The mission of UNM's Exercise Science program is to provide students with the didactic, experiential, and ethical foundation in the study of human physiology and movement necessary to succeed in their choice of career, professional field of study, and advanced academic work. This mission is achieved through engaging lecture and hands-on laboratory instruction, scholarship, and service-learning designed to promote and develop critical thinking, laboratory skills, effective communication skills, and a passion for lifelong learning. The undergraduate and masters programs prepare students for continued education in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, nursing, medicine, or clinical research, as well as to function professionally as exercise physiologists/scientists in health/fitness clubs, corporate health promotion programs, academic, and clinical settings. The PhD program prepares exercise science researchers, professors, and preventative and/or rehabilitative program directors.

Through active participation in and application of scientific research, the Exercise Science students and renowned faculty, in partnership with the UNM community, collaborate to identify and develop solutions for individual, local, and global challenges related to health, fitness, and optimal human performance. New Mexico's multicultural population presents the program with innumerable opportunities to favorably impact the state's citizens through scientifically accurate and culturally sensitive information pertaining to the benefits of a healthy, physically active lifestyle as recommended by learned societies and national health initiatives.