Middlesex County College: Middlesex College Announces New Program To Prepare Students For In-Demand Jobs In Health And Fitness Industry

Press release from Middlesex County College:

June 30, 2021

Middlesex College is launching a new associate of science degree program – Health and Exercise Science (HES.AS) – just in time for the new academic year this fall.

Students may start getting admitted or declare the new major starting Fall 2021 semester.

Designed to nurture students’ ability to understand the effects of physical activity on the human body for the purpose of maintaining or improving health, fitness and athletic performance, the new degree program combines a general education core with foundational courses in exercise science, health and sports studies.

According to Timothy Hack, chair of the History and Social Sciences Department, the program’s general education courses serve the dual purpose of supporting immediate career entry and ensuring transferability.

“The program is ideal for students looking to enter the workforce immediately in occupations such as fitness or personal trainer, health education, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning coaching, wellness coordination and many other health and physical fitness-centered fields,” Hack explained.

He added that for students who want to continue their education, all specialized courses in the program are informed by best practices in the field and a careful review of four-year program offerings at New Jersey institutions, including Kean University, Monmouth University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Rider University, Stockton University and William Paterson University.

“The general education and core course selection in the HES.AS program align well with area transfer institutions and should provide the foundation for seamless articulations,” Hack said.

The College currently has four full-time faculty who have the expertise to deliver the content in the program’s new courses, along with six adjunct faculty with credentials to teach various courses within the new degree program if the need warrants.

And while the purchase of some minor new equipment will be required, the College’s Physical Education Center houses an extensive fitness center, year-round Olympic-size pool, and various classrooms designated for physical education coursework to support program outcomes.

Responding to growing industry demand

The new degree program directly responds to labor statistics that show employment in exercise science and related fields continues to grow both locally and nationally.

According to labor market analytics firm Emsi, there is an expected 8.6% job growth in the health and exercise fields (2013-2023) in the Middlesex County area, with median hourly earnings of $25.37.

More broadly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 10-year growth (2019-2029) in occupations aligned with the exercise science curriculum, including fitness trainer and instructor (15%), athletic trainer (16%) and exercise physiologist (11%).

Internal interest for a Health and Exercise Science program is also robust. During Fall 2018, the College’s History and Social Sciences department surveyed current students to assess the viability of such a program. Thirty-five percent of students (55 of 160) surveyed responded either “interested” or “very interested.”

“Middlesex College has long used economic and labor data to identify emerging fields and develop programming that would serve students and fit the academic mission. Given the expected growth of the industry and the global shift to more conscious health awareness, this new degree program will help satisfy the job market in our area,” Hack stated.

This press release was produced by Middlesex County College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.