Fitness Specialist Certificate

Certificate
HEGIS #5299
Department Chairperson: Colleen Ferris
McDonough Sports Complex, Room 206, (518) 629-7372

The Fitness Specialist Certificate Program is designed for students who wish to work in the fitness industry, whether full-time or part-time. The knowledge gained in this program is also valuable to allied health professionals who wish to supplement their services to include exercise prescription. After completion of this certificate program, a student will have the basic educational foundation to sit for professional certification exams through American College of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Health and Fitness Professionals, Cooper Institute, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Additionally, students starting out in the certificate program can potentially continue on into our Physical Education Studies degree program or transfer to another institution in a related field. The projected growth in this area is deemed as “faster than average” (20%-28%) according the Department of Labor.

Program Entrance Requirements

Courses	Entry Term	Special Notes	H.S. Average
1 unit of lab science	Fall and Spring	Social Science, Humanities recommended

Total Credits Required: 27

Major Requirements*

*or specific course equivalents as approved by the department chairperson.

BIOL 125 Nutrition Credits: 3
OR
BIOL 127 Principles of Sports and Exercise Nutrition Credits: 4
OR
BIOL 128 Sports Nutrition Credits: 3
EXER 100 Concepts of Exercise Training Credits: 3
EXER 110 Exercise for Special Populations Credits: 3
EXER 200 Fitness Assessment, Evaluation and Program Design Credits: 3
EXER 201 Exercise Science Professional Experience Credits: 2
HLTH 150 Weight Management Credits: 2
HLTH 152 First Aid Credits: 2
HLTH 145 Philosophy of Traditional & Alternative Medicine Credits: 3
OR
HLTH 200 Foundations of Health Education Credits: 3
OR
SPRT 275 Social and Ethical Issues in Sport and Exercise Credits: 3
PHED 280 Introduction to Sports Medicine Credits: 3
(1) PHED/HLTH Restricted electives Credits: 3

(1) PHED/HLTH Restricted electives Credits: 3

PHED/HLTH Restricted Electives:

HLTH 130 Creating Healthy Relationships Credits: 1
HLTH 131 Stress and Health Credits: 1
HLTH 135 Self-Improvement Credits: 1
HLTH 153 Women’s Health Issues Credits: 2
PHED 132 Weight Training I Credits: 1
PHED 141 Weight Training/Personal Fitness Credits: 1
PHED 142 Physical Conditioning/Self Defense Credits: 1
PHED 144 Weight Lifting Credits: 1
PHED 146 Lifetime Fitness and Wellness Credits: 1
PHED 148 Aerobic Boxing Credits: 1
PHED 149 Circuit Fitness Credits: 1
PHED 161 Fitness Infusion Credits: 1
PHED 205 Cuing Concepts for Fitness Specialists Credits: 1
PHED 248 Advanced Aerobic Boxing Credits: 1
PHED 250 Physical Fitness Conditioning Credits: 1

Total Credits Required: 27

Suggested Course Sequence for Full-Time Study

First Term

BIOL 125 Nutrition Credits: 3
OR
BIOL 127 Principles of Sports and Exercise Nutrition Credits: 4
OR
BIOL 128 Sports Nutrition Credits: 3
EXER 100 Concepts of Exercise Training Credits: 3
EXER 200 Fitness Assessment, Evaluation and Program Design Credits: 3
HLTH 152 First Aid Credits: 2
PHED/HLTH Restricted elective Credits: 2

Term Total: 13

Second Term

EXER 110 Exercise for Special Populations Credits: 3
EXER 201 Exercise Science Professional Experience Credits: 2
HLTH 150 Weight Management Credits: 2
HLTH 145 Philosophy of Traditional & Alternative Medicine Credits: 3
OR
HLTH 200 Foundations of Health Education Credits: 3
OR
SPRT 275 Social and Ethical Issues in Sport and Exercise Credits: 3
PHED 280 Introduction to Sports Medicine Credits: 3
PHED/HLTH Restricted elective Credits:1

Fitness Specialist Certificate

Program Entrance Requirements

Total Credits Required: 27

Major Requirements*

(1) PHED/HLTH Restricted electives Credits: 3

Total Credits Required: 27

Suggested Course Sequence for Full-Time Study

First Term

Term Total: 13

Second Term

Term Total: 14