Foundational Fitness
Over the past decade, the percentage of American youth, adults, and older adults who are under fit and overweight has increased significantly, with related escalation in degenerative diseases and health care costs. One potential solution to these problems is competent, academically trained fitness professionals who can help our inactive population develop desirable levels of muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, joint flexibility, and body composition. This certificate program is designed for students who want to work as exercise instructors in YMCAs, fitness centers, or retirement communities, and also provides the framework for progressing to a national personal trainer certification.
View the curriculum for this academic program in the latest college catalog here.
Please note that the Foundational Fitness certificate program is not eligible for financial aid.
Certificates
The Foundational Fitness Certificate program offers students who are exploring the areas of fitness instruction and personal training the opportunity to take three foundational courses to prepare them for a professional position as a fitness instructor and/or to continue their academic education to become a certified personal trainer. It provides a one semester, three-course option for potential students who, for a variety of reasons, may not be able to take a larger course load or make a longer-term commitment.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:
- Develop a philosophy of wellness/fitness that enhances quality of life for themselves and their clients.
- Apply research-based principles of exercise physiology for designing safe and effective exercise programs for improved muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, joint flexibility, and body composition.
- Apply research-based principles of biomechanics for making appropriate exercise selection and teaching proper exercise performance.
- Develop individualized fitness programs to accommodate the training objectives and exercise abilities of youth, adults, and older adults.
Foundational Fitness Courses
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Code
Course
Credits
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- EXS 102
Muscular and Cardiovascular Fitness
- 3
-
- EXS 119
Bioenergetics and Biomechanics
- 3
-
- EXS 201
Youth and Senior Fitness
- 3