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Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Service

The Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services program prepares students for direct employment or ongoing study in these fields. Graduates may find employment working with people of all ages with diverse backgrounds in such areas as health and fitness, municipal parks, commercial recreation, nonprofit settings, community agencies, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The program focuses on direct service programming as it relates to health, wellness, and leisure activities for both the individual and groups.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs for fitness workers are expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations. Opportunities are expected to be good due to rapid job growth in fitness centers, health clubs, and other fitness settings. This is due to businesses and society recognizing the benefits of health and fitness programs.

Students interested in careers in Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services may select from the following options: 1) an A.A. degree with a Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate; 2) an A.A.S. degree in Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services; 3) a Physical Fitness and Wellness Diploma; or 4) a Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate.

Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services — A.A.S. Degree

The A.A.S. degree option is intended to provide students with the training to enter the job market in the field of Wellness, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services.

Upon completion of the two-year curriculum with a grade point average of 2.00 (C), the student is awarded an Associate in Applied Science Degree.

Required Courses/Suggested Schedule
First Year
First Term (Fall Semester)

BIO-152	Health & Nutrition	3 s.h.
ENG-102	Composition & Speech I	4 s.h.
PEH-161	Introduction to Physical Education	2 s.h.
PEH-221	Introduction to Leisure Services	3 s.h.
PSY-121	Developmental Psychology	3 s.h.
	Physical Education/Activities Elective	1 s.h.
		16 s.h.

*Second Term (Spring Semester)*
BUS-107	Business Careers	1 s.h.
ENG-103	Composition & Speech II	4 s.h.
PEA-146	Physical Fitness	1 s.h.
PEA-147	Physical Fitness Lab	1 s.h.
PEA-167	Lifetime Fitness Assessment	1 s.h.
PEH-111	Personal Wellness	3 s.h.
PEH-140	First Aid	1 s.h.
	Physical Education/Activities Elective	1 s.h.
	Recommended Elective(s)	3 s.h.
		16 s.h.

Second Year
Third Term (Fall Semester)

BUS-161	Human Relations	3 s.h.
BUS-225	Business Internship	1-2 s.h.
HSC-150	Body Structure & Function OR BIO-206, Anatomy & Physiology I	4 s.h.
MGT-220	Introduction to Sports Management	3 s.h.
PEC-166	Sports Officiating: Fall & Winter Sports	2 s.h.
PSY-223	Child & Adolescent Psychology	3 s.h.
		16-17 s.h.

*Fourth Term (Spring Semester)*
BIO-151	Nutrition	3 s.h.
BUS-225	Business Internship	1-2 s.h.
MGT-221	Current Issues in Sport	3 s.h.
PEC-127	Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries	2 s.h.
PEC-168	Games & Officiating: Spring & Summer Sports	2 s.h.
	Recommended Elective(s)	3 s.h.
		14-16 s.h.

Total Program Hours 62-65 s.h

Recommended Electives for Health, Exercise Science, and Leisure Services A.A.S. Degree:

BUS-102	Introduction to Business	3 s.h
BUS-134	The Successful Entrepreneur	2 s.h
BUS-136	Creativity, Innovation & Opportunity Analysis	2 s.h
BUS-142	Planning the Entrepreneurial Venture	2 s.h
HSC-108	Introduction to Health Professions	1 s.h
MAT-156	Introduction to Statistics	3 s.h
MGT-101	Principles of Management	3 s.h
MKT-110	Principles of Marketing	3 s.h
MKT-140	Principles of Selling	3 s.h
PEC-110	Coaching Ethics, Techniques & Theories	1 s.h
PEC-115	Athletic Development & Human Growth	1 s.h
PEC-122	Intro. to Anatomy & Physiology for Coaching	1 s.h
PEH-180	Rape Education and Self Defense	2 s.h.
PTA-120	Kinesiology	3 s.h
SOC-215	Prime for Life: Substance Abuse	1 s.h.

A.A. Degree with Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate

An A.A. degree option with a Wellness certificate is designed to be the first two years of a transfer program in a related field. The certificate provides background in personal health and wellness designed to strengthen a student's experience in the area.
Upon completion of the two-year curriculum with a grade point average of 2.00 (C), the student is awarded an Associate in Arts Degree with a Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate.

General Education Core Requirements

BIO-151	Nutrition	3 s.h
BIO-152	Health & Nutrition	3 s.h
BIO-206	Anatomy & Physiology I OR HSC-150, Body Structure & Function*	4 s.h
ENG-102	Composition & Speech I	4 s.h
ENG-103	Composition & Speech II	4 s.h
MAT-156	Introduction to Statistics**	3 s.h
PEA-146	Physical Fitness	1 s.h
PEA-147	Physical Fitness Lab	1 s.h
PSY-121	Developmental Psychology	3 s.h
PSY-223	Child & Adolescent Psychology	1 s.h
	Business Elective	3 s.h
	Physical Education/Activities Electives	2 s.h
	Humanities Elective(s)	9 s.h.
	Social Science Elective(s)	3 s.h
	Humanities/Social Science/ Natural Science/Math Elective(s)	2-3 s.h.

* If completing HSC-150 instead of BIO-206, you will need to complete additional general education electives.
** May need to start with an appropriate level math class first.

General Education courses must total at least 40 semester hours to meet A.A. degree
requirements.

Physical Fitness and Wellness Diploma

The intent of the Physical Fitness and Wellness diploma is to provide a foundation for students interested in group fitness and/or becoming a personal trainer. National certification is available through the American Council of Exercise (ACE).

Upon completion of the curriculum with a grade point average of 2.00 (C), the student is awarded a Physical Fitness and Wellness Diploma.

Required Courses/Suggested Schedule

First Term (Fall Semester)

BUS-107	Business Careers	1 s.h
BUS-161	Human Relations	3 s.h
PEA-146	Physical Fitness	1 s.h
PEA-147	Physical Fitness Lab	1 s.h
PEA-167	Lifetime Fitness Assessment	1 s.h
PEC-127	Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries	1 s.h
PEH-111	Personal Wellness	3 s.h
PEH-140	First Aid	1 s.h
	Physical Education/Activities Elective	1 s.h
	Elective(s)	3 s.h
		17 s.h

Second Term (Spring Semester)

MKT-110	Principles of Marketing	3 s.h
PEH-143	Kinesiology and Anatomical Function OR BIO-206 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 s.h.) OR HSC-150 Body Structure and Function (4 s.h.)	3 s.h
PEH-191	Sports Nutrition OR BIO-151 Nutrition (3 s.h.)	3 s.h
PEH-135	Personal Training	3 s.h
	Elective(s)	1-3 s.h
		13-16 s.h

Total Program Hours 30-33 s.h.

BIO-151	Nutrition	3 s.h
BIO-152	Health and Nutrition	3 s.h
BUS-134	The Successful Entrepreneur	2 s.h
BUS-136	Creativity, Innovation & Opportunity Analysis	2 s.h
PEA-107	Aerobic Circuit Training	1 s.h
PEA-113	Flatwater and River Canoeing	1 s.h
PEA-127	Beginning Jogging
PEA-129	Spinning	1 s.h
PEA-130	Downhill Skiing	1 s.h
PEA-188	Weight Training I	2 s.h
PEA-191	Pilates	1 s.h
PEA-288	Weight Training II	2 s.h.
PEH-221	Introduction to Leisure Services	3 s.h.

Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate

The Physical Fitness and Wellness certificate is intended for individuals desiring an introduction to health and wellness. It may be taken in combination with the A.A. degree.
Upon completion of the curriculum with a grade point average of 2.00 (C), the student is awarded a Physical Fitness and Wellness Certificate.

Required Courses

BUS-107	Business Careers	1 s.h
PEA-146	Physical Fitness	1 s.h
PEA-147	Physical Fitness Lab	1 s.h
PEA-167	Lifetime Fitness Assessment	1 s.h
PEC-122	Intro to Anatomy & Physiology for Coaching*	1 s.h
PEC-127	Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries	2 s.h
PEH-111	Personal Wellness	3 s.h.
PEH-140	First Aid	1 s.h
PEH-191	Sports Nutrition OR BIO-151 Nutrition (3 s.h.)	3 s.h
PEA-188	Physical Education/Activities Electives**	2 s.h
	Total Hours	16 s.h

*HSC-150, Body Structure and Function, or BIO-206, Anatomy & Physiology I, or PEH-143, Kinesiology and Anatomical Function, may be substituted.

**Recommended: PEH-221, Introduction to Leisure Services

Coaching Authorization

A coach is a person who holds a coaching authorization or coaching endorsement from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and who diagnoses, prescribes, evaluates, assists, or directs student learning of an interscholastic athletic endeavor at a practice session or on the field of competition. The coaching authorization class sequence is offered twice per year outside of the regular school calendar.

Upon completion of the curriculum, the student shall submit records of credit to:

Department of Practitioner Preparation and Licensure
Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-3245

For additional information, please see the Iowa Department of Education web site:
http://www.iowa.gov/educate/

Required Courses:

PEC-110	Coaching, Ethics, Techniques, & Theories	1 s.h
PEC-115	Athletic Development and Human Growth	1 s.h
PEC-122	Intro. to Anatomy & Physiology for Coaching.	1 s.h
PEC-127	Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries	2 s.h
	Total Hours	5 s.h.

Go to NIACC Associate Degree Nursing
Health Division

North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu