Our mission

We advance knowledge of health, human physiology, sport, and recreation through teaching, practice, research, and service to impact the health and well-being of people of the State of Iowa and beyond.

Mission and history

The Department of Health and Human Physiology (HHP) includes educational programs in human physiology, health promotion, health studies, exercise science, sport and recreation management, therapeutic recreation and athletic training. 

It originated from the Department of Physical Culture, which was separated in 1924 into Departments of Physical Education for Men and Physical Education for Women, which existed until 1976 and has since then undergone numerous organizational and name changes as outlined below.

Some faculty from earlier departments are still active.  Professors Fletcher and Mellen (part of the second wave of Health Promotion faculty at Iowa) and Professor Janz (a first-wave Health Promotion faculty member) continue to research, educate, and provide community outreach in health promotion to this day. Professors Darling and Kregel, faculty originally in the Department of Exercise Science, continue in HHP to this day as do Professors Mobily and Hunnicutt, originally in the Department of Leisure Studies.  There are also scholarships endowed by faculty, students, families and friends of the former departments.  Scholarships originally provided to the Department of Physical Education for Women and the Department of Home Economics support current Health Promotion students.  These included the Bell, Fox, Halsey, Osborn, Spencer, Brom, and Whittaker scholarships. Similarly, scholarships originally provided to the Departments of Physical Education for Men and Exercise Science including the Alley and Chang scholarships support Human Physiology students and the Steve Goff Memorial Scholarship supports students in Sport and Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation. 

Evolution of the department

  • 1900

    The Department of Physical Culture is established.

  • 1924

    The Department of Physical Culture becomes two departments: the Department of Physical Education for Men, and the Department of Physical Education for Women. 

    The women's physical education program became a pioneer in the development of graduate study and professional training. Elizabeth Halsey headed the department from 1924-1955. M. Gladys Scott, who received the first PhD in women's physical education from the University of Iowa in 1937, succeeded Halsey as department chair from 1955-1974.

  • 1976

    The Department of Physical Education for Men splits into the Department of Physical Education–Field House and the Recreation Education Program, while the Department of Physical Education for Women becomes the Department of Physical Education and Dance.

  • 1987

    The Division of Physical Education is established, housing the departments of Exercise Science, Leisure Studies, and Physical Education and Sports Studies.

  • 1993

    The division becomes the Department of Exercise Science and the Department of Sport, Health, Leisure, and Physical Studies.

  • 2001

    The Department of Exercise Science becomes the Department of Integrative Physiology.

    The Department of Sport, Health, Leisure, and Physical Studies becomes the Department of Health and Sport Studies and the Program in Leisure Studies (as part of Interdisciplinary Studies).

  • 2010

    The programs and majors are merged to form the Department of Health and Human Physiology, with majors including the Health and Human Physiology BA, the Human Physiology BS, the Sport and Recreation Management BS, the Therapeutic Recreation BS, and Athletic Training BS, as well as master's programs in Sport and Recreation Management (MS), MS without thesis (HHP), MS with thesis (HHP), and PhD (HHP).

  • 2021

    Majors in HHP include the Health and Human Physiology BA, the Human Physiology BS, the Sport and Recreation Management BS, the Therapeutic Recreation BS, as well as master's programs in Sport and Recreation Management (MS), MS without thesis (HHP), MS with thesis (HHP), and PhD (HHP).