Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Fitness Studies
-
Overview
Prepare to impact people’s lives, as you acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for an exciting career in the world of health, fitness and exercise.
The major in Sport and Fitness Studies (B.A) major prepares students, who want to go directly into a career, after graduation from WPU, for coaching, fitness, personal training, health & wellness, sport management, and strength & conditioning.
The Sport and Fitness Studies Major focuses on necessary skills for working in the sport and fitness industry and ensures that all students have an in depth knowledge (sport history, sport psychology, personal training, sport coaching, strength & conditioning) and a holistic understanding of the human body (Biology 101, Fitness & Wellness & Nutrition).
More importantly, WPU emphasizes learning-by-immersion, which means the opportunity to work directly with healthy individuals and special populations. Through internships, students gain hands-on experience evaluating fitness levels and developing individualized exercise programs. Upon graduation, they’re ready to work in personal training, sport coaching, health and wellness coaching, fitness and sport management, and other related careers.
“This new and unique BA degree, in Sport and Fitness Studies, focuses on the necessary skills for working in the sport and fitness industry and ensures that students have an in depth knowledge and holistic understanding of the human body.”
WPU SFS Students learn by doing. Beyond theory, students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it firsthand. -
Courses
The courses listed below are for the Academic Catalog and are subject to change. Please reference the Academic Catalog for further information and course descriptions. If you are a current student, please reference the catalog in which you come under.
WPU offers a major in Sport & Fitness Studies (B.A.; Traditional Undergraduate only).
Bachelor of Arts in Sport & Fitness Studies
Liberal Education Core Requirements 49 credit hours Sport & Fitness Studies Core Courses 21 credit hours Allied Requirements of SFS Major 16 credit hours General Electives 34 credit hours Total Credit Hours for Bachelor of Arts in Sport & Fitness Studies 120 credit hours Sport & Fitness Studies Core Courses 21 credit hours ESS 110: Introduction to Exercise and Sport Science 3 ESS 230: Exercise Testing & Prescription 3 ESS 210: History of American Sport 3 First Aid & CPR
Via Certification with the American Red CrossESS 312: Nutrition
Prerequisite Bio 101 (Lib. Ed requirement)3 ESS 310: Sport Coaching* 3 ESS 320: Principles of Strength and Conditioning* 3 ESS 470: Senior Seminar 3 Allied Requirements of ESS Major 16 credit hours PEH 100: Lifetime Fitness and Wellness 2 PSY 101: General Psychology 3 PEH 222: Personal Training* 2 PSY 245: Sport Psychology 3 Choose one of the pairs listed below: ANT 214: Cultural Anthropology 3 ANT 310: Sport Anthropology 3 or BSA 240: Management & Org. Behavior 3 BSA 385: Sport Management 3 Note
*PEH 222, ESS 310, ESS 320: The BA degree curriculum provides the opportunity for 3 Professional Certifications in Personal Training, Sport Coaching, and Strength & Conditioning that students complete during their WPU undergraduate education.
-
Faculty
Assistant Professor and Program Director of Exercise and Sport Science
Department Chair of Science and Mathematics; Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology -
Careers
The Sport and Fitness Studies degree is designed for students interested in a career in the health, fitness and exercise field, but do not want to pursue graduate school.
Positions can be obtained, after graduation, as sport and fitness specialists in various settings.
Examples of Possible Employment:
- Adapted Physical Activity
- #Aquatics Director
- Athletic Administration in a High School
- Campus Recreation Specialist
- Coach at a High School or College
- Director of Youth Camps/ Sport Programs
- Fitness Instructor at Commercial Fitness Center
- Director of Corporate Fitness Center
- Sports and Recreation Director at a Resort
- Health Club Manager
- Health & Wellness Consultant
- Parks & Recreation Specialist
- #Personal Trainer
- Sales Consultant for Pharmaceutical, healthcare, sport or fitness products
- Sport Management
- Sports Information Director
- Sports Journalist
- Sport Marketing
- Sports Officiating
- #Strength and Conditioning Coach
NOTE
#Professional certification required
- FlickrFlickr
Our students pack a punch. Follow along as Aerieal Vineyard ’20 fights her way to a spot on the USA Karate Olympic Team.
