SANFORD - Health and Fitness Science will be offered at Central Carolina Community College in Fall 2016, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Health and Fitness Science program prepares multi-skilled fitness professionals to be qualified to perform various skills in the health and fitness industry. Graduates of the Health and Fitness Science program will be required to sit for the American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer Certification Exam before graduation. Graduates may also be eligible to sit for a variety of other examinations that pertain to the health and fitness industry.

Careers in the Health and Fitness Science field include jobs such as YMCA staff, fitness studios, parks and recreation departments, hospitals, sports performance facilities, coaches, and personal training

Students can work toward an Associate in Applied Science in Health and Fitness Science (five semesters), Diploma in Health and Fitness Science (three semesters), or Certificate in Health and Fitness Science (two semesters).

"I'm very excited about this new program at the college which will apply 'hands-on' work in the field of physical education, exercise and sport science," said HFS Program Director Carl Bryan. "Our students will immediately be immersed in the field of Health and Fitness Science with the use of equipment found in major training facilities in the sports and fitness world. Their subsequent training in measuring and evaluating data from exercise tests will be instrumental in helping our students make an impact in the fitness world and also make them instrumental as team trainers and coaches.

"With so much emphasis placed on exercise, weight loss, and training for sports in our current society, our graduates will have an opportunity to make educated decisions about training, nutrition, and injury prevention," said Bryan. "Personally, I hope this program will open the doors to their wanting to explore careers in teaching, coaching, opening their own fitness businesses, or transferring to senior institutions to purse careers in occupational therapy, physical therapy, or exercise science."

Lisa Baker Godfrey, CCCC Dean of Health Sciences, says the Health and Fitness Science program is a unique opportunity to pursue a career in the fitness industry with a clear pathway from high school to an Associate in Applied Science degree and ultimately the ability to obtain an advanced degree through university transfer options.

A maximum of 25 students will be officially accepted for the fall 2016 cohort. All students must be able to pass a criminal background check and a drug screening because part of this program involves hands-on experience in a real healthcare setting.

For more information on this program, contact Program Director Carl Bryan at 919-718-7554, or by email at cbryan@cccc.edu.

More information on the Health and Fitness Science program can be found at the website: www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/hfs.