The Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance department began with a formal course in "Elements of Physical Education" as early as 1868 in the area of Special Professional Instruction, although exercise had been offered to students since the 1850s. Courses in German Gymnastics date back to the 1850s with Swedish Gymnastics, intramural and varsity athletics being introduced in the 1880s. In the 1870s classes in Physiology were offered, but through the Natural Science Department. By 1894 a new gymnasium had been built and the Department of Physical Training was established by the Michigan State Normal School. In 1896 physical training courses were required of all students regardless of major, a requirement that would remain until the 1990s.

For the 1899-1900 school year, a course of study for teachers of physical training was offered, the first of its kind in the country, and offered students who completed the course of study a Limited Certificate. This was almost 20 years before the State of Michigan would mandate the teaching of physical education in all cities with a population of ten thousand or more and that Normal Colleges must provide courses for prospective teachers in physical education. Although Michigan State Normal College had bee offering such classes for years, the new statewide mandate increased enrollment and with it the need for additional faculty and course offerings. Changes to the legislation in 1919 led to the creation of a four year Bachelor of Science Degree in 1921. The addition of this degree program was accompanied by the separation of courses into Human Anatomy and Physiology, Health Education, and Physical Education. The recreation curriculum was added to the department in 1948.

In 1967, the Department was reorganized and changed from the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics to the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In 1973, the academic programs of the Department were organized into six divisions and the area of intramural sports was made into its own department. In 1976, a complete dissolution of a men's and women's division in the department was completed and for the first time since the establishment of the Department men and women followed the same academic guidelines. It was also during the 1976-77 academic year that the Department was renamed the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 2003 the University restructured the College of Health and Human Services and in this process the College of HHS assumed oversight for the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Further restructuring came in July 2004 in a letter from then Provost Paul Schollaert that the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance would undergo the following changes: 'the Dance program is aligned with the music program in the Department of Music (soon to be renamed Music and Dance) in the College of Arts and Sciences. The remaining programs will for a new School of Health Promotion and Human Performance in the College of Health & human Services....The Department of Associated Health Professions in CHHS will be renamed the School of Health Sciences, enlarged to include faculty and programs in Dietetics and Human Nutrition as well as the faculty and program in Therapeutic Recreation (formerly in HEPERD)." [cited from document in 08.HPERD Box 3, Folder 3]

As of the 2014-15 academic year, the School of Health Promotion & Human Performance offers programs in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Education, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Physical Education, Physician Assistant, Recreation & Parks Management, and Sports Management. Degrees are offered at the Master's and Undergraduate levels.