{"id":164,"date":"2018-08-20T12:43:21","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/health-sciences\/fitness-wellness\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T18:36:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:36:09","slug":"fitness-wellness","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/fitness-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"Fitness Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>About<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Students who pursue this degree graduate ready to work with a diverse range of clients to achieve their health and fitness goals, incorporating skills in stress management, behavior change, fitness assessment, and exercise program design. One of the unique things about our particular program is the incorporation of health coaching, stress management, and behavior change skills in addition to courses in health risk appraisal, fitness assessment, applied movement analysis, and exercise program design.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"What can I do with this degree?_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\">\n            What can I do with this degree?\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>Students who graduate from our program are prepared to work in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fitness and health club facilities<\/li>\n<li>Collegiate and professional sports performance<\/li>\n<li>Health\/medical facilities<\/li>\n<li>Spa\/resort fitness<\/li>\n<li>Worksite wellness departments<\/li>\n<li>Corporate fitness<\/li>\n<li>Independent contracting<\/li>\n<li>Personal training businesses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Meet a Fitness Wellness student_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\">\n            Meet a Fitness Wellness student\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3447 size-square-image\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/314\/The-Fitness-Wellness-program-in-action-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/314\/The-Fitness-Wellness-program-in-action-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/314\/The-Fitness-Wellness-program-in-action-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Meet Macyn Helmsing, an NAU fitness wellness student. She says, \u201c<span data-teams=\"true\">Exercise has helped me so much, and I\u2019m really passionate about it. Choosing this major just made sense because I want to share the life-changing benefits, both physical and mental, of staying active.\u201d Learn more about Macyn in <a href=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/college-health-human-services\/news\/meet-fitness-wellness-students\/\">this blog<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"FAQs_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\">\n            FAQs\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p><strong>Is a certification exam required in order to complete the program?<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p>NAU\u2019s Fitness Wellness program requires students to sit for the<strong> American College of Sports Medicine\u2019s (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist (EP) exam<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is a nationally accredited certification exam for students who have completed a four-year degree in the applied or clinical exercise sciences through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA).\u00a0 It is also the program-approved certification.\u00a0 Students are required to sit for this exam to complete the program.\u00a0 Students are not required to pass this exam in order to graduate, although they are certainly prepared and encouraged to do so.<\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p><strong>What other certification exams does this degree prepare me to take?<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p>Although students in the Fitness Wellness program are required to take the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist \u2013 exam, other nationally accredited certifications that Fitness Wellness students can take include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer or Health Coach Certification<\/li>\n<li>American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer or Health Fitness Specialist<\/li>\n<li>National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainer or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist<\/li>\n<li>National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p><strong>Am I required to do an internship to complete this program?\u00a0 If so, what are my options?<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p>Yes, all students must complete a 9-credit internship during the last semester of the program.\u00a0 The great majority of our existing internship sites are with local fitness facilities, but there are also sites providing wellness and health promotion services.\u00a0 Additionally, we have placed numerous students in the Phoenix metropolitan area and in sites nationwide.\u00a0 New sites are added every semester, both locally and remotely.\u00a0 The purpose of the internship experience is to reinforce the learning outcome concepts, experiences, and skills from the Fitness Wellness academic coursework. <span data-teams=\"true\">One of your Fitness Wellness faculty members will support you in identifying and securing an internship placement.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Program accreditation_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-4-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-4-panel\">\n            Program accreditation\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-4-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-4-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>The NAU Fitness Wellness program is proudly accredited by the <a href=\"https:\/\/caahep-public-site-5be3d9.webflow.io\/committees-on-accreditation\/exercise-science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences<\/a> (CoAES) to ensure students are adequately prepared to become exercise professionals. This credential demonstrates to employers that graduates of the NAU Fitness Wellness program have successfully completed a nationally recognized rigorous curriculum.<\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p>Accreditation by the CoAES \u00a0requires NAU Fitness Wellness faculty to gather data on key program outcomes to ensure that students are well-prepared to enter the competitive job market. In the most recent academic year, <strong>2025-2026<\/strong>, of the <strong>96<\/strong> students who took the American College of Sports Medicine Exam, <strong>64<\/strong> passed. This is a <strong>66.7%<\/strong> pass rate, with the average score of <strong>582<\/strong> (550 is a passing score). Over the past 5 years, <strong>370<\/strong> students sat for this exam, with 230 passing (a 62.2% pass rate). <strong>Additionally, in an anonymous survey of graduating seniors 100% of \u00a0respondents (75\/75) indicated satisfaction with the Fitness Wellness degree program. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-right-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-right-column\" >\n    <div class=\"shortcode-right-column__container\">\n<!-- shortcode-block -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-block\">\n      <div class=\"block-header\">\n        <h3> Contact information<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n          <div class=\"block-body\">\n      <div><h5>Chris Repka, Program Director<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><a href=\"mailto:chris.repka@nau.edu\">chris.repka@nau.edu<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h6>928-523-3415<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/h5><\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-right-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-right-column\" >\n    <div class=\"shortcode-right-column__container\">\n<!-- shortcode-button -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-button shortcode-button--center\">\n      <a class=\"main-button\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/fitness-wellness\/gcc-fitness-wellness-transfer\/\">Learn more about our transfer plan from GCC<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Students who pursue this degree graduate ready to work with a diverse range of clients to achieve their health and fitness goals, incorporating skills in stress management, behavior change, fitness assessment, and exercise program design. One of the unique things about our particular program is the incorporation of health coaching, stress management, and behavior [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3403,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"my-templates\/catalog.php","meta":{"ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-164","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164"}],"version-history":[{"count":62,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3903,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/164\/revisions\/3903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}