2024-2025

Health Sciences - Fitness Wellness, Bachelor of Science

Department of Health Sciences

College of Health and Human Services

This degree is perfect for those individuals who would like to be involved in designing and facilitating fitness programs in a variety of recreational, nonprofit, corporate, and health club settings. At the end of the degree program, students will be prepared to sit for a nationally accredited certification; ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) which is a requirement for many employment opportunities in the fitness profession.
 
The Fitness Wellness program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 210-2350
(www.caahep.org)

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 67 units of major requirements

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Please note that students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Students may transfer up to 75 units of credit from an accredited community college. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.0
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
University Honors Program Optional
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A Recommended
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the B.S. degree in Health Sciences Fitness Wellness degree program is to provide focused educational and practical experiences to those interested in a career in the emerging  fitness/health/wellness industry. Students will be able to design and facilitate fitness programs in a variety of recreational, nonprofit, corporate, and health club settings. The Fitness Wellness program is a combination of general education and core coursework to prepare competent entry-level exercise professionals with the knowledge and skills to assist individuals across the lifespan in adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors that lead to increased fitness, wellness, and optimal health. Students engage in a variety of labs, simulations, and other course work and application activities that prepare them to design and implement exercise programs; understand biomechanics and motor development in the physical domain; develop health and wellness programs in the workplace setting; facilitate independent lasting healthy behavior change; teach and demonstrate exercises; and conduct fitness assessment and health screenings. As a culminating experience, students engage in an immersive and hands-on internship in the field of fitness and wellness.

The Fitness Wellness Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the American College of Sports Medicine

  • Health and Fitness Assessment
    • Implement assessment protocols and pre-participation health screening procedures to maximize participant safety and minimize risk.
    • Determine participant’s readiness to take part in a health-related physical fitness assessment and exercise program.
    • Select and prepare physical fitness assessments for healthy participants and those with controlled disease.
    • Conduct and interpret cardiorespiratory fitness assessments.
    • Conduct assessments of muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.
    • Conduct anthropometric and body composition assessments.
  • Exercise Prescription and Implementation
    • Review pre-participation health screening including self-guided health questionnaires and appraisals, exercise history and fitness assessments.
    • Determine safe and effective exercise programs to achieve desired outcomes and goals.
    • Implement cardiorespiratory exercise prescriptions using the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, and type) for apparently healthy participants based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
    • Implement exercise prescriptions using the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, and type) for flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance for apparently healthy participants based on current health status, fitness goals and availability of time.
    • Establish exercise progression guidelines for resistance, aerobic and flexibility activity to achieve the goals of apparently healthy participants.
    • Implement a weight management program as indicated by personal goals that are supported by pre-participation health screening, health history, and body composition/anthropometrics.
    • Prescribe and implement exercise programs for participants with controlled cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases and other clinical populations.
    • Prescribe and implement exercise programs for healthy special populations (i.e., older adults, youth, pregnant women).
    • Modify exercise prescriptions based on environmental conditions.
  • Exercise Counseling and Behavioral Strategies
    • Optimize adoption and adherence to exercise programs and other healthy behaviors by applying effective communication techniques.
    • Optimize adoption of and adherence to exercise programs and other healthy behaviors by applying effective behavioral and motivational strategies.
    • Provide educational resources to support clients in the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
    • Provide support within the scope of practice of a Health Fitness Specialist and refer to other health professionals as indicated.
  • Legal/Professional
    • Create and disseminate risk management guidelines for a health/fitness facility, department or organization to reduce member, employee and business risk.
    • Create an effective injury prevention program and ensure that emergency policies and procedures are in place.

Transfer Block

  • Students may transfer up to 75 units of credit from an accredited community college.

Major Requirements

  • This major requires 67 units distributed as follows:

    • Health Sciences Foundations Coursework:  23 units
    • Fitness Wellness Common Course Requirements: 44 units


    Take the following 67 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

    • *FW 408: Students must sign-up, pay-for, and take a nationally accredited certification; ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C). (Please Note: a department approved CPR/First Aid course is required prior to taking this course. The student must locate, take and obtain verification of current certification to be cleared for internship/fieldwork.) In addition, students choosing to double major in Fitness Wellness and Physical Education may substitute PE 495C for the HS 408 Internship course.

  • BIO 181 and CHM 151 are not required for this degree, but are prerequisites for other courses which are required for this degree. (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit).

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

    • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

    • Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both their undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences - Fitness Wellness and start a Master of Science in Athletic Training at NAU.

    • Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.

      Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

    • Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

    • Major Requirements

      This major requires 93 units distributed as follows:

      • Health Sciences Foundations:  41 units
      • Fitness Wellness Common Course Requirements: 44 units
      • Athletic Training Course Requirements: 8 units


      Take the following 93 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

      • **MAT 125 is the highest math required for the Accelerated Health Science - Fitness Wellness BS/Athletic Training MS.

      • *FW 408: Students must sign-up, pay-for, and take a nationally accredited certification; ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C). (Please Note: a department approved CPR/First Aid course is required prior to taking this course. The student must locate, take and obtain verification of current certification to be cleared for internship/fieldwork.) In addition, students choosing to double major in Fitness Wellness and Physical Education may substitute PE 495C for the HS 408 Internship course.

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.