Program Overview

Health & Fitness Program

The Health and Fitness option within the Kinesiology major prepares graduates for careers requiring leadership in organizing, directing, and managing fitness and wellness programs in corporate and commercial settings. The overall goal of the health and fitness option is to develop basic knowledge, comprehension, and appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives of human movement, social and psychological influences of human movement, and physiological and biomechanical correlates of human performance.

Program Description

From this broad knowledge base, the program's inherent flexibility allows students to pursue a variety of areas related to physical activity and sport. This option also prepares students for professional certifications in fitness and conditioning through professional organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Career Opportunities

Kinesiology students at Montana State University go into careers such as:

• Sports Medicine
• Fitness & Conditioning

Sample Course Plan

The following is a sample course plan for the Health and Fitness program:

Year One

• Freshman Year:
  • Fall:
    • CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab (4 credits)
    • M 161Q - Survey of Calculus (4 credits)
    • Choose one of the following: PSYX 100IS - Introduction to Psychology or KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science (3-4 credits)
    • Choose one of the following: WRIT 101W - College Writing I or University Core (3 credits)
  • Spring:
    • CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab (4 credits)
    • COMX 111US - Introduction to Public Speaking (3 credits)
    • Choose one of the following: KIN 105 - Foundations of Exercise Science or PSYX 100IS - Introduction to Psychology (3-4 credits)
    • NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition (3 credits)
    • Choose one of the following: University Core or WRIT 101W (3 credits)

Year Two

• Sophomore Year:
  • Fall:
    • BIOH 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
    • KIN 210 - Principles of Strength and Conditioning (3 credits)
    • PHSX 205 - College Physics I (4 credits)
    • STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)
  • Spring:
    • BIOH 211 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
    • KIN 320 - Exercise Physiology (4 credits)
    • PHSX 207 - College Physics II (4 credits)
    • University Core (4 credits)

Year Three

• Junior Year:
  • Fall:
    • HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD (3 credits)
    • KIN 322 - Kinesiology (4 credits)
    • Suggested Electives (9 credits)
  • Spring:
    • KIN 325R - Biomechanics (4 credits)
    • Kinesiology Suggested Electives (9 credits)

Year Four

• Senior Year:
  • Fall:
    • KIN 330 - Motor Learning and Control (4 credits)
    • NUTR 411 - Nutrition for Sports and Exercise (4 credits)
    • Suggested Electives (6 credits)
  • Spring:
    • Suggested Electives (6 credits)
    • University Core and/or General Electives (10 credits)

Total Program Credits

The total program credits for the Health and Fitness program is 120 credits.

Additional Information

For more details on what your full study plan could look like, consult the official Montana State University course catalog for specific registration and advising information.