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Kofi Yamoah Ponkor’s journey to Florida State University began with a simple dream. A physician assistant hailing from Kumasi, Ghana, he had a profound interest in the capabilities of the human body, and how exercise could potentially enhance a person’s overall health and performance. This fascination eventually led him to pursue a graduate programme in Exercise Physiology at FSU.
“I chose the Exercise Physiology programme due to a combination of my deep interest in understanding the intricate physiological responses of the human body to exercise and my passion for promoting health and well-being,” says Ponkor, who graduated from the programme in December 2023.
There are many reasons why students like Ponkor choose FSU. The Tallahassee institution often ranks among the top 25 public universities nationally, and has been named a “Best Value” Public University for its affordable, high-quality education. If academic excellence wasn’t enough, FSU has also been a recognised Diversity Champion for seven years running for its continuing efforts to move diversity and inclusion to the forefront.
These accolades are not just for show. It’s part of the college’s strategy to create a globally-recognised research culture and prepare graduates to seize opportunities around the world. Just look at the College of Education, Health, and Human Science, where students work as peers with some of the finest teachers and researchers in top-of-the-line laboratory spaces.
Exercise Physiology students evolve into physiology experts ready to provide public services in exercise, health, and human performance. Source: Florida State University
Maximising human potential with a graduate degree in Exercise Physiology
Lifestyle trends, fitness goals and diet plans are constantly changing. And in 2024, there’s never been a greater interest in healthy lifestyles — translating into a remarkable range of career opportunities related to diet, fitness, and health.
FSU’s M.S. in Exercise Physiology was created to help you make become a leader in this field. Whether you want to land one of the many job opportunities in this field, generate and apply research-based knowledge, or provide public service in exercise, health, and human performance, this programme gives you the essential scientific methods, technical knowledge, and practical skills to do just that.
You will be trained in both basic and applied physiology in a vigorous research environment. Upon joining the programme, you will be automatically assigned to the non-thesis track. To qualify for the thesis track, you must have both good academic standing, and the support of the graduate faculty. Regardless of the track you’re in, the programme offers a flexible focus between performance and clinical experience, tailored to your individual preferences and taking place in state-of-the-art facilities.
The school has applied electrophysiology physiology laboratories, cardiovascular laboratories, skeletal muscle laboratories, and the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine (ISSM). These resources are what enable such rigorous study and research – in these spaces, you’ll have all you need to investigate, apply, and contribute knowledge that benefit communities through work in exercise and human performance.
Indeed, applied learning is at the heart of the Exercise Physiology programme. You will work on research projects regarding human performance, exercise metabolism, sports nutrition, cardiovascular, and muscle physiology at the cellular and molecular levels in humans and animals.
Getting to engage and reflect on all he’s learned in a real-life setting was the most interesting part of the programme for Ponkor. “It is satisfying to put academic knowledge to use in practical situations through exercise testing, laboratory work, and internships,” he says. “I enjoy the fact that I can focus on things like clinical exercise physiology or sports performance. Also, the chance to network with experts, faculty, and other graduate students is vital to shaping my future career.”
Ponkor had set his sights on his career path right from the beginning. With the experience and knowledge he gained from the M.S. in Exercise Physiology and his background as a physician assistant, he knew that being a clinical exercise physiologist was the way to go.
“I want to work in healthcare environments where I can create and provide specialised exercise regimens for patients with respiratory, cardiac, or chronic illnesses,” he said. “Whether working in a private practice, hospital, or cardiac rehabilitation centre, my goal is to improve patients’ cardiovascular and respiratory wellness significantly. I want to improve people’s lives and advance the area of clinical exercise physiology by working together and learning new things all the time.”
Want to take your exercise physiology knowledge and skills to the next level? Apply for the M.S. in Exercise Physiology at FSU’s College of Education, Health, and Human Science today.
