View Exercise Science/Health Fitness Leadership (R)
View Gerontology (R)
View Health Education (R)
View Personal Training Certificate (R)
View Physical Education Teacher Preparation/Coaching (R)

Tracks in health enhancement, exercise science, and physical education are designed for students interested in adult fitness, personal training, worksite wellness, cardiac rehabilitation, health promotion, community health, teaching health or physical education on the elementary or secondary level, and athletic coaching.

Career possibilities in physical education and health have expanded beyond the traditional school setting during the past decade. Americans have grown more interested in personal health, fitness, wellness, and leisure-time physical activities. This has created a demand for professionals with specialized training to provide leadership and service in adult fitness and health promotion. In response to these changing societal interests and the resulting job market, the Department of Health Enhancement, Exercise Science, and Physical Education offers four tracks from which students may choose to fulfill their career goals: exercise science/health fitness leadership, gerontology, health education, and physical education teacher preparation/coaching.

Each track provides the first two years of a typical four-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree. The A.A. in arts and sciences is awarded upon completion of all requirements in the specific track. Most career opportunities in fields related to these curricula require a bachelor's degree. The program at Montgomery College prepares students to efficiently transfer and complete their upper-level coursework at a four-year institution. A certificate curriculum in personal training is also available.

Colleges and universities vary in their requirements. Thus, it is important that students contact the program coordinators or departmental advisers prior to registration to ensure the design of a program that transfers efficiently.

This A.A. track is designed for the student whose objective, after completion of a baccalaureate degree, is to pursue a career in adult fitness, sports conditioning, or health promotion. Professional preparation in exercise science and health fitness offers employment opportunities as personal trainers, fitness and health promotion directors for employee worksite and hospital-based fitness/wellness programs, exercise specialists for cardiac rehabilitation programs, exercise physiologists with sports medicine centers, strength and conditioning specialists for college and professional athletic teams, and fitness and wellness coordinators with health clubs, YMCAs, resorts, hotels, and government and recreation agencies. Job markets in fields related to this program are expanding as our society continues to become more health conscious and aware of the benefits of fitness as a way of life. This track offers courses that are also appropriate for students interested in pursuing a degree in sports management, kinesiology, sport studies, athletic training, sport physical therapy, physical therapy, and therapeutic recreation.

Students will acquire a scientific foundation and develop the ability to apply theoretical information to practical real-life situations. Emphasis is on an understanding of the human body, lifetime fitness principles and training techniques, prevention and care of exercise-related injuries, nutrition, weight control, stress management, and other related lifestyle wellness topics. Students will learn to conduct fitness assessments, and they will acquire skills in the design, implementation, and supervision of individualized exercise and lifestyle change prescriptions. Exercise leadership development will focus on the acquisition of medically and biomechanically safe techniques in strength training, flexibility training, and cardiovascular conditioning.

Completion of the A.A. requirements in exercise science/health fitness leadership will prepare students for fitness certifications through nationally recognized professional organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. Successful completion of specialized courses such as PE 226 Aerobics Instructor Training and PE 240 Instructional Exercise Techniques for Older Adults allows students to be eligible to take specialized certifications in addition to the fitness certifications.

The Rockville Campus Life Fitness Center, the Fitness/Wellness Assessment Laboratory, the Employee Wellness Program, and other off-campus sites will provide students opportunities to obtain valuable practical experiences in the most current technologies used to develop and evaluate fitness and wellness.

This A.A. track is designed to introduce the student to the dynamic and rapidly expanding study of the human aging process. The curriculum provides a strong theoretical base in the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging. Students will be provided with the opportunity to put theory into practice with field work experience in gerontology. The combination of classroom work and field experience will provide students with "real world" knowledge and appreciation of careers in aging.

The gerontology track is also designed to acquaint students with city, county, state, and federal resources available to our aging population. In the course of their studies, students will be provided with valuable networking opportunities sure to enhance employability upon completion of the program.

Should the student desire to continue studies in gerontology, health education, or related fields, this track has been developed according to standards set by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education ensuring transferability of credits earned to member institutions.

This A.A. track prepares students to enter a diverse, people-oriented field in which professionals work to promote lifestyle wellness and improve the health status of society. Health educators assist people in making responsible decisions and changing behaviors to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Professionals in this fast-growing field are employed by public and private health care organizations, government agencies, hospital wellness centers, corporate-based worksite health programs, college and university health service centers, insurance companies, private health promotion corporations, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, family planning agencies, and health clinics, and as education representatives for textbook publishers and pharmaceutical companies. Graduates with school health degrees teach on the elementary, secondary, and college levels, in both private and public school settings. School health educators also qualify to work in many community and governmental agencies. Job titles include patient educators, health program managers, health education teachers, community health organizers, health promotion directors, and wellness coordinators.

Personal Training Certificate (R)

The personal training certificate curriculum has been designed to develop innovative fitness specialists who are knowledgeable and skilled in one-to-one fitness and wellness instruction. The curriculum blends science and theory with practical application and hands-on apprenticeship experiences.

Students will acquire an academic foundation in the fundamental principles of exercise and nutrition, and a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Practical skill training will focus on the development of expertise in fitness assessment, creative health and fitness programming, biomechanically sound exercise technique, training methodology, injury prevention and care, lifestyle change prescription, personalized exercise leadership, and personal training business practice. Specialized courses will prepare trainers to meet clients in the home or at the fitness center to guide them through programs tailored to meet an array of health enhancement and performance-related goals.

The certificate curriculum offers the educational framework and basic competencies for entry-level career opportunities for full- or part-time employment. Completion of the certificate requirements will prepare students for many of the nationally recognized personal training certification examinations. Students must meet CPR requirements to participate in apprenticeship experiences.

This A.A. track provides the first two years of a teacher preparation program for the elementary and secondary grade levels.

Physical educators plan and direct appropriate learning experiences that focus on helping students learn to enjoy physical activity as a lifelong pursuit. Physical education specialists are trained to create teaching/learning environments where students improve movement abilities, enhance performance knowledge and motor skills, increase physical fitness, and experience personal growth both socially and emotionally.

This track also includes foundation courses for students interested in coaching athletes on the interscholastic and other levels. Athletics involves recruiting, coaching, managing, and administering teams that compete against other athletic programs. Athletic programs have significantly different goals from physical education, yet often share facilities, equipment, fields, and teachers.

Refer to course description pages to identify courses with prerequisites.
Courses in italics meet General Education requirements.