student giving a health assessment

Applied Exercise Science and Health students will prepare for careers in this broad field that could include cardiac rehabilitation, gerontology, medically supervised fitness, strength and conditioning, personal training, group exercise instruction, community health, and sport & fitness management. Students will share a strong foundational core of classes and choose a concentration area in their junior year for advanced coursework leading to career-advancing knowledge, and/or preparation for nationally recognized certifications and graduate degree admissions.

The students in their junior year are provided the opportunity to choose a concentration that will further their career preparation in their specific area of focus. Students will choose between four concentrations, 1) Clinical Applied Exercise Science, 2) Sport Performance and Fitness Leadership, 3) Sport and Fitness Management and 4) Community Health.

Sport Performance and Fitness Leadership

Students pursuing the Sport Performance and Fitness Leadership concentration will take advanced course work that will provide them with skills and knowledge to be successful in a variety of potential careers including, Strength and Conditioning, Personal Training, Group Exercise Instruction, Sport Specific Training. Students will have courses that prepare them to take certification exams that include the NSCA – CSCS, NSCA – CPT, ACSM GEI, which assist in future employment opportunities.

Clinical Applied Exercise Science

Students pursuing the Clinical Applied Exercise Science concentration will have advanced courses preparing them for careers that include but are not limited to Cardiac Rehabilitation, Medically Supervised Fitness, Gerontology, Etc.

Sport and Fitness Management

Students pursuing the Sport and Fitness Management concentration will prepare for careers in sport administration, sport marketing, and for-profit and non-profit fitness management. Their additional courses were selected in consultation with the NMU business department. These courses will provide them with the necessary courses to pursue a MBA at NMU if desired.

Community Health

Students pursuing the Community Health concentration will prepare for careers in Health Education that are both for-profit and non-profit. Students will also be prepared for graduate programs including those with a public or community health emphasis. Students will take advanced courses designed to prepare students to earn the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) which will increase their employability.

For employment information in some areas of  health and fitness, please see:

See here for salary information, and also please see the Occupational Outlook Handbook.