Fitness, Health and Nutrition

Associate Degree / Certificate Program
Cuesta's program in fitness, health and nutrition is designed to equip an individual to have the knowledge, competence and skills to conduct physical fitness instruction for various age groups and in different settings. Graduates could also be expected to lead a variety of health and nutrition-related educational programs.

Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Fitness, Health and Nutrition Program, students will be able to:

1. Display a general knowledge of functional anatomy and biomechanics
2. Grasp foundational physiological principles related to physical activity and exercise.
3. Differentiate between appropriate exercise principles and practices for adults, children and older populations.
4. Assess coronary, and other, risk factors and use that information in correctly prescribing exercise and health regimens.
5. Demonstrate ability to conduct basic health/fitness assessments.
6. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of basic first aid and CPR.
7. Design and implement appropriate exercise prescriptions for various apparently healthy populations.
8. Grasp basic principles of nutrition and body composition and use these principles to design appropriate nutrition and weight management programs that complement exercise prescription for apparently healthy individuals.
9. Possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to take and pass the national exams for certifications such as: American College of Sportsmedicine’s Group Exercise Leader (GEL) certification, American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Fitness Instructor Certification, and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Primary Group Exercise Certification. The program should also cover most objectives for Personal Trainer certification programs.