The Health & Fitness emphasis is for students interested in developing and executing workout routines, whether it be for clients in private gyms or patients in rehabilitation centers. A strong foundation in health and fitness is critical if you aspire to be a sports coach, personal trainer, corporate wellness specialist or health educator.
Program Overview
Discover innovative ways to help people stay physically fit.
The Health & Fitness emphasis will teach you how to develop and execute workout routines for clients in private gyms or patients in rehabilitation centers. The curriculum is a dynamic balance between coursework in science, exercise physiology, anatomy, nutrition and psychology with technical classes in facilities management and fitness instruction.
To start building your resume, you can conduct research in our state-of-the-art High Altitude Performance Lab and help develop exercise programming for clinical populations in the Wellness Elevated program. If graduate school is on your radar, you can get a head start by collaborating on research projects with students in the High Altitude Exercise Physiology master’s program. Through the Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in professional development and networking events to meet potential employers.
Fulfilling work
Health & Fitness students learn the skills and science behind the possibilities of exercise and its influence on health and mental wellness.
Courses
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
| Code | Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 300 | Basic Nutrition | 3 | View |
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) | 4 | View |
| ESS 275 | Motor Development and Learning | 3 | View |
| ESS 298 | Fitness Instruction | 3 | View |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 | View |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 | View |
| ESS 340 | Mental Training for Peak Performance | 3 | View |
| ESS 355 | Psychology of Injury | 3 | View |
| ESS 360 | Nutrition for Wellness and Performance | 3 | View |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 | View |
| ESS 365 | Topics in Physical Activity | 3 | View |
| ESS 370 | Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning | 3 | View |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 | View |
| ESS 382 | Management of Sport and Fitness Facilities | 3 | View |
| ESS 385 | Physical Activity Programming | 3 | View |
| ESS 410 | Assessment and Exercise Prescription | 3 | View |
| ESS 411 | Wellness Elevated I | 3 | View |
| ESS 450 | Risk Management in Physical Activity Settings | 3 | View |
| ROE 466 | Facilities and Administration | 3 | View |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western. Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming freshman or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.0 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western's highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student's GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Get Involved
Make your education a life changing experience.
A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.
- Graduate Research: Collaborate on research projects with students in the High Altitude Exercise Physiology master’s program.
- High Altitude Performance Lab: Take classes and conduct research in our state-of-the-art facility.
- Publish Research: Publish your work in the Center for Wellness and Human Performance Health & Fitness Journal.
- Wellness Elevated: Work with clinical populations and their exercise programming for a semester or more.
- Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science: This club is specifically tailored to ESS majors. Outings and events provide social support, professional development and networking opportunities.
High Altitude Performance Lab
Exercise and Sports Science students work with a patient for research at Western’s High Altitude Performance lab. The HAP Lab allows students to study the physiological effects of Gunnison’s 7,703-foot elevation.
Department Information
Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science (RESS) Department
Department Chairperson
Lance Dalleck, Ph.D.Professor of Exercise & Sport Science
Administrative Assistant
Terri StinsonAdministrative Assistant
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231