Stanford Center for Health Education
Exercise Physiology
Learn essential scientific insights into how the human body responds and adjusts to the demands of physical activity.
Start date
15 October 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The number of cancers that show a proven reduction in risk when recommended physical activity guidelines are met.
Journal of Clinical Oncology (Dec, 2019).
The reduced risk of early mortality when exercising at a moderate intensity of 150 to 750 minutes per week.
The BMJ (Jun, 2019).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
Regular exercise can alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression and manage various diseases. However, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, only one in four Americans meets the recommended levels of physical activity.1
The Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE), part of Stanford Medicine, offers the Exercise Physiology online short course. It is designed to teach you the fundamentals of physiology and enhance their scientific knowledge of exercise and wellness. Over six weeks, you’ll explore the impact of physical activity on aging and overall health and learn how to evaluate training programs and suggest improvements for physical environments.
1 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Sep, 2019).
Is this course for you?
This course is suitable for professionals in the healthcare and wellness sectors who are interested in enhancing their understanding of exercise physiology. Learners will explore effective methods for improving individual health and athletic performance, regardless of age, by examining how different bodies respond to and adapt to exercise. Healthcare professionals will gain an understanding of how physical activity can aid in disease management. The course will also equip wellness industry professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to assist customers and patients in achieving their fitness objectives, such as weight loss, increased physical strength, improved performance, or healthy aging.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
Regular exercise can alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression and manage various diseases. However, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, only one in four Americans meets the recommended levels of physical activity.1
The Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE), part of Stanford Medicine, offers the Exercise Physiology online short course. It is designed to teach you the fundamentals of physiology and enhance their scientific knowledge of exercise and wellness. Over six weeks, you’ll explore the impact of physical activity on aging and overall health and learn how to evaluate training programs and suggest improvements for physical environments.
1 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Sep, 2019).
Is this course for you?
This course is suitable for professionals in the healthcare and wellness sectors who are interested in enhancing their understanding of exercise physiology. Learners will explore effective methods for improving individual health and athletic performance, regardless of age, by examining how different bodies respond to and adapt to exercise. Healthcare professionals will gain an understanding of how physical activity can aid in disease management. The course will also equip wellness industry professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to assist customers and patients in achieving their fitness objectives, such as weight loss, increased physical strength, improved performance, or healthy aging.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
An understanding of how the body reacts and adapts to exercise, and ideas on how to enhance movement opportunities in the modern world.
Insights into how exercise can affect health and slow the trajectory of aging.
The knowledge of how physical performance is affected by environmental stressors.
The ability to provide input and feedback on tailored training regimes.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Exercise physiology essentials
Module 2
Physical activity across the lifespan
Module 3
Health, disease, and physical activity
Module 4
Environmental stressors and performance
Module 5
Exercise for the individual
Module 6
Designing systems for wellness
Academic Director
Anne Friedlander
Adjunct Professor, Program in Human Biology, Stanford University
About the certificate
Acquire an in-depth understanding of exercise physiology and earn an official certificate of completion from Stanford Center for Health Education.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
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At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
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How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
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