90%+
of College of Health undergraduates have an experiential learning experience
Department of Health and Exercise Science
Undergraduate Studies in Health and Exercise Science
About HES Undergraduate Studies
At the University of St. Thomas, undergraduate students in the Department of Health and Exercise Science build a strong foundation in human health. Our degree programs combine evidence-based coursework with practical skills to prepare students for careers in healthcare, wellness, fitness, public health, and related graduate study.
From day one, students benefit from unmatched faculty support, access to industry-leading equipment, and hands-on opportunities that bring learning to life. Whether conducting faculty-mentored research, completing internships, leading student clubs, or using professional-grade facilities, our students engage deeply in real-world experiences that shape confident, capable health leaders.
97%
of College of Health graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation
Undergraduate Programs in Health and Exercise Science
Exercise Science Major and Minor
Explore how the body moves and responds to physical activity, and how exercise supports overall health and wellness across the lifespan.
As an exercise science major or minor, you'll study biomechanics, physiology, and functional movement. This program prepares you for graduate study or careers in allied health fields such as physical therapy, chiropractic, physician assistant, nursing, and more.
Health Promotion and Wellness Major
Learn how to help individuals and communities build healthier lifestyles through education and behavior change.
In this major, you'll gain skills in wellness coaching, health communication, and planning prevention programs for schools, workplaces, and communities. You'll graduate ready to promote whole-person wellness across diverse populations.
Public Health Major and Minor
Public health focuses on improving health outcomes for individuals and communities through education, research, and policy.
In this program, you'll examine the root causes of health challenges—such as pandemics, chronic disease, and health inequities—and develop practical skills to design solutions. This major prepares you for a variety of roles in health promotion, advocacy, and public service.
Nutrition Major and Minor
Discover how food and nutrition affect health across life stages and populations.
As a nutrition student, you'll learn to evaluate nutrition research and communicate evidence-based guidance to different audiences. This program supports careers in dietetics, healthcare, food science, public health, sports nutrition, and related fields—and is open to students from any academic background.
A lot to do, a lot to learn
The HES Undergraduate Student Experience
You'll receive individual attention from faculty and have access to best-in-state facilities and equipment for undergraduates, research opportunities, student clubs and internships. We set our students up for career success or graduate school, whichever comes first.
Big time opportunities
Internships
Students typically complete a 100-hour internship their senior year in collaboration with their faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to think about internship sites based on career interests; the department has an internship coordinator for student questions about past student internship and sites.
Our Partnership with Tommie Athletics
The Sports Science Institute
The University of St. Thomas is the first college to ever make the jump from DIII to DI athletics. Read how Health and Exercise Science students are helping our athletes train, perform and recover at a higher level.
Faculty
Dr. Paul Mellick
Dr. Paul Mellick is an Associate Professor and department chair for the Department of Health and Exercise Science. He holds a Master of Arts from the College of St. Scholastica and a doctorate in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. Dr. Mellick's research interests are focused on metabolic function and hormonal regulation, particularly their relationships to high-intensity exercise.
Dr. Amy Hedman-Robertson
Dr. Amy Hedman-Robertson strives to provide interactive, experiential classroom activities to facilitate learning and retention. Her research interests include mental health help-seeking and community-based suicide prevention interventions. She is passionate about mental health literacy and provides suicide prevention education and training to communities.
Amber Roy
Amber Roy is Clinical Faculty in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. She holds a B.S. in Dietetics and an M.S. in Food Science and Technology from Iowa State University and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Amber is passionate about using culturally affirming, transparent and inclusive teaching and mentoring strategies in her work.