This degree opens the door to a variety of health- and fitness-related careers, including athletic training, fitness training, health educator, physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and other healthcare fields. Our graduates pursue advanced study in athletic training and exercise physiology as well as health-related areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, chiropractic and sports medicine.

1. Take two years here, save on tuition costs, and then transfer to a four-year college or university.
2. Benefit from personal attention in small classes as well as ongoing individualized academic and professional advising.
3. Through a hands-on curriculum, you will learn to help people lead healthier lives through exercise, fitness and nutrition.

Students will:

• learn and demonstrate problem solving, critical thinking and ethical behavior according to industry standards in the field of exercise science
• analyze, design, implement and evaluate health promotion and wellness education materials, nutritional projects, sport and fitness conditioning programs and recreational pursuits
• interpret health status, risk stratification and physical assessment, data employing national standards to produce: exercise prescriptions, health interventions and behavior modification
• communicate expressively and receptively (verbal, non-verbal, written) both individually and within groups in ways that are respectful
• demonstrate, instruct, and modify exercise using proper form and technique to ensure safe execution in accordance with industry standards and guidelines
• practice personal and social behaviors that exemplify commitment to and value of personal lifelong health, wellness and fitness
• prepare and sit for a national certification in personal training and/or group fitness instructor

The intent of this program is for you to complete two years and then transfer to a four-year university.

Decide which four-year school you plan to attend right away. See your advisor. Your decision will affect the electives you will take.

Engage with the latest technology for exercise testing in our Human Performance Laboratory. You will have the opportunity to develop exercise training initiatives and work with clients in our fitness center, gaining valuable experience in testing, programming, and interpersonal skill-building.

Admission to this program requires that students be high school graduates or have high school equivalency diplomas (HSEs). If students are not high school graduates, they may be eligible for admission to the College’s 24 Credit Hour Program. If students are home schooled, they may be eligible for admission.

In addition, students must declare themselves exercise studies majors and meet with a Movement Science faculty member to review their career goals and course selections. Once students are accepted, they are required to attend one of the program orientation sessions.

SUNY Orange has special relationships with upper-level colleges and universities for transfer. These transfer institutions include:

• Dominican College
• East Stroudsburg University
• Montclair State University
• Queens College
• SUNY Brockport
• SUNY Cortland

Career opportunities exist in the following fields:

• athletic trainer
• cardiac technician
• coach
• director of recreation
• exercise physiologist
• health instructor
• personal trainer
• physical educator
• recreational therapist
• strength and conditioning coach
• sports agent
• sports equipment designer
• weight management specialist
• wellness coordinator
• cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist
• community health director

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This program is available during the daytime with a traditional in-class format on the Middletown campus.