Fitness Leadership & Exercise Science Certificate (EXS) (day only)

The Fitness Leadership and Exercise Science Certificate prepare students for personal training licensure. Students study anatomy and kinesiology, exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics of exercise, human growth and development, aquatics, and personal safety (including CPR), organizational and legal considerations of the fitness industry, and practical applications of individual and group fitness instruction. Students have the option to begin a career after program completion or transfer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that because of an increased value placed upon physical fitness, demand for fitness leaders, instructors, and personal trainers will increase faster than average through 2008.

Campus/format: This program can be completed during the day at the Gardner Campus.

Helpful hints: Those pursuing fitness leader and instructor careers should focus on a particular area of study: aquatics, aerobics, etc. Students should have a commitment to their own physical fitness.

Transfer options: Courses may transfer into other MWCC programs of study including: Complementary Health Care, Massage Therapy, Liberal Arts & Sciences—Fitness Leadership & Exercise Science Concentration, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Nursing. Consult with your academic advisor.

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Fitness leaders, instructors, lifeguards, and personal trainers typically find jobs in fitness and wellness centers, recreational agencies, aquatic programs, as well as individual practices.

Earning potential: $37,753 to $64,562 per year. Varies by education level, certification, and geographical area.

For more program information: Contact the program chair, (978) 630-9261, or the associate dean of health sciences, (978) 630-9229.

Elective courses by abbreviation

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering into this program must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information in either spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Exhibit social skills appropriate to professional interactions.
5. Maintain cleanliness and personal grooming consistent with close personal contact.