Before you begin, you’ll need to meet key health and safety requirements set by our clinical partners. See what’s required and take your next step.
Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance prepares students for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) personal trainer certifications. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for employment in positions such as personal training within health and fitness clubs, wellness centers, and public and private recreation facilities. The curriculum includes the foundational courses required for the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Personal Training coupled with advanced hands-on courses required for the CCL in Personal Training: Advanced that foster the development of critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills important for developing, implementing and leading exercise programs. This curriculum also provides a good foundation for transfer to a four-year bachelor program. Students who complete this AAS also qualify for the CCL in Personal Training and Personal Training: Advanced. An Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Exercise Science is also available for students interested in continuing their studies in this field.
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3059
Total credits required
62-75.5
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
What You'll Learn
- Apply a fundamental understanding of the relevant scientific concepts of human anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and psychology.
- Locate and evaluate relevant scholarly literature.
- Conduct advanced evidence-based assessments of health and human movement.
- Design evidence-based physical activity programs tailored to client goals and needs.
- Implement evidence-based physical activity programs tailored to client goals and needs.
- Apply theories of motivation and behavior change to develop and implement basic strategies for improving exercise adoption and adherence.
- Adapt instructional techniques to ensure client safety and goal attainment.
- Apply industry standards of care to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of clients.
- Communicate through a variety of written and spoken modalities within diverse contexts.
- Demonstrate industry-accepted professional, ethical, and business standards.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$47,070
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| EMT101 or WED106 |
Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) | OR Current CPR/AED | 0–0.5 | ||
| EXS101 | Introduction to Exercise Science | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| EXS125 | Introduction to Exercise Physiology | 3 | |||
| EXS145 | Exercise Testing | 3 | |||
| EXS215 | Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques | 3 | |||
| EXS217 | Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training | 3 | |||
| PED101RT or PED101ST or PED142 |
Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training or Performance-Based Training | 1–3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 1 | |||
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
| EXS255 | Program Design: Muscular Fitness and Performance | 3 | |||
| EXS257 | Program Design: Cardiorespiratory Fitness | 3 | |||
| FON100 or FON241 |
Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition | None or NSI in combo w/ FON241LL; | 3 | ||
| MAT14+ or MAT15+ |
College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions | Critical course OR Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA or MA | 3–6 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO181++ | General Biology (Majors) I | OR One (1) year of high school biology | SQ | 0–4 | |
| CRE101++ | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
| HES100 | Healthful Living | Critical course | SB | 3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | SB | 3 | ||
| EXS270 or (EXS270AA and EXS270AB) |
Exercise Science Internship or (Exercise Science Internship and Exercise Science Internship) | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO201++ |
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | NSI, SQ or SG | 4 | ||
| EXS290 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice | L | 3 | ||
| HES210 | Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness | AHM, C, G | 3 | ||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Complete two (2) credits from any of the following course options not already selected in the Required Courses area. Choose a course that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor as needed.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS+++++ | Any EXS Exercise Science course | 0–2 | |||
| FON+++++ | Any FON Food and Nutrition course | 0–2 | |||
| HES+++++ | Any HES Health Science course | 0–2 | |||
| PED+++++ | Any PED Physical Education course | 0–2 | |||
| IFS110 | Critical Research for College Success | 1 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| EXS101 | Introduction to Exercise Science | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| PED101RT or PED101ST or PED142 |
Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training or Performance-Based Training | 1–3 | |||
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
| EXS125 | Introduction to Exercise Physiology | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMT101 or WED106 |
Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) | OR Current CPR/AED | 0–0.5 | ||
| EXS145 | Exercise Testing | 3 | |||
| FON100 or FON241 |
Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition | None or NSI in combo w/ FON241LL; | 3 | ||
| MAT14+ or MAT15+ |
College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions | Critical course OR Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA or MA | 3–6 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS215 | Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques | 3 | |||
| EXS217 | Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 1 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRE101++ | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| EXS255 | Program Design: Muscular Fitness and Performance | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS257 | Program Design: Cardiorespiratory Fitness | 3 | |||
| EXS270 or (EXS270AA and EXS270AB) |
Exercise Science Internship or (Exercise Science Internship and Exercise Science Internship) | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
| HES100 | Healthful Living | Critical course | SB | 3 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS290 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice | L | 3 | ||
| HES210 | Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness | AHM, C, G | 3 |
Term 9
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO181++ | General Biology (Majors) I | OR One (1) year of high school biology | SQ | 0–4 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | SB | 3 |
Term 10
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO201++ |
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | NSI, SQ or SG | 4 |
Restricted Electives
Complete two (2) credits from any of the following course options not already selected in the Required Courses area. Choose a course that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor as needed.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS+++++ | Any EXS Exercise Science course | 0–2 | |||
| FON+++++ | Any FON Food and Nutrition course | 0–2 | |||
| HES+++++ | Any HES Health Science course | 0–2 | |||
| PED+++++ | Any PED Physical Education course | 0–2 | |||
| IFS110 | Critical Research for College Success | 1 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- AHM = Arts and Humanities
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- G = Global Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=16459264.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
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