The Fitness, Nutrition, and Health Certificate of Achievement at Santa Rosa Junior College is designed to provide an in-depth study and practical application of principles of nutrition, weight management, behavior modification, fitness testing, physical fitness training, exercise leadership and program design. This certificate/major is for students seeking careers and/or additional training in the fitness and health industry. Possible career opportunities may include personal trainer, group exercise instructor, health or wellness coach, weight management consultant, aerobic dance instructor, and fitness instructor. This program also prepares students to sit for nationally recognized certification exams such as American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

This certificate is unique in its design because in addition to learning principles of exercise science, it also encompasses comprehensive topics in the area of health, nutrition, and behavior change vital for fitness trainers to address broader client goals and to meet the need of a growing trend toward wellness type coaching. This certificate also has a strong emphasis on practical “hands-on” experience and teaching techniques.

This program of study is also available as an Associate degree major option.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

1. Design safe and effective training programs based on client needs, goals, fitness level and health history;
2. Demonstrate proper individual and group exercise leadership skills for general and special populations;
3. Evaluate client food intake and educate clients on healthful eating habits for weight management and physical performance;
4. Integrate behavior modification techniques and concepts of health and wellness to formulate comprehensive training plans; and
5. Analyze emerging information in the field of nutrition, health, and fitness and differentiate between credible and non-credible sources and information.