Health and Fitness Concentration
The fitness industry has grown at a very fast rate and the demand for qualified professionals to manage and staff fitness programs has also grown rapidly. The Health and Fitness major includes courses in areas such as exercise physiology, basic health studies, fitness evaluation and prescription, fitness program management, psychology, and nutrition. These courses, along with the College of Liberal Arts core, provide students with an excellent liberal arts education and simultaneously gives them the basic courses needed for jobs in the fitness industry. Students also have the opportunity to work in the field via internships and field experiences. The program has considerable flexibility and students are encouraged to obtain one or more minors in related disciplines.
The goals of the health and fitness program are to have the student obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree, prepare to take one or more related certification exams, and prepare for potential employment as an entry-level fitness specialist.
The Health and Fitness major has two specialization tracks: Health Exercise Specialist and Sport Performance Emphasis. Students will begin their specialization track in the third year of the program. There will be a selection process and limited spaces in the Sport Performance Emphasis, but no limits in the Health Exercise Specialist.
In the first year of the major students will learn the essential foundations of basic and advanced exercise techniques. Students will be taken through a variety of exercise routines, analyzing various principles of resistance training, cardiovascular training, flexibility training, and balance. Students will also learn principles of safety during exercise.
In the second year, students will begin a series of clinical classes where they are required to complete six hours a week in various on-campus facilities. At the end of the year, students are required to pass the
In the third and fourth years, students will continue the series of clinical classes. Those students selected for the Sport Performance Emphasis will complete their clinical hours with the Purdue Athletic Department. The students on the Health Exercise Specialist track will complete their clinical hours in the
A 250 hour internship experience is also required of all students. This internship experience provides an opportunity to work in a professional setting directly related to their area of interest and must be completed prior to graduation.
Students qualify to take the
Points of Pride
- The Purdue Department of Health and Kinesiology is housed in Lambert Fieldhouse, a facility named after Ward "Piggy" Lambert, the creator of the fast break in basketball.
- A health and kinesiology graduate will have a liberal arts education and the professional education and training needed for employment in a variety of careers. Graduates may choose to continue with professional education in areas such as physical therapy and medicine or with graduate study in health and kinesiology.
Careers
- Hospital wellness centers
- Privately owned fitness centers
- Public fitness centers
- Personal trainer
- Corporate fitness director
- Fitness equipment sales
- Strength coaching
- Community wellness programs
- Personal training studios
- Physical therapy clinics
- YMCAs, private, and commercial health clubsHealth and Fitness Concentration Plan of Study