Indiana University Bloomington

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Health Fitness Specialist

Overview

The Health Fitness Specialist Program has been developed to provide specialized educational and practical experiences to those interested in a career in the emerging fitness/health/wellness industry. The Health Fitness Specialist Degree Program was endorsed by the Committee on Certification and REgistry Boards of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as having fulfilled the educational program requirements expected of an ASCM Health/Fitness Specialist. This four-year degree is a combination of general education and core course work, as well as on- and off-campus field experiences that prepares students for a variety of work environments. The degree culminates with a professional practice internship that allows the student the opportunity to improve learned skills in an area of career interest.

Quick Links

Academic Advising Information PDF or Word
For advising appointments, contact Tammy Nichols: Phone: 812-855-5523; Email: tmnichol@indiana.edu.
Back to Physical Activity, Fitness and Wellness Working Group Portal

Research Updates!

IDEA Health and Fitness Journal - September 2011 - Quote from faculty member Carol Kennedy-Armbruster:
Offer Internships. “Future fitness professionals often need to perform internship hours,” says Kennedy-Armbruster. “They can assist current fitness professionals and learn from them at the same time.” Having a student intern is beneficial in many ways. First, lending your expertise will help elevate the emerging professional and, by association, the fitness industry. Second, your intern will become your biggest on-campus advocate.
See Entire article on "tapping the college market: at:
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/tapping-the-college-market. Read Matrix article here.

Download and read Carol Kennedy-Armbruster and colleagues' True Time article on improving older adult's functional fitness through technology.

Health Fitness Specialist Program Coordinator, Michelle Miller, encourages older adults to participate in balance training to improve quality of life. Read more here.

Read Michelle Miller's article about the best ways to handle walking in snow and ice.


Textbook in Second Edition

Methods of Group Exercise Instruction in 2nd Edition by Carol Kennedy-Armbruster and Mary Yoke. Read more a the book Website.


IU-Navy SHAPE

SHAPE (Senior Health Assessment Program Enterprise) was developed to improve the fitness and quality of life of active duty service members within the Department of Defense.  The mission of the program is to educate and motivate senior personnel over the age of 40 to achieve long-lasting health through permanent behavior change. The vision of the program is for the over-40 Navy community to achieve improved physical fitness by providing a world-class program that meets the individual needs of each participant. Carol Kennedy-Armbruster developed a working relationship with Command Navy Installation Command (CNIC) in 2007 to hire, train and supervise fitness specialists to be located at three Navy installations: Norfolk, Pearl Harbor and San Diego. Kennedy-Armbruster, PhD © will complete her dissertation this year utilizing data from this project and she will retain the contract for SHAPE through 2013. A new waterfront research project was recently added for the last two years of the contract (2011-2013). The service contract has hired 15 Department of Kinesiology students into full time jobs upon graduation. See the program dedicated Website for further information: Navy Fitness - SHAPE.

If you are interested in applying for an IU-Navy SHAPE position, click on the SHAPE-Research Association Job Description 2012-2013.

Read the HPER dimension article about IU-Navy SHAPE.

Photo of: IU Fitness Specialist alumni, Thersa Collison, training with Navy SHAPE client. Photo of: IU Fitness Specialist alumni, Thersa Collison, training with Navy SHAPE client.
IU Fitness Specialist alumni, Thersa Collison, training with Navy SHAPE client.


Matrix Challenge Winners

Read the winning Matrix article here.

Photo of the Matrix Challenge 2011 Winners: Caption: Congratulations to Suit Up members (Cari Hillenburg, Dylan George, Tara Fuller, Jake Alexander & Brianna Wieclaw) for winning the Matrix Challenge in the P416 Fitness Management class spring 2011. Judges for the project included: Doug Marquette, Craig Samsky, Jessica McIntire, Jordan Marquette and Scott Catanzaro. The winning team solved the Matrix/Livestrong question “Create an idea for how Matrix can integrate the Livestrong fitness, diet and nutrition products into their fitness equipment.” Their “Suit Up” solution won $500.00 donated by the Matrix Fitness Equipment manufacturing company. Matrix is a full service commercial fitness equipment brand for Johnson Health Tech based out of Madison, WI.
Congratulations to Suit Up members (Cari Hillenburg, Dylan George, Tara Fuller, Jake Alexander & Brianna Wieclaw) for winning the Matrix Challenge in the P416 Fitness Management class spring 2011. Judges for the project included: Doug Marquette, Craig Samsky, Jessica McIntire, Jordan Marquette and Scott Catanzaro. The winning team solved the Matrix/Livestrong question “Create an idea for how Matrix can integrate the Livestrong fitness, diet and nutrition products into their fitness equipment.” Their “Suit Up” solution won $500.00 donated by the Matrix Fitness Equipment manufacturing company. Matrix is a full service commercial fitness equipment brand for Johnson Health Tech based out of Madison, WI.

Hoosier Health Explorers Develop Community Health Walk

Logo created by Hoosier Health Explorers teamThe Hoosier Health Explorers team, Todd Scheidt, Evan Wehner, Laura Head, Erin Cockrum, Evan Nusbaum and Kaitlyn Lyon are the Spring 2012 Fitness Management course Group Project winners.  Each semester, the Fitness Management students are teamed in groups and given the task of developing and presenting a Group Project Health and Fitness solution for a specific problem.  This semester, the Groups were to develop a Community Health walk for the downtown Bloomington area to be used annually by the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.  Interested in offering an annual Community Health event with the goal of bringing the health and fitness services providers in the Bloomington area together to bring awareness of what Bloomington offers as well as provide a family-friendly, day of fun and informative physical activity to Bloomington residents.  The Groups had the challenge of developing the route, creating a logo and theme and marketing plans.  The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department selected the Explore Bloomington, Explore your Health theme and now have a great new community event to offer Bloomington.

Based on the idea of exploration, the Hoosier Health Explorers team developed the theme of exploring the components of health: fitness, wellness, nutrition and spirituality.  With ideas such as explorer’s packs and passports and the compass, the Bloomington community can look forward to an outstanding Explore Bloomington, Explore your Health walk.

Career Opportunities

Students who graduate with the Department of Kinesiology Health Fitness Specialist major will be able to select work in the following settings:

  • Community wellness program director;
  • Medically-based facilities (post-rehabilitation specialist);
  • Worksite fitness/wellness center directors;
  • Health coaches;
  • Private and commercial health clubs as directors, general manager, owner or consultant.

Individuals in this field of work will find a continuum of salaries based upon the position and the geographical location. Salaried positions may range from $25,000 to $75,000. Hourly positions range from $10.50/hr to $75.00/hr. In many instances, salaries will be determined by experience, certification and quality of service.

Students earning this degree will leave Indiana University with thethe possibility of securing the following nationally recognized certifications:

For information about internships, please visit our Internships & Careers page.

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Degree Requirements

Major emphasis in the core coursework includes:

  • Basic fitness programming;
  • Methods of group exercise and personal training instruction;
  • Sport psychology;
  • Fitness management;
  • Biomechanics;
  • Anatomy;
  • Structural Kinesiology;
  • Exercise physiology;
  • Fitness testing and interpretation; and
  • Exercise prescription and program design for apparently healthy and special populations.

In addition, students will have a vast array of minor and elective options to supplement their interest in the areas of: business management, sport marketing, nutrition and health education.

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Major in Health Fitness Specialist
124 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA required for graduation

Older Requirement Lists - Note Dates:

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Faculty

Michelle Miller, MS, Coordinator of Health Fitness Specialist Program
HPER 296
812-855-8167
michmill@indiana.edu
HPER Profile Page

Carol Kennedy-Armbruster, PhD(c)
HPER 296
812-855-6083
cakenned@indiana.edu
IU Navy SHAPE Website: www.navyfitness.org/shape/
Carol Kennedy-Armbruster won the 2004 and 2009 HPER Teaching Award.
HPER Profile Page

Mary Yoke, M.A., M.M.
HPER 296
812 855 7926
mmyoke@indiana.edu
Mary Yoke won a 2003 award for Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Service to the Profession
HPER Profile Page

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Additional Information

For additional information contact:

Michelle Miller, Coordinator of Health Fitness Specialist Program
HPER 296
812-855-8167
michmill@indiana.edu

Advisor: Tammy Nichols
HPER 112L
812-855-5523
tmnichol@indiana.edu

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