Associate in Applied Science in Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance

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Learn more about the Exercise Science program.

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Field of Interest

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance prepares students for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) personal trainer certifications. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for employment in positions such as personal training within health and fitness clubs, wellness centers, and public and private recreation facilities. The curriculum includes the foundational courses required for the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Personal Training coupled with advanced hands-on courses required for the CCL in Personal Training: Advanced that foster the development of critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills important for developing, implementing and leading exercise programs. This curriculum also provides a good foundation for transfer to a four-year bachelor program. Students who complete this AAS also qualify for the CCL in Personal Training and Personal Training: Advanced. An Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Exercise Science is also available for students interested in continuing their studies in this field.

Details

Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest: Health Sciences
Type: Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan: Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance (DEG)
Academic Plan Code: 3059
Total Credits Required: 62-74.5
Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Notes: Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Apply a fundamental understanding of the relevant scientific concepts of human anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and psychology.
Locate and evaluate relevant scholarly literature.
Conduct advanced evidence-based assessments of health and human movement.
Design evidence-based physical activity programs tailored to client goals and needs.
Implement evidence-based physical activity programs tailored to client goals and needs.
Apply theories of motivation and behavior change to develop and implement basic strategies for improving exercise adoption and adherence.
Adapt instructional techniques to ensure client safety and goal attainment.
Apply industry standards of care to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of clients.
Communicate through a variety of written and spoken modalities within diverse contexts.
Demonstrate industry-accepted professional, ethical, and business standards.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

$48,743 Show expanded career information for Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time
Part-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC	3
EMT101 or WED106	Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)		OR Current CPR/AED		0–0.5
EXS101	Introduction to Exercise Science		Critical course Gateway course		3
EXS125	Introduction to Exercise Physiology	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.			3
EXS146	Introduction to Exercise Testing	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor. Prior completion of or concurrent enrollment in EXS125 is recommended.			1
EXS215	Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.			3
EXS217	Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.			3
PED101RT or PED101ST	Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training				1
RE	Restricted Electives				1
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC	3
EXS246	Advanced Exercise Testing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in EXS146 or permission of Instructor.			2
EXS255	Program Design: Muscular Fitness and Performance	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (EXS125 and EXS146) or permission of Instructor.			3
EXS257	Program Design: Cardiorespiratory Fitness	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (EXS125 and EXS146) or permission of Instructor.			3
FON100 or FON241	Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition			or SG	3
MAT14+ or MAT15+	College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions		Critical course OR Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	3–6
PED101++	PED101 Course selection		PED101BC, PED101BS, PED101CY, PED101GF, PED101KB, PED101LD, PED101PC, PED101PS, PED101SR, PED101TC, PED101TX, PED101YG, PED101YH, PED101YO, PED101YP, PED101YR, or PED101ZU		1

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO181++	General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	OR One (1) year of high school biology	SQ	0–4
CRE101++	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or L	3
HES100	Healthful Living		Critical course	SB	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology			SB	3
EXS270 or (EXS270AA and EXS270AB) or EXS275 or (EXS275AA and EXS275AB) or (EXS270AA and EXS275AB) or (EXS270AB and EXS275AA)	Exercise Science Internship or (Exercise Science Internship) or Sport Science Internship or (Sport Science Internship and Sport Science Internship) or (Exercise Science Internship and Sport Science Internship) or (Exercise Science Internship and Sport Science Internship)	Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. or Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division.			3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
BIO160 or BIO201++	Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I	No requisites or Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	SQ or SG	4
EXS290	Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor. EXS101 recommended.	L	3
HES210	Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness		C, G	3
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		HU	3

Restricted Electives

Complete one (1) credit from one of the following course options not already selected in the Required Courses area. Choose a course that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor as needed.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
EXS+++++	Any EXS Exercise Science course	1
FON+++++	Any FON Food and Nutrition course	1
HES+++++	Any HES Health Science course	1
PED+++++	Any PED Physical Education course	1
IFS110	Critical Research for College Success	1

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC	3
EXS101	Introduction to Exercise Science		Critical course Gateway course		3
PED101RT or PED101ST	Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training				1
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC	3
EXS125	Introduction to Exercise Physiology	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.			3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
EMT101 or WED106	Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)		OR Current CPR/AED		0–0.5
EXS146	Introduction to Exercise Testing	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor. Prior completion of or concurrent enrollment in EXS125 is recommended.			1
FON100 or FON241	Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition			or SG	3
MAT14+ or MAT15+	College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions		Critical course OR Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	3–6

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
EXS215	Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.	3
EXS217	Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training	Prerequisites or Corequisites: EXS101 or permission of Instructor.	3
RE	Restricted Electives		1

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CRE101++	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3
EXS246	Advanced Exercise Testing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in EXS146 or permission of Instructor.			2
EXS255	Program Design: Muscular Fitness and Performance	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (EXS125 and EXS146) or permission of Instructor.			3
PED101++	PED101 Course selection		PED101BC, PED101BS, PED101CY, PED101GF, PED101KB, PED101LD, PED101PC, PED101PS, PED101SR, PED101TC, PED101TX, PED101YG, PED101YH, PED101YO, PED101YP, PED101YR, or PED101ZU		1

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
EXS257	Program Design: Cardiorespiratory Fitness	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (EXS125 and EXS146) or permission of Instructor.			3
EXS270 or (EXS270AA and EXS270AB) or EXS275 or (EXS275AA and EXS275AB) or (EXS270AA and EXS275AB) or (EXS270AB and EXS275AA)	Exercise Science Internship or (Exercise Science Internship) or Sport Science Internship or (Sport Science Internship and Sport Science Internship) or (Exercise Science Internship and Sport Science Internship) or (Exercise Science Internship and Sport Science Internship)	Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. or Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) credits of EXS courses with a grade of C or better, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department/Division Chair and/or the Program Director. and Prerequisites: Completion of a grade of C or better in nine (9) credits of EXS courses, approved by the Department Chair and/or Director, current CPR and AED card, and permission of Department or Division.			3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or L	3
HES100	Healthful Living		Critical course	SB	3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
EXS290	Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor. EXS101 recommended.		L	3
HES210	Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness			C, G	3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO181++	General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	OR One (1) year of high school biology	SQ	0–4
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design			HU	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology			SB	3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO160 or BIO201++	Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I	No requisites or Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.		SQ or SG	4

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
EXS+++++	Any EXS Exercise Science course	1
FON+++++	Any FON Food and Nutrition course	1
HES+++++	Any HES Health Science course	1
PED+++++	Any PED Physical Education course	1
IFS110	Critical Research for College Success	1

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Exercise Science program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

C = Cultural Diversity in the US
FYC = First Year Composition
G = Global Awareness
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry

MA = Mathematics
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=178664).

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Field of Interest

Details

What You’ll Learn

Career Opportunities

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

$48,743 Show expanded career information for Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

Course Sequence by Term

Full-time Sequence

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Restricted Electives

Part-time Sequence

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

Term 9

Term 10

Restricted Electives

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Course Area Key

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