2019-2020 Catalog

Physical Fitness (A.S.)

Associate in Science

Program Advisor: Sherry Scheer

413-236-4511 • sscheer@berkshirecc.edu

This program is endorsed by The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. The Physical Fitness degree option offers students an opportunity to expand upon the Physical Fitness certificate program. In addition to instruction in nutrition, cardiovascular and strength conditioning, personal training and other topics that are covered in the certificate program, the degree program goes on to explore the human body and its relationship to exercise and fitness more intensely. Topics include the mind/body connection, injury prevention and sports psychology. Deeper exploration of exercise physiology and human anatomy are also provided.

Essential Functions

Enrollment in this Physical Fitness program requires that the student, with or without reasonable accommodations (see Notes), must be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to coordinate simultaneous motions;
  • Perform movements that require supination, pronation, flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, hyperextension rotation, circumduction;
  • Operate strength training equipment that requires pushing, pulling, rotating, or moving objects and weights;
  • Demonstrate ability to retain and evaluate information for use in supervision and evaluation of clients;
  • Display cognitive (thinking) abilities to measure, calculate, reason, and analyze information and data;
  • Demonstrate ability to manipulate dials on equipment;
  • Demonstrate the ability to stretch, bend, lunge, sit, step up, step down and chop;
  • Perform exercise skills in both fast and slow cadences;
  • Maintain a level of energy and endurance necessary to complete essential functions;
  • Demonstrate safe body mechanics when moving clients or equipment including lifting, carrying small equipment (under 50 lbs.) and moving large equipment (over 50 lbs.);
  • Function within the ethical and legal standards of fitness settings;
  • Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage two or more activities or sources of information;
  • Utilize problem-solving skills in making a decision;
  • Detect an unsafe environment and carry out appropriate emergency procedures; and
  • Effectively communicate to clients and other health professionals by:
    • Explaining procedures;
    • Receiving information from others;
    • Receiving information from written documents;
    • Exhibiting appropriate interpersonal skill(s) to motivate clients;
    • Analyzing and documenting assessment finding and intervention; and
    • Demonstrating the ability to critically read and interpret charts, instruction and manuals.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Demonstrate written and oral English competence;
  • Use modern technology to access, evaluate and apply information to use state-of-the-art fitness equipment safely and perform cardio monitoring;
  • Demonstrate competence in career planning, health management and lifelong learning;
  • Demonstrate skills beyond entry-level (health and fitness club manager, private personal trainer, specialized fitness instructor);
  • Identify good, basic exercise testing and program design; and
  • Practice good nutrition and explain basic principles to clients relative to exercise physiology.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

AHS-142Exercise Science

3

AHS-148Responding to Medical Emergencies

2

AHS-150Introduction to Nutrition

3

AHS-155Stress and Your Health

3

AHS-220Principles of Fitness Components

3

AHS-235Fitness Program Planning

3

AHS-238Mind/Body Theory and Methods

3

PED-135Ultimate Functional Training Workout

2

PED-136Weight Training

1

PED-137Cardio Fit

1

PED-144Stretching and Flexibility

1

PED-152Group Exercise Instruction

2

PED-161Advanced Strength Training

1

PED-170Personal Trainer

3

PED-180Fitness for Life

2

PED-196Practicum I

1

PED-197Practicum II

1

PED-207Prevention and Care of Exercise Injuries

2

PED-241Advanced Practicum I

1

PED-242Advanced Practicum II

1

PED-250Psychology of Sport

3

Total Credit Hours:42

General Education Courses

BIO-201Anatomy and Physiology I

4

COM-105Introduction to Oral Communication

3

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

6

MAT-136Mathematics for the Health Sciences

3

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

-
General Education Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:22
General Education Elective: See footnote 1

Additional Requirements

Core Competencies Portfolio 4 items
FORUM 4 units
Health/Fitness 30 hours
Minimum grade required in each program course 2.000

Health/Fitness: See footnote 2

 

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall 2.000
Program requirements 2.000

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

AHS-142Exercise Science

3

AHS-148Responding to Medical Emergencies

2

AHS-150Introduction to Nutrition

3

COM-105Introduction to Oral Communication

3

PED-136Weight Training

1

PED-180Fitness for Life

2

PED-196Practicum I

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Second Semester

AHS-155Stress and Your Health

3

PED-135Ultimate Functional Training Workout

2

PED-137Cardio Fit

1

PED-144Stretching and Flexibility

1

PED-152Group Exercise Instruction

2

PED-161Advanced Strength Training

1

PED-170Personal Trainer

3

PED-197Practicum II

1

Total Credit Hours:14

Third Semester

AHS-220Principles of Fitness Components

3

AHS-235Fitness Program Planning

3

BIO-201Anatomy and Physiology I

4

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3

PED-241Advanced Practicum I

1

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Fourth Semester

AHS-238Mind/Body Theory and Methods

3

PED-207Prevention and Care of Exercise Injuries

2

PED-242Advanced Practicum II

1

PED-250Psychology of Sport

3

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3

MAT-136Mathematics for the Health Sciences

3

-
General Education Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:18

General Education Elective: See footnote 1

Footnotes

  1. General Education Elective chosen from History, or Humanities and Fine Arts.

  2. Fulfilled by successful completion of PED-135.

  3. BIO-202 is also needed for transfer to Springfield College.