Health and Exercise Science

Catalog 2023-2024

Associate in Science Degree

The Health and Exercise Science program explores the effects of physical activity on the human body in an effort to understand how to maintain or improve health, fitness, and athletic performance.  The curriculum emphasizes factors that impact human movement behavior including physiological, psychological, social, and environmental influences. Graduates of the program may transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a related field or enter careers in fitness training, exercise physiology, personal training, coaching, health education, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning coaching, wellness coordination and many other health and physical fitness-centered fields.

Program Outcomes:
  • Identify the components of the skeletal-muscular system in the human body and explain their function from an exercise and fitness standpoint.
  • Explain the biological and psychological effects of health/wellness regimens.
  • Recommend appropriate nutritional guidelines to meet the health goals of the individual.
  • Evaluate and recommend appropriate program designs that meet the health and wellness goals of the individual.
  • Summarize career pathways in the field of health, wellness, and sports studies.

Recommended Course Sequence

Below are required courses and recommended course groupings and sequences for program completion.  Courses may have prerequisite and corequisite requirements.  Check course descriptions for details.

SEMESTER 1

ENG-121

English Composition I
3

HES-121

Foundations of Exercise Science and Sports Studies
3

PSY-123

Introduction to Psychology
3

HES-122

Concepts of Physical Fitness and Wellness
3

MAT-123

Statistics I
3

SEMESTER 2

ENG-122

English Composition II
3

HES-123

Strength Training and Conditioning
3

PSY-232

Lifespan Development
3

BIO-111

Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4

HED-205

Nutrition for the Active Person
3

SEMESTER 3

HED-150

Contemporary Health Issues
3

SOC-205

Diversity and Multiculturalism in U.S. Society
3

OR

SPE-121

Fundamentals of Public Speaking
3

HES-124

Holistic Stress Management
3

PED-210

Scientific Principles of Fitness
3

BIO-112

Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4

SEMESTER 4

HES-125

Fitness and Cardiorespiratory Conditioning
3

__ __

GE Humanities Elective
3

Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).

__ __

Physical Education Elective
1

Take a one-credit Physical Education (PED) elective.

PED-225

First Aid, CPR and Safety Education
3

HES-201

Exercise Measurement and Prescription
3

Total Credits 60

Contact Information

Contact Name: Timothy Hack, department chair 
Contact Phone: 732.906.2590
Contact Email: HSS@middlesexcc.edu 
Department Web: https://www.middlesexcc.edu/history-social-science/

Frequently Asked Questions