Revised 09/2015

PED 168 - Basic Personal Trainer Preparation (3 CR.)

Course Description

Introduces the skills and knowledge required to become a personal trainer. Includes the principles of individual weight management, personal wellness, and the skills necessary for the creation of personalized fitness programs for potential clients. Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

This course is designed to train students to become knowledgeable personal trainers in health clubs, recreation departments, and fitness facilities.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: HLT 105 or Current CPR Certification, PED 111, BIO 141 or equivalent, or Permission of Instructor.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Evaluate client health, medical, and exercise history, as well as lifestyle information in order to determine risk, identify the need for medical clearance and referrals, and create an appropriate fitness program.
  • Assess clients current attitudes, preferences, goals, and readiness for behavior change in order to identify potential barriers, motivators, and expectations.
  • Conduct physiological assessments (e.g., cardio respiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and evaluate the quality of movement (e.g., balance, stability, and mobility).
  • Design appropriate parameters and principles for cardio respiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and nutrition for the general population as well as special populations (pregnancy, arthritis, etc.).
  • Demonstrate the ability to instruct exercises in a safe and appropriate manner.
  • Demonstrate the ability to demonstrate exercises in a safe and appropriate manner.
  • Explain professional and legal responsibilities, scope of practice, and business strategies for personal trainers.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Basic human anatomy, exercise physiology, applied kinesiology, and nutrition related to personal training.
  • Principles of motivation, behavior change, and health psychology related to fitness training.
  • Communication, behavior modification and teaching techniques used in fitness training.
  • Integrated fitness training model.
  • Building client rapport.
  • Health and exercise history information assessment.
  • Functional training: assessments, programming, and progressions for posture, movement, core, balance, and flexibility.
  • Physiological assessments used in personal training.
  • Resistance training: programming and progressions.
  • Cardio respiratory training: programming and progressions.
  • Professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities, scope of practice, and business strategies for personal trainers.
  • Special exercise programming topics: mind-body exercise, special populations, and exercise implications of common musculoskeletal injuries.

Optional Topics

  • Special Populations (pregnancy, arthritis, hypertension, etc.)
  • Exercise and musculoskeletal injuries
  • Mind-Body Exercise (Yoga, Pilates)
  • Alternative exercise methods (Parkour, Cross-Fit)
  • Integrated Fitness Training Model