In addition to University Requirements:

• 67 units of major requirements

• Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

• Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Please note that students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Students may transfer up to 75 units of credit from an accredited community college. Contact your advisor for details.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the B.S. degree in Health Sciences Fitness Wellness degree program is to provide focused educational and practical experiences to those interested in a career in the emerging  fitness/health/wellness industry. Students will be able to design and facilitate fitness programs in a variety of recreational, nonprofit, corporate, and health club settings. The Fitness Wellness program is a combination of general education and core coursework to prepare competent entry-level exercise professionals with the knowledge and skills to assist individuals across the lifespan in adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors that lead to increased fitness, wellness, and optimal health. Students engage in a variety of labs, simulations, and other course work and application activities that prepare them to design and implement exercise programs; understand biomechanics and motor development in the physical domain; develop health and wellness programs in the workplace setting; facilitate independent lasting healthy behavior change; teach and demonstrate exercises; and conduct fitness assessment and health screenings. As a culminating experience, students engage in an immersive and hands-on internship in the field of fitness and wellness.

The Fitness Wellness Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the American College of Sports Medicine

• Health and Fitness Assessment
  • Implement assessment protocols and pre-participation health screening procedures to maximize participant safety and minimize risk.
  • Determine participant’s readiness to take part in a health-related physical fitness assessment and exercise program.
  • Select and prepare physical fitness assessments for healthy participants and those with controlled disease.
  • Conduct and interpret cardiorespiratory fitness assessments.
  • Conduct assessments of muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.
  • Conduct anthropometric and body composition assessments.
• Exercise Prescription and Implementation
  • Review pre-participation health screening including self-guided health questionnaires and appraisals, exercise history and fitness assessments.
  • Determine safe and effective exercise programs to achieve desired outcomes and goals.
  • Implement cardiorespiratory exercise prescriptions using the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, and type) for apparently healthy participants based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
  • Implement exercise prescriptions using the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, and type) for flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance for apparently healthy participants based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
  • Establish exercise progression guidelines for resistance, aerobic and flexibility activity to achieve the goals of apparently healthy participants.
  • Implement a weight management program as indicated by personal goals that are supported by pre-participation health screening, health history, and body composition/anthropometrics.
  • Prescribe and implement exercise programs for participants with controlled cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases and other clinical populations.
  • Prescribe and implement exercise programs for healthy special populations (i.e., older adults, youth, pregnant women).
  • Modify exercise prescriptions based on environmental conditions.
• Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies
  • Optimize adoption and adherence to exercise programs and other healthy behaviors by applying effective communication techniques.
  • Optimize adoption of and adherence to exercise programs and other healthy behaviors by applying effective behavioral and motivational strategies.
  • Provide educational resources to support clients in the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
  • Provide support within the scope of practice of a Health Fitness Specialist and refer to other health professionals as indicated.
• Legal/Professional
  • Create and disseminate risk management guidelines for a health/fitness facility, department or organization to reduce member, employee and business risk.
  • Create an effective injury prevention program and ensure that emergency policies and procedures are in place.