Fitness and Sports Management Skills Guide

Recommended High School Level Background Courses

• Composition
• Algebra I
• Physical Education
• Speech
• Algebra II
• Introduction to Business
• Biology
• Geometry
• Psychology
• Physics
• Keyboarding

 

* Courses available in the Academic Achievement Center or High School Completion Center

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Basic Skills in the Program and on the Job

Reading

Courses in the Fitness and Sports Management program use textbooks which require college-level reading skills. Related courses such as psychology and anatomy are also reading intensive. Tests in the program are based on material covered in both texts and lectures. In addition, students will be reading program-specific articles from general and professional periodicals as well as from Internet sources.

In the work place, Fitness and Sports Management graduates can expect to read professional magazines, procedure manuals, and reports such as fiscal year summaries and end-of-program evaluations.

View more information on reading skills in the Fitness and Sports Management program.

Language

Strong writing and speaking skills are vital for success in Fitness and Sports Management. Students are required to take Composition I (ENG 105), Composition II (ENG 106), and Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SPC 101). In addition, they can expect to write an instructional program and justify the need for it, create a brochure to market a program, and present oral reports.

On the job, they must be able to run programs and make presentations to groups; therefore, as part of their Leadership Techniques course and their internship, they will lead programs and advertise facilities to prospective clients.

View more information on language skills in the Fitness and Sports Management program.

Math

Students who select the Fitness Management option will take Trigonometry (MAT 123)  or  Statistics (MAT 157) and Survey of Physics (PHY 106), all of which require strong algebra skills. The prerequisite for the math courses is two years of high school algebra or the equivalent. Those who select the Health Emphasis will take Statistics (MAT 157). Those who select Sports Management will take Principles of Accounting I (ACC 131) and Finite Math (MAT 141), which has the equivalent of one year of high school algebra as a prerequisite.

Other uses of mathematics in the program and on the job include calculating body mass index and determining the target heart rate for a client (Fitness Management) and keeping financial records for a business (Sports Management).

View more information on math skills in the Fitness and Sports Management program.

Learning

The coursework for this program includes challenging subjects such as anatomy and economics; therefore, students need strong study skills to succeed. Those who complete their degree requirements at DMACC can be admitted as juniors to the Fitness Management program at Iowa State University, where they will have the opportunity to challenge themselves further.

Thinking skills used in this field include the ability to observe closely to determine whether a client is correctly using techniques and equipment. The job also requires the ability to compare the quality of different brands of exercise equipment and different facilities, to evaluate how well a facility is run, and to select the program that best meets the needs of a client.

View more information on learning skills in the Fitness and Sports Management program.

Computer

Introduction to Computers (CSC 110) and Library Instruction (SDV 171) are requirements in this program. In addition, students will use word processing software to write reports and Internet search engines to do research. On the job they will also use Excel spreadsheets for budgets and records of numbers of program participants.

View more information on computer skills in the Fitness and Sports Management program.

In general, students who succeed in this program combine excellent hands-on skills with knowledge of current trends in the field.