Professional Studies: Fitness Specialist Certificate of Achievement
The mission of the Professional Studies program is to prepare Kinesiology majors for academic pursuits in the scientific study of human movement as well as vocational preparation for leadership roles developing education, fitness, recreation, and sport programs that improve quality of life for members of their communities. We inspire future professionals to respect and appreciate the objective, scientific perspectives of how and why we produce movements as well as the subjective, artistic aesthetics of how well we move.
The Fitness Specialist Certificate program prepares students for
employment in the fitness industry by combining a science-based
academic foundation with an application of skill. Students gain knowledge of Kinesiology principles
while developing exercise leadership and individual & group exercise programming skills. The program is
designed to be completed within 9 months but includes transferrable
coursework for students seeking to further their education
in Kinesiology-related fields. Upon completion, graduates of this
program should expect to seek the appropriate National Certification before
finding careers working in health clubs, country clubs, fitness or recreation
centers, gyms, hospitals, universities, yoga and Pilates studios, resorts,
and/or as entrepreneurs.
The program of study was developed to contribute to the mission of the college as well
as serve the interests and needs of our students and community workforce. Labor
market statistics indicate that employment for fitness instructors is expected
to grow much faster than the average; 24% from 2014-2024. Fitness workers
and coaches should have excellent opportunities for finding work due to continued job
growth in health clubs, fitness facilities, youth sports academies, recreational facilities, and
entrepreneurial endeavors. In fact, regional labor market information (LMI)
shows a need for 311 annual openings. Median annual wages of fitness
trainers and aerobics instructors in the Los Angeles / Orange County area is
$40,047 (based on 2012 wages); however, self-employed trainers and those with
advanced degrees can earn greater than $60,000 per year. Please read the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Salary Report for Health and Fitness Professionals for additional information. When considering
that trainers rarely receive on the job training, certification and experience
are critical to obtaining a job. They are expected to know how to do
their jobs when they are hired. Therefore, the program was designed to provide
an abundance of experiential learning while preparing students for the American
Council on Exercise (ACE) and/or National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
certification exams.
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to
identify muscle groups and joints then relate that knowledge to the
production of a variety of fitness, sport, and recreational movements.
Students will be able to
select, execute, interpret, and communicate results from various fitness
assessment field tests based upon, age, gender, fitness level, and
cultural differences.
Students will be able to design a
health-related or performance-related program for apparently healthy
individuals and several special populations.
Students will be competent
at leading personal training sessions as well as a variety of small and
large group exercise activities.
Students will be able to express the
scope of their practice and identify a market niche based upon their
personal strengths and interests.
