Fitness and Health Promotion at Algonquin College

Helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle.

The two-year Fitness and Health Promotion Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to perform the roles and responsibilities of fitness and health consultants who plan, promote and deliver a wide variety of services. These include activity and educational programs that enhance the health, fitness and well-being of individuals and groups in diverse settings.

In this program, you learn the skills and knowledge to live a fit and healthy lifestyle, which, in turn, allows you to help others achieve their own health and lifestyle goals.

Field placements in the program provide on-the-job training. These varied placements allow you to apply the skills and knowledge gained in classes to a workplace setting, as well as gain exposure to potential employers and add to your overall marketability and employability after graduation.

Nationally-recognized certifications in Group Fitness and Personal Training are part of the program, further enabling you to meet the demands of a growing market in fitness and health promotion.

Upon graduating, you may find employment in the fitness industry in a variety of settings. These may include:

• Fitness and health clubs
• YMCA/YWCA corporate
• Recreation and fitness programs
• Public and private fitness programs
• Community institutions for special populations
• Municipal recreation departments

Additionally, you may choose to become a consultant or business entrepreneur.

Success Factors

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are interested in their own personal health, how they can make healthier lifestyle choices for themselves and how they can help others achieve those same goals.
• Prefer a physically active lifestyle and enjoy encouraging others to be more physically active.
• Are friendly, outgoing and like to interact with other people.
• Currently have strong interpersonal, time management and personal management skills or wish to develop those skills.
• Are comfortable speaking in front of small and medium-sized groups or wish to develop those skills.
• Enjoy learning about the human body and how it works.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Conduct assessments of fitness, well-being, and lifestyle for clients and effectively communicate assessment results.
2. Prescribe appropriate physical activity, fitness, active living, and lifestyle programs to enhance health, fitness, and well-being of clients.
3. Utilize appropriate interviewing and counselling skills to promote or enhance health, fitness, active living, and well-being of clients.
4. Collaborate with individuals in the selection and adoption of strategies that will enable them to take control of and improve their health, fitness, and well-being.
5. Develop, implement, and evaluate activities, programs, and events which respond to identified needs and interests of clients and maximize the benefits of health, fitness, and well-being.
6. Train individuals and instruct groups in exercise and physical activities.
7. Contribute to community health promotion strategies.
8. Assist in the development of business plans for health and fitness programs, activities, and facilities.
9. Implement strategies and plans for ongoing personal and professional growth and development.
10. Develop and implement risk management strategies for health and fitness programs, activities, and facilities.
11. Interact effectively with clients, staff, and volunteers in health and fitness programs, activities, and facilities.
12. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Careers

Graduates may find employment in the fitness industry in a variety of settings, such as fitness and health clubs, YMCA/YWCA, corporate recreation and fitness programs, and public and private fitness programs. Graduates may also find employment with community institutions for special populations and municipal recreation departments. In addition, graduates may choose to become consultants or business entrepreneurs. Graduates are prepared to meet the multi-dimensional demands of a growing market in fitness and health promotion.

Program Eligibility

Please apply to the Business Administration (Core) program - at OCAS (Program Code 0216X09FAO).

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher; AND
• Biology, Grade 11 or 12; OR
• Chemistry, Grade 11 or 12; OR
• Health and Physical Education, Grade 12 (PLF4C,PSE4U,PPL4O,PAF40 or equivalent).

Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).

• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic). Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR
• TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading: 22; Listening: 22; Speaking: 22; Writing: 22.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English, and Biology or Chemistry or Health and Physical Education.