Fitness and Wellness Concentration

According to the CDC about 75% of American adults don’t get enough exercise. Are you passionate about health and wellness, not just for yourself but for others? Do you want to spread the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, fitness and wellness? A strong interest in exercise, nutrition and how lifestyle factors impact overall health is the foundation for a concentration in fitness and wellness within the kinesiology major.

Why study fitness and wellness at Gordon?

At Gordon, through academic coursework and experiential learning, you’ll gain the scientific knowledge and practical skills necessary for a successful career as a fitness or wellness professional. You’ll have opportunities to work with varied populations, from students and athletes to older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Real-life experiences can be gained through service-learning projects and internships right on campus, such as the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness, the Bennett Athletic Center and Harmeling Physical Therapy, or at area fitness facilities or wellness studios.

What careers can I pursue with a fitness and wellness concentration?

Graduates with a fitness and wellness concentration are well-positioned to achieve an accredited, professional trainer certification or to continue their education in fields such as exercise and sport science, nutrition or human performance. Gordon’s excellent academic program will provide the foundational knowledge essential for a career in fitness and wellness, including:

• Personal training
• Strength and conditioning coaching
• Medical exercise specialist
• Health coach
• Wellness program coordinator

Learn more about jobs and internships →

Fitness and Wellness Courses

• Nutrition (BIO 225) (4)
• Musculoskeletal Anatomy (KIN 212) (2)
• Exercise Testing and Prescription (4)
• Strength Training and Conditioning for Fitness and Sport Performance (4) 
• Internship (KIN 425) (2-4) 

• One of the following (3):

  • Sports and Health Psychology (PSY465) at McKendree University
  • Sports Psychology (PSY4380) at Keiser University
  • Sports Psychology (PSY452) at Chaminade University of Honolulu through Acadeum 

• Either Biostatistics (MAT 220) or Statistics in Business and Economics (ECB 211) (4) 

• Two of the following (8):

  • Orthopedic Injuries Across the Life Span (KIN 240)
  • Disorders of Voluntary Movement (KIN 350)
  • Clinical Gait Biomechanics (KIN 420)
  • Clinical Exercise Physiology (KIN 423)

• One of the following (4):

  • Principles of Management (ECB 245)
  • Sport Management (ECB 273)
  • Sales and Negotiation (ECB 343)
  • Human Resource Management (ECB 346)
  • Sport Sociology (ECB 365)