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Health and Fitness Education

Do you have a passion for fitness? Do you enjoy helping others learn about healthy nutrition and eating habits? Perhaps a degree in the field of health and fitness education would be a great way to channel your passions into a career. Take a look below to see what a health and fitness education can do for you.

Is a Health and Fitness Education for Me?

Do you have an interest in learning about movement and its relation to an individual's physical and psychological wellbeing? Does teaching others how to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle sound like a great way to merge your passion with a career? Perhaps a health and fitness education is just what you're looking for. A fitness degree program in exercise and wellness, exercise science or kinesiology draws from the interdisciplinary fields of the biological, physical and social sciences and prepares you to enter the dynamic field of health and fitness.

An education in health and fitness may help you find work in a number of venues, including hospitals, corporate wellness centers, gyms, schools or community settings. You may choose to become a fitness instructor, personal trainer, group exercise instructor, fitness director, aerobic instructor, health educator or physical education teacher.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of fitness workers is expected to increase 29% over the 2008-2018 decade, which is much faster than the average occupation growth rate predicted during that time. As our modern sedentary lifestyle has increased our risk for disease, the health and fitness industry has blossomed. The BLS also reported that the average median yearly income for fitness trainers and aerobic instructors was $31,090 in May 2010 (www.bls.gov).

Health educators, who focus on educating others about proper nutrition and illness prevention, also had a reported favorable growth projection at 18% between 2008 and 2018. As the costs of healthcare increase, the demand for health educators will grow as individuals seek methods to avoid costly healthcare interventions. The BLS reported that the median annual income of health educators in May 2010 was $45,830.

How Can I Work in the Health and Fitness Field?

The BLS reported that to obtain a job as a fitness worker, most employers will require certification, which varies depending upon the specific job. Furthermore, many employers now require you to have a bachelor's degree in a health or fitness field, such as kinesiology or exercise science.

A Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science or a related field, such as kinesiology, will open the doors to many careers in the health and fitness field. If you're interested in pursuing this degree, you may expect to take classes such as biology, psychology, sports medicine, sports nutrition and human physiology, to name a few. An internship may also be required to obtain a degree in exercise science.

While a bachelor's degree is not always required for fitness workers, it is generally required for health educator positions, such as a physical education teacher in a school setting. A graduate degree may be required for advancement in some areas of the field.

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