Human Performance

Catalog description

Human Performance is an introductory course geared towards incoming Stanford student-athletes but open to all students. The course explores how the human body responds and adapts to the stress of training and competition while introducing students to the physiological, psychological, nutritional, and social aspects of athletic performance. Students will learn how muscles generate force, how the cardiovascular system delivers oxygen during exercise, how metabolism fuels movement, and how training leads to adaptation. The course will also address recovery, sleep, injury prevention, mental health, teamwork, leadership, and the unique challenges faced by collegiate athletes. Equally important, the class is designed to help incoming students build community. Through interactive activities, small group discussions, and collaborative projects, students will have the opportunity to connect with peers from different athletic backgrounds while learning about their own bodies and performance. The course emphasizes curiosity, collaboration, and practical application over memorization. Students will be encouraged to think critically about training practices, recovery strategies, and health information they encounter in athletics and social media.