Health & Fitness

A health fitness specialist is a fitness professional with expertise in designing, implementing and managing personalized fitness and wellness programs for individuals and groups. They work in various settings such as gyms, wellness centers, corporate fitness programs, rehabilitation facilities or community health organizations. Their role blends exercise science, health education and motivational strategies to help clients achieve their health and fitness goals.

You will learn exercise science and physiology, fitness assessment and program design, group fitness instruction, health and wellness coaching, nutrition and lifestyle management, special populations and injury prevention, and professional and business skills. 

During this two-year program, students will personally train clients for eight consecutive weeks, perform dietary and nutritional counseling, lead various forms of group exercise and administer fitness assessment tests to multiple individuals.

Students are required to complete a 300-hour internship at the end of the program.

The Delta College Health Fitness Specialist program is an education recognition provider for the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American Council on Exercise. 

Delta College is a test site for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Personal Exam and the American Council on Exercise Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam. For an additional fee, students can register for and take these national certification exams on the Delta College campus.

Interested in owning or managing a fitness facility? Consider the dual degree to add business knowledge to your skill set.

Professional licensure

Program completers are eligible to take a national group fitness and personal fitness certification exams that is recognized in all states. Please contact the program coordinator for further information.

This program prepares you for a career in health and wellness coaching, focusing on the principles of fitness, nutrition, wellness management, and behavioral change. This program combines coursework in psychology, counseling, exercise physiology and nutrition, providing a comprehensive foundation to support individuals in reaching their health and wellness goals.

You will develop skills in client relationship building, goal setting, and motivational techniques while emphasizing holistic approaches to health, including plant-based nutrition and mindfulness practices such as meditation. Graduates of this program will be prepared to promote healthy lifestyles, educate clients on behavioral risk factors and develop personalized wellness plans that cater to individual needs. 

Professional licensure

Program completers will be eligible to take the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Health Coach national certification exam.

A group fitness instructor leads and motivates individuals or groups in structured exercise sessions designed to improve overall health, fitness and well-being. They create engaging, safe and effective workout routines tailored to the needs and fitness levels of their participants.   

These sessions may include a variety of formats, such as yoga, Pilates, strength training, cycling, dance-based workouts (e.g., Zumba), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or cardio classes. Group fitness instructors help to foster a sense of community, inspire confidence and help participants stay motivated on their fitness journeys.

This program will offer the education and certification to teach safe and effective exercise to a wide variety of populations. The group fitness instructor advanced certificate is a fast-paced program designed to prepare you for American Council on Exercise Group Fitness Instructor certification.

This certificate is part of a laddered program. Credits earned may be applied towards completion of the health fitness specialist AAS, health fitness specialist dual with management AAS/ABS or a physical therapist assistant dual with health fitness specialist AAS/AAS.

Overview of what you will learn:

• Human anatomy
• Exercise physiology
• Injury prevention
• Cueing techniques
• Behavior change principles
• Group leadership and communication
• Class design and instruction
• Legal and ethical responsibilities

Professional licensure

Program completers are eligible to take a national certification exam that is recognized in all states. Please contact the program coordinator for further information.

A personal trainer works with individuals to help them achieve their fitness, health and wellness goals through personalized exercise programs, motivation and education. Personal trainers provide one-on-one guidance, focusing on the client’s specific needs, fitness level, and goals, whether it's improving strength, endurance, flexibility, weight management or overall health.

Trainers assess their clients' strengths and weaknesses through fitness evaluations, which are often conducted before and after an exercise program to track progress and improvements. In addition to exercise, they educate clients on various aspects of wellness, including general health and nutrition guidelines.

The personal trainer advanced certificate is a fast-paced program designed to prepare you for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) certification. At Delta, you'll have the opportunity to take the NSCA certified personal training exam on campus.

This certificate is part of a laddered program. Credits earned may be applied towards completion of the health fitness specialist AAS, health fitness specialist dual with management AAS/ABS or a physical therapist assistant dual with health fitness specialist AAS/AAS.

By learning human anatomy, exercise physiology, injury prevention and motivation techniques, you will develop the skills necessary to lead individuals safely through exercise with proper instruction and demonstration.

You will work with an actual client for eight weeks, conducting an initial assessment, designing and overseeing their program and completing a final evaluation. Throughout this process, you will also gain experience in obtaining informed consent, handling liability waivers and creating tracking documents.

Hands-on fitness assessment opportunities include:

• 1 RM and 5 RM testing
• Isometric strength testing
• Blood pressure testing
• VO2max testing on metabolic cart
• Submaximal testing on metabolic cart
• Blood lactate testing
• Wingate power test
• Body composition testing (skinfolds and circumference measurements)
• Flexibility assessments
• Muscle endurance assessments
• Cardiorespiratory fitness testing
• Hydrostatic weighing 
• Postural Assessments

Professional licensure

Program completers are eligible to take a national certification exam that is recognized in all states. Please contact the program coordinator for further information.

Become a plant-based expert and gain the knowledge needed to improve your overall health and that of clients.

The program is a fully online and focuses on expanding nutrition knowledge with regards to health, the environment, the economy, dietary practices specifically a plant-based diet, nutrition research and the culinary arts. In addition, students learn communication techniques, principles of behavior change, motivational interviewing and evidenced-based risk assessment.

This is a two-semester, fully online program. Program outcomes include:

• Demonstrate an understanding of diet’s impact on metabolic-based chronic disease.
• Demonstrate knowledge of research on plant-based nutrition and the supporting evidence it has on the prevention of chronic disease.
• Demonstrate proper handling of ingredients and food in line with food safety guidelines.
• Assess the nutritional needs of populations by analyzing demographic data and nutrition-related status indicators. 
• Identify and utilize community and consumer education resources.
• Perform cost control tasks associated with recipe development and preparation.
• Describe and demonstrate fundamental cooking principles and techniques.

This program, or individual courses included in the program, are an ideal addition for students in the Personal Training, Nursing and/or Health Fitness Specialist programs at the college or seeking to transfer to another institution to pursue a career in nutrition, dietetics and/or public health.