On this page:

• Fitness Specialist/Personal Trainer AAS
• Fitness Specialist/Personal Trainer Certificate of Proficiency
• Fitness Specialist/Group Exercise Instructor (new)

FITNESS SPECIALIST / PERSONAL TRAINER
Associate of Applied Science Degree
107/108 credits

This fast-paced program prepares students for employment as fitness instructors or personal trainers in entry-level to mid-management positions in health and fitness clubs, athletic clubs, strength training gyms, corporate fitness centers, YMCAs and recreation organizations. The curriculum is designed to help students prepare for the American College of Sports Medicine Health/Fitness Instructor, American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer certification exams. Ninety-nine hours of industry-based, internship or cooperative work experience is required for program completion. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.

Fitness Specialist/Personal Trainer AAS graduates will:

• Be prepared for employment as personal trainers and group exercise instructors in fitness and recreation facilities as well as entrepreneurial pursuits.
• Be prepared for the ACSM, NSCA, and ACE certification exams.
• Demonstrate proficiency at fitness testing and program design
• Demonstrate clinical skills to be able to work with special needs populations.

Admission Dates: Fall, winter, spring, summer.

COURSES		CR
FTNS 111	Principles of Anatomy & Physiology	4
FTNS 112	Introduction to Exercise Science	5
FTNS 115	Fundamentals of Fitness Testing	2
FTNS 116	Risk Management in Fitness	3
FTNS 118	Health Promotions and Wellness	3
FTNS 119	Fundamentals of Strength Training and Conditioning	4
FTNS 121	Kinesiology	5
FTNS 122	Exercise Physiology for Special Populations	5
FTNS 126	Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology	3
FTNS 127	Research in Exercise Science	3
FTNS 129	Pathophysiology and Exercise	3
FTNS 131	Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems	4
FTNS 132	Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems in Exercise	5
FTNS 137	Professional Skills in Fitness	3
FTNS 138	Motor Learning and Biomechanics	3
FTNS 139	Cardiac Rehab	3
FTNS 141	Nervous, Endocrine, & Lymphatic Systems	4
FTNS 142	Certification Review Lab	2
FTNS 144	Nutrition for Sports Performance	3
FTNS 146	Functional Fitness	2
FTNS 191	Seminar/Internship I	2
FTNS 192	Seminar/Internship II	2
FTNS 193	Seminar/Internship III	2
BIOL 106	Nutrition	5
BUSA 111	Business Computer Applications	3
	- or -
CISA 101	Computer Applications	2

See the General Education Requirements page (opens new window) for a list of all applicable courses for each of the categories listed above.

TECHNICAL ELECTIVES:  5 credits		CR
FTNS 120	Sport Safety	2
FTNS 135	Legal Issues in Fitness Mgmt	2
FTNS 198	Group Exercise Instructor	3
FTNS 199	Special Projects	1-5
MEDA 116	Medical Terminology I	5

See Faculty adviser/instructor for pre-approval.

FITNESS SPECIALIST / PERSONAL TRAINER
Certificate of Proficiency
74 Credits

This fast-paced program prepares students for employment as fitness instructors or personal trainers in entry-level positions in health and fitness clubs, athletic clubs, strength training gyms, YMCAs and recreation organizations. The curriculum is designed to help students prepare for the American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer certification exams. Ninety-nine hours of industry-based, internship or cooperative work experience is required for program completion. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.

Admission Dates: Fall, winter, spring, summer.

COURSES		CR
FTNS 111	Principles of Anatomy & Physiology	4
FTNS 112	Introduction to Exercise Science	5
FTNS 115	Fundamentals of Fitness Testing	2
FTNS 116	Risk Management in Fitness	3
FTNS 119	Fundamentals of Strength Training and Conditioning	4
FTNS 121	Kinesiology	5
FTNS 122	Exercise Physiology for Special Populations	5
FTNS 126	Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology	3
FTNS 131	Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems	4
FTNS 132	Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems in Exercise	5
FTNS 137	Professional Skills in Fitness	3
FTNS 144	Nutrition for Sports Performance	3
FTNS 146	Functional Fitness	2
FTNS 191	Seminar/Internship I	2
FTNS 192	Seminar/Internship II	2
FTNS 193	Seminar/Internship III	2
BIOL 106	Nutrition	5

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - 15 credits
Written Communication	5
Quantitative Reasoning	5
Social Science	5

See the General Education Requirements page (opens new window) for a list of all applicable courses for each of the categories listed above.

FITNESS SPECIALIST / GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR
Certificate of Completion
39 credits

This certificate has been added since publication of the 2006-07 catalog.

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach a variety of safe and effective group exercise classes. Courses in the program will cover theoretical and practical teaching skills and will include anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology, class format, cueing techniques and choreography so that the student can successfully teach a variety of class formats. Also taught are fundamentals of resistance training, stretching, injury prevention and exercise safety guidelines. This coursework gives students both the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to take a national group exercise instructor certification exam.

Admission dates:  fall, winter, spring.

TERM ONE		CR
BIOL 111	Survey of Anatomy and Physiology	5
FTNS 170	Group Exercise Instruction	4
TERM TWO
FTNS 121	Kinesiology	5
FTNS 112	Introduction to Exercise Science	5
FTNS 126	Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology	3
FTNS 172	Seminar in Group Exercise I	2
TERM THREE
BIOL 106	Nutrition for Health Care Providers	5
FTNS 116	Risk Management in Fitness	3
FTNS 137	Professional Skills in Fitness	3
FTNS 173	Seminar in Group Exercise II	2
FTNS 146	Functional Fitness	2