Certificate Program in Fitness Instruction
Core CurriculumAnatomy and Physiology for Fitness Instructors - This course will include information on human anatomy and physiology as it relates to fitness instructors. Emphasis will be placed on the musculoskeletal systems and appropriate concepts within the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, endocrine and digestive systems. Lectures and laboratory experience with models, charts, and skeletons will be a major component of the course. 12 week course; Prerequisite: None.
3.0 CEUsExercise Physiology - This course provides the student with an in-depth understanding of how the human body responds to both acute and chronic exercise. Topical areas will include energy metabolism, exercise's physiological effects on various systems within the body, physiological adaptions with exercise and other key areas. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology.
3.0 CEUsFitness Leadership - This comprehensive course is designed to cover major areas relevant to the teaching of adult fitness programs. Hands-on teaching experience will be an important component of this class. Topics include leadership, communication, program planning and design, instructional and motivational techniques. Information covered in previous courses will be synthesized and integrated for application to teaching adults. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology.
3.0 CEUsInjury Prevention and Recognition -Most injuries in the fitness setting can be prevented or limited in severity with a basic understanding of injuries. This course will provide theoretical concepts and practical application around sports injuries including mechanisms of injuries, treatment, biomechanical and kinesiologic implications, contraindicated exercises, proper equipment, footwear, and more. Prerequisite: Kinesiology.
1.5 CEUsKinesiology - Using basic principles of kinesiology and biomechanics as well as concepts of developmental movement patterns, this course is designed to facilitate the understanding of the anatomy of movement as it relates to fitness and sports. This course also incorporates experiential teaching methods which will deepen and expand the understanding of each individual's own movement patterns and body/mind relationship. Prerequisite: Anatomy & Physiology.
3.0 CEUsNutrition for Health and Fitness - Designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of food and nutrition and their relationship to exercise and good health. Topics to be covered include nutrients in food with special emphasis on optimal nutrition for exercise and sport, carbohydrate loading, nutritional quackery, energy cost of activity, evaluation of body composition and balancing energy input and output. Students will also evaluate popular weight loss methods and the relationship of nutrition to metabolic disorders and they will utilize nutritionist software to evaluate their own nutrient intake.
3.0 CEUsPhysical Fitness Testing and Lifestyle Counseling - This course is designed to provide participants with practical knowledge in the areas of fitness testing and lifestyle counseling. The course will concentrate on evaluation techniques for all the components of fitness as well as behavior modification principles associated with lowing risk for heart disease. These components include body fat composition, muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. In addition, the participant will develop a safe exercise prescription utilizing all the information collected. Prerequisite: Exercise Physiology.
3.0 CEUsPersonal Training Practicum - This course is designed to provide the participant with practical knowledge and skills in the field of personal training. The course will allow the student to use the information from the certificate program in a supervised environment to gain practical experience. Students will be matched with a client for ten weeks and work as a personal trainer under the supervision of the class instructor. Class will include classroom instruction time, individual work with the client, and some work with the client and the instructor together. Students will do an assessment with exercise prescription with the client at the beginning of the program and an assessment at the end. This class may be taken in place of Fitness Leadership to satisfy core requirements. Prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Injury Prevention, Nutrition, Teaching Strength Training or Advanced Weight Training, Fitness Testing and Lifestyle Counseling, and CPR.
3.0 CEUsTeaching Strength Training - The development of muscular strength is an important part of an overall fitness program for individuals of all ages. This course will offer theoretical concepts and practical applications for designing beginner and intermediate weight training programs. Modifications for different populations will also be incorporated into this course. Prerequisites: Kinesiology.
2.0 CEUsAdvanced Weight Training – This class will cover the definition of advanced weight training, differences in men’s and women’s training programs, alternate training methods, free weights vs. machines, training volume and intensity and designing programs for the advanced lifter. With permission of program manager, this course may be taken in place of Teaching Strength Training to fulfill core requirements. Prerequisites: Kinesiology. 8 week course.
2.0 CEUs