Fitness Professional - Certificate

Certificate

fitness

Faculty Advisers

Matt Hart: 503-491-7455 | Room PE161 | Matt.Hart@mhcc.edu | Students with last name A-E
Petra LeBaron Botts: 503-491-7355 | Room  PE155 | Petra.LeBaronBotts@mhcc.edu | Students with last name F-J
Dawn Markell: 503-491-6984 | PE158 | Dawn.Markell@mhcc.edu | Students with last name K-O
Amanda Shelton: 503-491-7350 | Room PE157 | Amanda.Shelton@mhcc.edu | Students with last name P-T 
Josh Stratman: 503-491-7201 | Room PE160 | Josh.Stratman@mhcc.edu | Students with last name U-Z

This program gives students the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become a fitness trainer. Trainers guide, instruct, and motivate clients to pursue health goals through exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. Fitness trainers can work in fitness and health facilities, corporations, or as private contractors. Courses in the program teach students about: nutrition; proper exercise techniques and training instruction; health and fitness assessment; designing fitness programs; and more. Students who complete this program will earn a First Aid and CPR certification, as well as take a national fitness trainer certification exam.

All core courses must be completed within 5 years in order for the certificate to be awarded.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certification program, students will be able to:

  • Identify, analyze and apply behavior modification strategies to promote health and fitness to clients
  • Apply advanced exercise principles in order to create responsive, adaptive, and personalized exercise programs for a diverse population
  • Describe national standards of professional practice including ethical business practices, confidentiality, adherence to legal requirements and professionalism as they relate to the fitness professional
  • Administer and analyze various fitness assessments including cardiovascular endurance, power, speed, body composition, anthropomorphic measurements, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility
  • Identify and implement widely-accepted procedures and protocols for emergency cardiac care, airway obstruction, automated external defibrillator and basic first aid

General education courses (such as math, writing, health, etc.) can be taken during any term, or before starting the program. 

Plan of Study Grid
First Quarter
FallCredits
HPE170 Structure and Function of the Human Body 3
HPE295 Health and Fitness for Life (Course offered online) 3
MTH065 Beginning Algebra II (Course offered online) (or higher, excluding MTH098) 4
PE131 Introduction to Exercise and Sports Science 3
HE252 First Aid: Responding to Emergencies 3
 Credits16
Second Quarter
Winter
HPE172 Exercise Science 3
HPE260 Prevention and Care of Exercise-Related Injuries 3
COMM111Z Public Speaking (Course offered online) 4
WR121Z Composition I (Course offered online) 4
 Credits14
Third Quarter
Spring
HE204 Nutrition for Health 3
HPE174 Fitness Assessment and Programming 3
PE280B Coop Ed-Physical Education 2
PSY201Z Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online) 4
Health/PE electives 2
 Credits14
 Total Credits44

HPE110 Teambuilding and Group Facilitation

Credits 3Fall

This course introduces students to teambuilding activities, group facilitation, and processing. Students learn how to lead activities that develop teamwork, communication, leadership, and trust. Topics covered include conflict-resolution, decision making, group development, leadership, and followership. Students learn facilitation techniques, problem-solving initiatives, teambuilding initiatives, ice breakers, games, and processing techniques.

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education; Human Relations

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate how to effectively facilitate an entire teambuilding program
  2. Implement various methods of processing, initiatives, and games to help participants identify behaviors, bias, and social issues
  3. Interview a group and create a sequence of initiatives to meet group's needs such as teamwork, communication, etc.
  4. Lead physically and emotionally safe teambuilding initiatives
  5. Develop and facilitate activities that address conflict resolution, decision making, leadership, communication, and teamwork issues

HPE120 Introduction to Navigation

Credit 1Fall

This course introduces students to wilderness navigation. Students learn wilderness navigation concepts including map and field bearings, declination, triangulation, contour line interpretation, GPS receiver use, map types, scales and coordinate systems.

Additional Course Fee: $23.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Determine location using Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates as well as latitude/longitude coordinates
  2. Discuss the basic components of a topographic map including map symbols, contour lines, latitude and longitude, map scales, declination, coordinate systems
  3. Identify land forms, landmarks and other land features by reading map contour lines
  4. Identify the components of a compass, how to use a compass to take map bearings and how to apply map bearings to the field
  5. Navigate to control points using a map and compass

HPE170 Structure and Function of the Human Body

Credits 3Fall

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

This course is the first in a series of courses that introduces exercises science to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the fitness industry. This course will introduce the anatomy and physiology of components involved in the human movement system including the nervous, skeletal, muscular, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. The processes of how the body produces and utilizes energy for exercise will also be introduced.

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Describe metabolism, energetics and the primary ways the body produces and utilizes energy for exercise
  2. Discuss how the body establishes fluid, Electrolyte, and acid-base balance
  3. Explain how the various systems of the human body function and work together.
  4. Identify the basic structures and functions of the various systems involved in the human movement system (nervous, skeletal, muscular, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory)

HPE172 Exercise Science

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels. HPE170 is recommended.

This course is the second in a series of courses that introduces exercises science to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the fitness industry. This course will introduce the mechanical laws and forces that affect movement as well as the effects exercise has on the human physiology will be emphasized. Common training concepts and how exercise impacts health and fitness will also be presented.

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Describe the concept of functional multi-planar biomechanics and identify basic biomechanical terminology
  2. Describe the primary methods of how the body produces and utilizes energy for exercise
  3. Explain how exercise affects the human physiological systems involved in movement
  4. Explain the laws of motion as well as the internal and external forces that affect movement
  5. Identify and describe common training concepts

HPE174 Fitness Assessment and Programming

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels. HPE170 and HPE172 are recommended.

This course is the third in a series of courses that introduces exercises science to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the fitness industry. This course will introduce methods of assessing the health and fitness status of individuals. An emphasis will be placed on assessing the exercise readiness of individuals and designing exercise programs that are safe, efficient, goal oriented and addresses the needs of the individuals.

Additional Course Fee: $549.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Describe methods used to assess the health and fitness status of an individual
  2. Design an exercise program that will address the needs and goals of an individual
  3. Explain the safe and effective use of various exercise training methods
  4. Identify various lifestyle and behavioral factors that influence the health and fitness status of an individual and explain ways to promote change
  5. Recognize how acute and chronic responses to exercise vary in individuals with various health conditions or physical/functional limitations

HPE260 Prevention and Care of Exercise-Related Injuries

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated levels. Co-requisite: MTH058 or MTH065, or placement above stated levels. Recommended requisites: HPE170 and HE252.

This course is designed for future health and fitness professionals, coaches, or individuals involved in sport as an introduction to support the safety and well-being of participants. Throughout this course students will gain a basic understanding of human anatomy, learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of medical emergencies, develop and implement an appropriate emergency action plan, utilize strategies to recognize and reduce risk for injury or illness, and identify basic sport injuries. This course consists of lecture classes with an emphasis on hands-on application of skills.

Additional Course Fee: $12.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Identify professional roles within the field of sports medicine.
  2. Define common terminology related to sports medicine.
  3. Develop an emergency action plan.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of basic human anatomy.
  5. Analyze common movement patterns.
  6. Identify and describe various internal and external risk factors for injury.
  7. Identify major injury and illness presentations and outcomes.
  8. Demonstrate understanding of basic injury prevention tactics and how they relate to various injury types.
  9. Demonstrate knowledge of basic injury assessment techniques.
  10. Identify and describe uses for modalities and treatment techniques.

HPE270 Introduction to Sport Psychology

Credits 3Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels.

This is an introductory course into the psychological principles of sport and exercise. Throughout this course students will explore different strategies for enhancing confidence, concentration, and motivation; discuss team development and leadership styles; and identify factors that influence motor skill development.

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Develop and evaluate an effective goal to enhance skill development and/or performance
  2. Examine the different types of motivation an individual may have regarding development in sport and exercise
  3. Recognize different learning styles and their role in motor skill development
  4. Identify strategies for improving awareness, concentration, and focus
  5. Differentiate emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses to exercise, stress, and performance
  6. Identify characteristics of various coaching styles to promote individual and team development
  7. Characterize effective imagery and visualization techniques

HPE285OL Wilderness Survival

Credits 3Fall/Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels. Students must be capable of participating in the field outing associated with the class. Students with disabilities are responsible for requesting accommodations and must do so a minimum of two weeks before the beginning of the term.

This course provides the information and skills necessary for safe, low-impact, outdoor travel. Topics include environmental hazards, land navigation, survival skills, introduction to search and rescue, introduction to wilderness emergency care, low-impact camping and environmental issues. This course includes information on Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR and is recommended for all students interested in recreating outside.

Additional Course Fee: $5.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Leave No Trace principles
  2. Demonstrate CPR and AED techniques for adults
  3. Demonstrate first aid skills and alternative wilderness first aid techniques
  4. Demonstrate key outdoor life skills including, emergency shelters, clothing/equipment selection, and emergency fire construction
  5. Identify land features on a map and take a compass bearing

HPE291 Lifeguard Training

Credits 2Fall/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 or IECC201R, with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course level. On the first day of class, all participants must successfully complete the following: 1) 300 yd. continuous swim demonstrating rhythmic breathing, 2) 2 minute tread-water using only legs, 3) a timed event (within 1 min, 40 sec) including a 20 yd swim, dive 7-10 ft., retrieve 10# object, swim 20 yd on back using both hands to hold the object and swim with face above water.

This is an American Red Cross/college course that will teach students to recognize an emergency, respond appropriately, and prevent injury in an aquatic environment. Effective pool supervision, education and enforcement of rules, and various rescue techniques will be covered. Successful completion of this course may include the American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, CPR/AED Certification and First Aid Certification.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

HPE295 Health and Fitness for Life (Course offered online)

Credits 3Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels. This is a 3-credit class which includes 2 hours of lecture/wk and the face-to-face student is expected to participate in 1500 minutes of ACT Lab workouts during the term.

Health and Fitness for Life explores how wellness, physical fitness, stress, nutrition and cardiovascular health affect an individual's health and well-being. This course includes an exercise component that requires students to actively engage in exercise within a designated workout facility.

Additional Course Fee: $25.00

This course fulfills: Health & Physical Education

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Create an individualized goal related to health, wellness, and/or performance
  2. Differentiate the health-related components of fitness
  3. Demonstrate consistency participating in an exercise routine
  4. Identify the role of nutrition and exercise in body composition modification or maintenance
  5. Describe lifestyle behavior patterns and their influence on health, wellness, and chronic disease risk
  6. Identify the role of essential macronutrients in the body
  7. Describe the effects of stress on long term health and identify various stress management techniques.

Online option regularly offered

Cultural Literacy course