Welcome to the Exercise Science Program online information session.

The information session is designed to supply applicants to the Exercise Science program with accurate information and guide them through the application process. 

Successful completion of an information session is a mandatory step in the application process and must be completed before applying to the program. 

At the end of the presentation, there is a post-test to be completed as verification of reading the informational session material.

Objectives

Upon completion of this informational session, you should be able to:

• Define/Describe Exercise Science Program
• Understand the job market.
• Describe your educational options for the Exercise Science Program
• List the requirements for being admitted to the Exercise Science Program

The goal of this information session is to define the Exercise Science Program, explain the difference between the two Exercise Science certificates and the Associate of Applied Science degree, give you a brief overview of the roles and responsibilities that you should expect as a Personal Fitness Trainer, and provide you with information about the job market and application process. 

What is the Exercise Science Program?

The Exercise Science program prepares students for a variety of careers within the rapidly growing fitness and wellness industry. In general, students will use their knowledge of fitness, exercise, and a proper diet to help individuals or groups improve their health and well-being.

Graduates are qualified to work with gyms, corporations, or individuals.

Areas of Study for the Exercise Science Program

• Aerobic Training
• Strength Training
• Fitness Assessment
• Exercise Prescription
• Equipment Use and Safety
• Wellness Concepts

Students in the Exercise Science program receive skilled instruction in aerobic training, strength training, fitness assessment, exercise prescription, equipment use and safety, and wellness concepts which deal with issues such as smoking cessation, stress management, and weight control.

The Program goals are to:

1. Produce students who are to produce students who are competent and knowledgeable in both the concepts of fitness and health, as well as skilled in the application of training methods on a healthy individual.
2. Actively train individuals with a focus on safe and effective programs that result in a healthier client.
3. Optimize employment opportunities for the graduates of our program. Students will be prepared to work in gyms, corporations, or with individuals.
4. Help students prepare for national certification exams. 

Why Choose ACC?

• Qualified Faculty
  • Graduate degrees in Exercise Science/Health Promotion
  • All faculty are nationally certified 
• Excellent pass rate for national exams
  • 90% pass rate for ACE-PT exam
  • 92% pass rate for NSCA-CPT exam.
  • 100% pass rate for ACSM-CPT exam
• Focus on practical learning:
  • Approximately half of the FITT courses have labs. 
  • Students in the one-year certificate and two-year associate’s degree are placed at a fitness facility in their final summer semester for true “hands-on” guided learning. Although not a guarantee, many of the interns are offered a position at the end of their internship.

Why is this Job Market so Lucrative?

Aging baby boomers – are concerned with staying healthy, physically fit, and independent. They have become the largest demographic group of health club members.

Reduction of physical education programs and childhood obesity – The reduction of physical education programs in schools, combined with parents’ growing concern about childhood obesity, has resulted in rapid increases in children’s health club membership.

Youth athletes and young professional adults – Increasingly, athletic youth are hiring personal trainers, and weight-training gyms for children younger than 18 are expected to continue to grow. Health club membership among young adults has grown steadily, driven by concern with physical fitness and by rising incomes.

In addition, the job market continues to expand and diversify in areas that are not so typical.

• Wedding market
• Modeling agencies/acting schools
• Faith-based fitness
• Physical therapy centers
• Medical community marketing
• School/day care centers
• Corporate fitness
• Hospital community
• Cruise ships

Job Expectations

What are common job expectations for the Trainer?

• Many jobs are part-time, but trainers may work at multiple sites to help increase income. Full-time employment is more difficult for beginners to obtain.
• Night and weekend working hours are common for the person fitness trainer.

Pay Expectations

Median pay at national levels 

Based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages of fitness trainers and aerobics instructors in can be found at the US Department of Labor. 

The Exercise Science program offers three plans that an individual can apply to.

Fitness Specialist: seventeen-hour certificate

Click here to view the certificate plan

Employment expectation for this certificate

The Fitness Specialist certificate can be completed in one semester. This certificate is designed to train individuals who seek employment as a support staff member in a fitness facility, but not as a personal trainer. Included in the 17-hour certificate are instruction in fitness evaluation, wellness concepts, facility operation, and human anatomy and physiology.

Personal Fitness Trainer: Thirty-five-hour certificate

Click here to view the certificate plan

Employment Expectations for this certificate

The certificate is designed to train individuals who seek employment as a Personal Trainer. This certificate is designed to offer focused instruction in the field of exercise science with specific training in fitness evaluation and testing, program design and implementation, and advanced training methods and nutrition. Along with appealing to individuals who want to learn the skills and knowledge to be a Personal Trainer, this is also an excellent choice for current professionals wanting to update their skills.

CPR

Students must hold current adult CPR/AED certification to be awarded the Certificate. 

Associate of Applied Science

Click here to view the degree plan

Sixty-hour degree program

The Associate of Applied Science is a 60-hour, two-year degree program. 

Employment Opportunities

The degree may offer more employment opportunities in facilities that require a higher level of education.

CPR

Students must hold current adult CPR/AED certification to be awarded the Personal Fitness Associate of Applied Science Degree.

Degree versus certificate

The degree is designed to integrate the educational and practical training skills needed to be an exercise professional, as well as cater to the individual who may have plans to continue his/her education at a four-year institution. 

National Certification

The program incorporates material specific to national certification preparation for exams such as those offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (C-PT), National Strength and Conditioning Association (C-PT), and the American Council on Exercise (PT)

• American College of Sports Medicine
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• American Council on Exercise

Requirements for Exercise Science Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)

The prospective student interested in the Associate Degree must meet with the Department Chair to develop a degree plan. Course suggestions will vary greatly depending on the individual student’s college transcript. Please note that an associate degree pursuant can begin with a Fitness Specialist Level 1 Certificate, move on to the Personal Fitness Trainer Level 1 Certificate, and then complete the Exercise Science Associate of Applied Science degree.

Technical Standards

The Exercise Science program establishes technical standards and essential functions to ensure that students have the abilities required to participate and potentially be successful in all aspects of the respective programs, with or without reasonable accommodations due to a documented disability. 

Fitness experts must have a variety of personal attributes and abilities to be successful in this challenging field. Technical Standards are required to be met by applicants to the program. Please review the technical standards located on page 2 of the Exercise Science Student Handbook.

Students are required to meet technical standards and essential functions for the Exercise Science program as indicated above. If an applicant or student is unable to meet all of the outlined standards, he/she may be withdrawn from the program. 

Personal Factors for Acceptance

Priority for acceptance is given to individuals who:

Have displayed academic success previously to applying to the program, and can pursue either the certificate or the AAS degree as a full-time student. Although part-time status does not exclude a student from the program. 

Application Requirements

• No criminal background check required
• No immunization records required
• No drug screen required

Application Process 

1. Apply to ACC: http://www.austincc.edu/discover/ (NOTE: IF YOU ARE ALREADY AN ACC STUDENT, PLEASE SKIP THIS AND GO TO THE NEXT STEP)
2. Complete the Information Session (which you are doing at the moment).
3. Submit the departmental application. The Department Chair or a faculty advisor will contact you to schedule an individual consultation.

Please NOTE: Acceptance into ACC does not guarantee acceptance into the Program. 

You have concluded the informational session for the Exercise Science program.

Application

1. Please continue to the Application.