Program Overview

Health Sciences - Fitness Wellness, Bachelor of Science

This degree is perfect for those individuals who would like to be involved in designing and facilitating fitness programs in a variety of recreational, nonprofit, corporate, and health club settings. At the end of the degree program, students will be prepared to sit for a nationally accredited certification; ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) which is a requirement for many employment opportunities in the fitness profession.

The Fitness Wellness program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

• All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
• All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
• At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
• At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above).
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

• Students may transfer up to 75 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.
• 71 units of major requirements.
• Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General 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.

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.

Major Requirements

This major requires 71 units distributed as follows:

• Health Sciences Foundations Core: 26 units
• Fitness Wellness Common Core: 45 units

Take the following 71 units:

The following coursework must be completed with a Grade of 'C' or better in each course.

• Health Sciences Foundations Core (26 units)
  • BIO 181, BIO 201, BIO 201L, BIO 202, BIO 202L, BIO 338 (14 units)
  • HS 200 (3 units)
  • FW 360W which meets the junior-level writing requirement. (3 units)
  • NTS 135, NTS 425 (6 units)
• Fitness Wellness Common Core (45 units)
  • BIO 192 (3 units)
  • FW 275, FW 321, FW 325, FW 330, FW 380, FW 405, FW 406, FW 430 (24 units)
  • FW 420C which meets the senior capstone requirement. (3 units)
  • FW 408* (9 units)
  • PSY 101 (3 units)
  • Select from the following (3 units)
    • AT 200
    • DIS 201
    • ES 260
    • FW 299, FW 399
    • HS 485, HS 497
    • NTS 355
    • PE 210, PE 315
    • PSY 215, PSY 227, PSY 240, PSY 250, PSY 255, PSY 260

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

• Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both their undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences - Fitness Wellness and start a Master of Science in Athletic Training at NAU.
• A total of 8 units will be shared between the plans:
  • AT 520, AT 530, AT 535

General Electives

Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

• You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals.
• You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

Program Accreditation

The NAU Fitness Wellness program is proudly accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) to ensure students are adequately prepared to become exercise professionals.

• Accreditation by the CoAES requires NAU Fitness Wellness faculty to gather data on key program outcomes to ensure that students are well-prepared to enter the competitive job market.
• In the most recent academic year, 55.7% of students who took the American College of Sports Medicine Exam passed, with an average score of 564.

What can I do with this degree?

Students who graduate from our program are prepared to work in:

• Fitness and health club facilities
• Collegiate and professional sports performance
• Health/medical facilities
• Spa/resort fitness
• Worksite wellness departments
• Corporate fitness
• Independent contracting
• Personal training businesses

Meet a Fitness Wellness student

Meet Macyn Helmsing, an NAU fitness wellness student, who says, "Exercise has helped me so much, and I'm really passionate about it. Choosing this major just made sense because I want to share the life-changing benefits, both physical and mental, of staying active."

FAQs

• Is a certification exam required in order to complete the program?
  • Yes, NAU's Fitness Wellness program requires students to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist (EP) exam.
• What other certification exams does this degree prepare me to take?
  • Although students in the Fitness Wellness program are required to take the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist – exam, other nationally accredited certifications that Fitness Wellness students can take include:
    • American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer or Health Coach Certification
    • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer or Health Fitness Specialist
    • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainer or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
    • National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer
• Am I required to do an internship to complete this program? If so, what are my options?
  • Yes, all students must complete a 9-credit internship during the last semester of the program.
  • The great majority of our existing internship sites are with local fitness facilities, but there are also sites providing wellness and health promotion services.