60 credits, 20 months
The Associate of Arts in Applied Exercise and Fitness program prepares students to become well-rounded and specialized in their exercise, fitness, and personal training knowledge. Graduates of the program build on their fundamental personal training knowledge by learning about the business elements of being a personal trainer and gaining specialized knowledge in group training theory, small group training, and weight management.
The program learning outcomes are:
- Students will demonstrate effective communication of health and wellness related topics.
- Students will perform basic exercises and show the ability to progress and regress those basic movements.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and ability levels.
- Students will demonstrate basic accounting calculations according to the needs of personal trainers.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate assessment data to formulate client programs.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use accepted personal training standards to solve client issues and help them reach goals.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to determine appropriate sources of information for health and wellness information.
Following the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to training strategies.
- Effectively communicate the impact of nutrition on the human body for a variety of clientele.
- Perform fitness assessments on clients.
- Create and enhance individualized exercise programs based on a thorough needs analysis with a variety of clientele.
- Teach and perform foundational, advanced, sport-specific movement patterns and exercises.
- Develop enhanced communication skills and techniques to obtain and retain clients.
- Create, utilize, and deliver more advanced strategies for client behavior change using various psychological models for health promotion.
- Influence client behavior through an empathetic, confident, and enthusiastic attitude.
- Demonstrate core values and ethics critical to the field of personal training.
- Recognize the value of lifelong professional development in the field of personal training.
- Choose weight management strategies that are appropriate for client goals and lifestyles.
- Explain the elements of operating a small fitness business.
- Create realistic financial projections, including sessions rendered, re-sign business, and new business.
- Design and instruct small group training sessions.
The following is a list of example occupations that one could pursue upon graduation:
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Gym or Studio Staff Member
- Nutrition/Supplement Store Associate
- Fitness Instructor
- Independent Trainer/Contractor
- Certified Group Exercise Instructor
include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 39-9031.00 – Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
- 39-9032.00 – Recreation Workers
- 11-9039.02 – Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
*Detailed information regarding classifications can be found at www.onetonline.org.
In order to graduate and receive an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Exercise and Fitness, students must earn a minimum of 60 credits with a CGPA of 2.0 or better. Students who elect to do so may also sit for a wide variety of fitness certifications, which completion of are not required to graduate. One attempt at the NASM Certified Group Exercise Instructor certification is included in tuition costs; passing scores are not required for graduation.
This Associate of Arts degree program requires students to complete 15 general education credit hours. Bryan University preschedules all general education courses within each program. A student’s schedule may reflect general education courses different than the ones listed above, however, the Bryan University Registrar works to ensure students meet all general education requirements by the expected time of graduation. Refer to the General Education section of this Catalog for specific general education requirements.
Each semester is 16 weeks, split into two 8-week terms. The following term schedule is subject to change.
|
Term 1 |
PTD-100/UNV-101F (First 8 weeks) PTD-101/PTD-103 (Second 8 weeks) |
|
Term 2 |
PTD-104/PTD-102 PTD-105/PTD-107 |
|
Term 3 |
PTD-106/PTD-110 EXE-200/ENG-110S |
|
Term 4 |
EXE-205/MAT-110S EXE-215/ENG-112S |
|
Term 5 |
EXE-210/COM-115S EXE-220/CRT-110S |
Core Courses
This course provides an introduction to the field of personal training along with the fundamental skills necessary to be an effective salesperson in the field. The history of personal training, professional organizations, certifications, and career tracks in the field are discussed. Students learn about communication skills, interviewing, steps of the sale, and fundamentals of professional conduct and ethics. Additionally, students learn the primal movement patterns and gain practical experience performing many common exercises and movement patterns that will be utilized with their clients.
Credits 3
None.
This course will provide an in-depth look at basics principles of kinesiology, including planes of motion, joints of movement, and joint actions.
Credits 3
None.
This course will provide an in-depth look at how the human body systems interact and function in relation to exercise and movement. Students will learn the various parts and functions of the nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems.
Credits 3
This course covers the fundamentals of conducting health screenings and risk stratifications, as well as tests such as body fat, cardiovascular condition, and various performance tests.
Credits 3
None.
This course covers the fundamentals of designing resistance training, cardiorespiratory training, and flexibility programs. The course focuses on training session components and appropriate exercise selection, progression, and program design variables for resistance and cardiorespiratory training.
Credits 3
This course covers the fundamentals of advanced training programs. The course focuses on appropriate exercise selection, progression, and program design variables for advanced programs and special populations.
Credits 3
This course covers the fundamentals of nutrition and how food is used by the human body. Students will be able to identify healthy food sources for the various nutrients and decipher reliable and unreliable nutritional information.
Credits 3
None.
This course is an introduction to the motivation behind behavior change as it relates to physical activity behaviors. Topics include goal setting, motivating clients, developing an action plan, and communication strategies needed to inspire and sustain long-term healthy habits.
Credits 3
None.
This course prepares students to take the NASM certification exam, paying particular attention to test-taking skills and improvement of weak areas of knowledge, skill, and ability. Students also prepare for their career through resume building activities and interview roleplays.
Credits 3
A course covering the information and skills needed to succeed in academic studies, including study skills, setting academic goals, managing time, overcoming challenges, establishing good habits, growth mindset, and technology skills such as completing online quizzes and navigating Yellowdig.
Credits 3
None.
This course covers the fundamentals of operating a small fitness business. Course topics include strategy and mission development, financial fitness, laws and regulations, operations, and building the future of the business.
Credits 3
None.
This course provides students with the basic theory and skills needed to be an effective group training professional. Students learn how to set up programs and instruct sessions for group training in a variety of settings and with a variety of group training modalities.
Credits 3
None.
This practical, applied class provides students the opportunity to demonstrate what they learned in Group Training Theory. Students will apply best practices as a group exercise instructor, including class design, communication skills, coaching and cueing, and progression and regression.
Credits 3
This course focuses on making dietary recommendations to address common health concerns and achieve effective and permanent changes in weight. Students practice calorie balancing and learn about weight loss planning, answering common client questions, the roles of exercise and sleep on weight maintenance, and weight plateaus.
Credits 3
None.
This course covers the foundations of cardiovascular programming and flexibility programming. Cardiovascular programming centers on creating and progressing programs for individuals looking to improve health, athletic performance, and body composition. Flexibility topics are focused on observing limitations or deficiencies and designing flexibility and stretching programs for various populations.
Credits 3
None.
Note: Bryan University strives to deliver students the most up to date courses possible. The textbooks listed in the following course descriptions are subject to change. Students should always refer to the course syllabus for textbook information.
General Education Courses
This course begins with a review of real numbers and algebraic expressions before covering algebra topics including linear equations and inequalities, lines and functions, systems, exponents, polynomials, and factoring.
Credits 3
None.
This course covers written communication skills with an emphasis on understanding the writing process, analyzing readings, and practicing writing for personal and professional applications.
Credits 3
None.
A course building on lessons learned in English Composition I. In addition to reviewing the writing process, topics include research techniques, citation techniques, documentation formats, and critical analysis of written topics.
Credits 3
or the equivalence in transfer credit.
This course introduces the concepts and theories of interpersonal communication. Students will explore the process and functions of communication, developing relationships, communication strategies and skills, and interpersonal language skills, including conflict management.
Credits 3
None.
This course provides foundational topics related to logic and critical thinking including, informal logic, formal logic, and fallacies.
Credits 3
None.
Note: Bryan University strives to deliver students the most up to date courses possible. The textbooks listed in the following course descriptions are subject to change. Students should always refer to the course syllabus for textbook information.