Exercise Science Program (Formerly Health & Fitness)

Associate of Science

Are you ready to start your career in one of the country’s fastest growing industries? Bay Mills Community College’s Exercise Science program uses science-based learning with a hands-on approach to prepare you to work in the field or pursue an advanced degree.

The Exercise Science curriculum is designed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire skills, knowledge, and competencies across multiple disciplines of exercise science. Graduates of this program will have a wide variety of entry-level career opportunities in areas such as rehabilitation specialist assistant, sport/fitness program director, personal fitness trainer, aerobics instructor, coach, health club specialist, and other fields of interest.

Get Certified

Our program will prepare you to take employer desired certification exams from a variety of national organizations, including the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) or the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

National Strength and Conditioning Association

• NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer
• Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (Bachelor’s Degree Required)
• Certified Performance and Sport Specialist (Bachelor’s Degree Required)
• Certified Special Populations Specialist (Bachelor’s Degree Required)

American College of Sports Medicine

• Group Exercise Instructor
• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
• Exercise Physiologist (Bachelor’s Degree Required)
• Clinical Exercise Physiologist (Bachelor’s Degree Required)

Exercise Science - Associate of Science

Curriculum Map - General Education Exercise Science

Employment Information

The exercise science field is ever-growing and evolving. Healthcare is a $4 trillion dollar per year industry in the United States (CMS, 2023). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 14% from 2023 to 2033. This is considered much faster than average for all occupations. With the continuing struggle to find cures for diseases and ailments, there is a precedent being put on Health Specialists to help find ways to get the population to adopt healthier lifestyles. So, if you have a passion for healthy living, helping others, and having a rewarding career, then the Exercise Science program at Bay Mills Community College is the program for YOU!

Salary Information

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, April 2025, the following are the national annual median wages. Some positions may require additional degrees or certifications.

 

See What Students are Saying about the Exercise Science Program

“As a Bay Mills Community College alumni, I can confidently say that my time at BMCC changed the course of my life in the most positive ways. I was nervous when I first started at BMCC, but the staff and my professors were all very friendly and helpful. My professors were knowledgeable and dedicated to helping me learn. I learned so much from the Health and Fitness program, from the variety of topics we covered over multiple classes, to the hands-on experience we participated in. By the time I left BMCC, I was a confident student, ready to start my next adventure at Lake Superior State University. I can’t thank Bay Mills Community College enough for all the ways they’ve helped me!”   
-- Alysandra, 2024 BMCC Graduate, Current LSSU Student

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“I really enjoyed being a part of the Exercise Science program because it provided me with the knowledge and skills to help others improve their fitness, reduce their stress, and live healthier lives. Creating a healthy lifestyle not only improves your body physically, but it can also help improve your life mentally. I also really enjoyed the hands-on learning in the classrooms. In my opinion, that is the best way to learn”
-- Cassie, 2020 BMCC Graduate, Employed at Sault Tribal Health Center