science, and a Doctoral Program in Human Movement Science.  The doctoral program is an interdisciplinary curriculum between faculty from the Division of Physical Therapy in Allied Health Sciences, and Department of Exercise and Sport Science.  In addition to these academic programs, the Department of EXSS administers the University’s Lifetime Fitness Program, a general education requirement for all undergraduate students; and serves the entire student body, faculty and staff through the joint administration of Campus Recreation with the Division of Student Affairs.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of EXSS is to discover, create and promote knowledge of human movement to improve the quality of life of individuals and society. 

This mission is accomplished through education, research, and service in the following areas:

Undergraduate Programs

• Exercise and Sport Science (Major)
• Sports Medicine (Accredited Program by CAATE)
• Fitness Professional (Program)
• Sport Administration (Program)
• Coaching Education (minor)
• Recreation Administration(minor)
• Exercise & Sport Science (minor)

Graduate Programs

• Sports Medicine (Accredited Program by CAATE)
• Exercise Physiology
• Sport Administration
• Human Movement Science (PhD – Curriculum in collaboration with Allied Health Science)
• Dual Degree (JD/MA) Law and Sport Administration

Physical Activities Program

• Lifetime Fitness
• Physical Activity Electives

Laboratories

• Applied Physiology Laboratory
• Exercise Science Teaching Laboratory
• Neuromuscular Research Laboratory
• Sport Medicine Research Laboratory
• Cadaver Anatomy Laboratory
• CPR Teaching Laboratory

Centers/Institutes

• Center for the Study of Retired Athletes
• National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research
• College Sport Research Institute

Campus Recreation

(jointly administered by EXSS and Division of Student Affairs)

• Carolina Adventures
• Carolina Fitness
• Intramural Sports
• Sport Clubs