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Allied Health and Emergency Services
Fitness and Exercise A.A.S. Degree and Certificates
Contact Us
Marie Hansel, Interim Dean of Allied Health and Emergency Services
Email:
mhansel@prairiestate.edu
Phone: (708) 709-2947

Prairie State College provides real world training that expands beyond the classroom with its career programs. The number of health and fitness facilities in the U.S. continues to grow, pumping up the number of professionals needed in this red-hot industry. Students interested in fitness orientated careers train on professional equipment with instructors who have real world knowledge. To supplement classroom work and to gain first-hand experience, students perform an internship. More than 90 percent of PSC’s Personal Training certificate graduates are hired by the place they intern. Internship sites may require immunizations and negative background checks.

Fitness and Exercise (A.A.S. Degree)
Fitness and exercise students will be taught the skills needed to pursue professions in the fitness/exercise industry. Students in the fitness/exercise program will acquire an academic foundation in the fundamentals, principles of exercise and nutrition as well as an understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Practical skills will focus on the development of expertise in fitness assessment, creative health and fitness programming, biomechanically sound exercise techniques, training methodology, lifestyle change prescription, personalized exercise leadership, and business practices. In addition, courses in English, math, communication, exercise physiology, special populations, and administration of an exercise facility will prepare the student to be a qualified fitness professional.

I. General Education Core 16 credits
ENG 101  101 Composition I - with a grade of C or better  3
COMM 101 Principles of Communication 3
  Humanities 3
  Mathematics (demonstrated competence required) Placement into MATH 095 or completion of MATH 090- with a grade of C or better  
BIOL 111 Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychology  3
II. Program Requirements   47
 BIOL 108  Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology 
 BUS 101   Introduction to Modern Business  3
 FRESP 101  First Responder  3
 HLTH 101  Health and Wellness  2
 PES 210   Lifestyle Fitness Coaching  2
 PES 215  Group Fitness Instructor Training 
 PES 220  Fitness Assessment / Exercise Program Design I  3
 PES 225  Weight Training: Theory and Application  2
PES 230  Nutrition for Sports and Exercise  3
 PES 235   Athletic Training Techniques  3
 PES 250  Kinesiology  3
 PES 255  Special Populations  3
 PES 260   Fitness/Exercise Facility Management  3
 PES 265   Physiology of Exercise  3
 PES 298   Internship Seminar  1
 PES 299  Internship for Personal Trainers 
 PSYCH  Select one course from PSYCH 102, 212  3
 III. Electives   2 credits
 PE 105   Aerobics I  1
PE 106 Aerobics II 1
PE 107 Aerobics III  1
PE 108  Aerobics IV  1
PES 202  Cultural Dance I  2
Program Total:   65 Credits

Group Fitness Instructor (Certificate)
Group Fitness Instructor prepares students to provide group instruction in fitness. Students acquire basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology and nutrition as it relates to weight management. They are trained in first aid, CPR, and AED, and learn to motivate students using a full range of instructional strategies.

I. Program Requirements 13 Credits
BIOL 108  Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology 4
FRESP 101 First Responder 3
PES 215 Group Fitness Instructor Training 3
PES 230 Nutrition for Sports and Exercise 3
II. Electives   1 credit
 PE 105  Aerobics I   1
 PE 106  Aerobics II  1
 PE 107  Aerobics III   1
 PE 108  Aerobics IV  1
Program Total:   14 credits

Personal Trainer (Certificate)
Personal Trainers will acquire an academic foundation in the fundamental principles of exercise and nutrition, and a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Practical skill training will focus on the development of expertise in fitness assessment, creative health and fitness programming, biomechanically sound exercise techniques, training methodology, lifestyle change prescription, personalized exercise leadership and business practices.

I. Program Requirements 35 Credits
BIOL 108 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology 4
BUS 101 Introduction to Modern Business 3
FRESP 101 First Responder 3
HLTH 101 Health and Wellness 2
 PE 210 Lifestyle Fitness Coaching 2
 PE 215 Group Fitness Instructor Training 3
 PE 220 Fitness Assessment / Exercise Program Design I 3
 PE 225 Weight Training: Theory and Application 2
PE 230 Nutrition for Sports and Exercise 3
PE 235 Athletic Training Techniques 3
PE 250 Introduction to Kinesiology 3
PE 298 Internship Seminar 1
PE 299 Internship for Personal Trainers 3
Program Total:   35 credits

Degrees and Certificates
View the curriculum for each program in the current Academic Catalog. You can also access the entire catalog online. An archive of previous catalogs and addenda is also available.

Please visit Career Programs and Transfer Degrees, where you will find information describing the requirements needed to complete a degree or certificate.

Courses
A listing of course descriptions is available in the current Academic Catalog. For a listing of when courses are offered, consult the current course schedule or WebAdvisor.

Fitness and Exercise, AAS
Fitness and Exercise students will be taught the skills to pursue professions in fitness/exercise. Students will acquire an academic foundation in the fundamentals and principles of exercise and nutrition, as well as an understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Skills will focus on the development of expertise in fitness assessment, creative health and fitness programming, biomechanically sound exercise techniques, training methodology, lifestyle change prescription, personalized exercise leadership, and business practices. Courses in English, math, communication, exercise physiology, special populations, and administration of an exercise facility will prepare the student to be a qualified fitness professional.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the ability to appropriately integrate the skills needed to personal train
  2. Implement program designs
  3. Understand the general characteristics, structure, specific functions, and movement of the human body
  4. Identify work habits and attitudes necessary for success on the job
  5. Assess a client’s cardiorespiratory, muscular endurance, and strength and flexibility