Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior - NPB

EXB Club

NPB Club

Honor Societies

EXB Minor

Human Physiology Minor

Neuroscience Minor

Honors & Citation Awards

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The Exercise Biology Major

In1958, the Exercise Biology program began as an academic major in Physical Education in the Physical Education Department.  An addition to Hickey Gym completed in 1964 included a research and teaching laboratory complex, the Human Performance Laboratory, the first such space designed for the purposes of conducting research in physical education and exercise science in the UC system.  The laboratory’s academic focus and technical development were predominantly in the areas of exercise physiology and biomechanics, with some work in the newly developing area of sport psychology. The research emphasis was on humans rather than the animal models commonly utilized in most other research labs on the Davis campus.

In 1988 with the introduction of a B.S. degree and academic tracks in physiology, biomechanics and clinical exercise.  This eventually led to a change in the name of the department and major to Exercise Science.  In 1999, the Exercise Science academic program was separated from the Physical Education activity program, which eventually became a part of the Division of Social Sciences.  The Exercise Science major was reorganized into a form consistent with other majors in the Division of Biological Sciences (DBS), now the College of Biological Sciences (CBS). In 2000 the program was officially transferred to DBS, with the revised major renamed Exercise Biology.  In 2005 the Exercise Biology program and associated faculty were merged into the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior in CBS.


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