Exercise Testing and Prescription

Catalog description

This graduate-level course equips students with advanced skills in fitness assessment and exercise prescription, aligned with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Personal Trainer Certification standards. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on laboratory practicum, students will master evaluation techniques for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, and flexibility. Emphasis is placed on interpreting assessment data to design individualized, evidence-based programs for cardiovascular, resistance, and flexibility training. The curriculum also covers risk stratification, emergency response planning, and exercise considerations for special populations—including youth, pregnant clients, and older adults, along with those with metabolic diseases. By integrating case studies, practical simulations, and ACSM guidelines, graduates will emerge prepared to conduct safe, effective fitness assessments and to prescribe tailored exercise interventions across the lifespan.