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Health and Fitness Management

Health and Fitness Management Advising Sheet

Information on the Major

 

  Links of Interest

 		  Internship and Career Opportunities
 		  International Opportunities

 		  Student Organizations and
Campus Work Opportunities

 

The Health and Fitness Management Major is designed to prepare students for entry-level health and fitness positions and for personal health self-management by developing in students:

  • Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) competencies,

  • American College of Sports Medicine or ACSM Health & Fitness Instructor competencies  (ACSM certifications),

  • NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association ) Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Personal Trainer competencies, and

  • Health Literacy competencies.

These along with the goals presented in Greater Expectations for Education represent the major outcome competencies for the health/fitness major, and for exposing students to a practical liberal education. We also want to promote an international emphasis in our major through international dimensions in assignments, study abroad programs, faculty led programs, international internships, faculty and student exchange programs, etc.

In addition to assessable faculty, smaller class size, excellent facilities, and a "family atmosphere", NMU is focused on using technology for learning. As part of NMU’s laptop initiative every student receives a laptop to facilitate NMU's focus on "high tech, high touch" education. The Health and Fitness Management Major has “high technology” components, where the focus is on students developing:

  • self-directed learning skills using the academic resources on the internet;

  • communication skills using computer technology; and,

  • e-portfolios and e-résumé for internship and job search use. Click model E-portfolio/e-résumé for an example of the work students do throughout the course of the major and for an example e-résumé. One's e-résumé can be posted to the NMU Job Search website or burned on a CD so that potential employers can explore the résumé.

Many of ours students' projects have been selected to be presented at our annual Celebration of Student Research Day, and one of our majors won a $300 award from NMU for her use of technology to achieve educational ends in one of our major classes (HL 367 Program Planning and Evaluation in Health and Fitness) and a National Health Educator of the Year Award from AAHPERD -  below, from left--Professor Coleman, winning student Trisha Hernandez, Professor Hogan, Professor Tremethick and Department Head, Professor Wallace at AAHPERD Convention in Chicago. 

 

Students also get much practical experience in our major and an opportunity to contribute to the community:


Shown with Wayne and Janet Amundsen of Chocolay Township are NMU Health and Fitness Management students, left to right, Trisha Hernandez, Leslie Hahn, and Jonathan Grant.

The Great Marquette Walking Program recently held its 16th annual walking test in the Superior Dome on April 11th, the State of Michigan's longest running fitness testing program! This program provides area residents with a good idea of their fitness level as well as provides a 20 week walking plan.

The project cosponsored by the Health and Fitness Management program at NMU provides excellent future fitness management students who provide results to area residents.

Students are strongly encouraged to connect early with NMU’s Job Search Center. Indeed, HL 110 (Introduction to Health and Fitness Education) promotes career assignments to facilitate this liaison and to help students be proactive in their education. Visit the Health Promotion Society, a student group, run by students for students, and supervised by faculty, and view it as an opportunity to get involved. Other involvement opportunities on campus can be found here.

Internships and Career Opportunities in Health and Fitness Management

An internship (HL 491) is required for all Management of Health and Fitness majors. They can be local or away. Some students are beginning to do international internships in the health fitness field. Internships and careers in health/fitness promotion are found in almost any setting – including, government (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, State or Local Health Depts.), educational institutions (college and university levels, plus corporate schools), coaching and strength coaching (hockey, soccer, etc., -- we have an Olympic Sports Center on campus and see The USA Olympic Site), community organizations (YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, YWHA, Red Cross, Heart Association, etc.), work settings (Pepsico, Medifit, etc., including ergonomics), clinical settings (clinics, hospitals, HMOs), commercial settings (health and fitness clubs, recreation clubs and camps, etc.), entrepreneurial settings (personal trainers, services and product sales, etc.), pharmaceutical sales, travel/leisure settings (Club Med, Cruise lines, etc.), outdoor settings (recreational pursuits such as leading dives in scuba diving), armed and protective services (fitness instructors for army, navy, firefighters, police, etc.),  and so forth. In addition, careers in health/fitness promotion serve myriad target populations including the general population, older adults, athletes, employees, at-risk-youth, children, special populations, etc.

Some internet sites for exploring internship/career opportunities in the field of health/fitness promotion are presented below. It is strongly recommended that students explore these sites and take courses such as HL 110 (Introduction to Health and Fitness Education), HL 111 (Personal Wellness), HP 200 (Physical Fitness), and PE 230 (Fitness Leadership) as introductory courses to this major.

You are invited to visit the following sites and/or to do your own search to explore links to internship and career opportunities in the health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, sports, recreation, and related fields. Please attend to these tips for advice on privacy protection for on-line job/internship searches and for job search advice. And, please note that some addresses may change during the course of the year as we do not have control over the following websites:

 

 For more information, please contact:

Dr. Patricia Hogan  Homepage: www.nmu.edu/hper/faculty/hoganindex.htm
E-mail: phogan@nmu.edu , or contact Professor Barb Coleman at bcoleman@nmu.edu

Last date modified 10/21/08.  Any comments and suggestions regarding this Web Page,  please forward to hper@nmu.edu
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