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2016 - 2017 Academic Catalog

Fitness Management

A multidisciplinary field of study, the Lasell College Fitness Management Program provides students with expertise in the field of fitness and wellness accompanied with a strong foundation in business management.

Fitness Management professionals are knowledgeable in the areas of kinesiology, human performance assessment, fitness skills and principles, wellness concepts, and strength and conditioning techniques while maintaining expertise in business management principles, theories and concepts. As business experts dedicated to fitness and wellness enhancement, Fitness Management professionals are responsible for the development and coordination of exercise programs for clients at health clubs, fitness facilities, private clubs, resort fitness centers and casinos while overseeing the business management of such settings.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) endorses the Fitness Management Program based on curriculum content and educational competencies achieved. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the National Strength and Conditioning Associates (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Exam and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer Exam. Additional cost is associated with each certification exam.

The fitness aspect of the curriculum focuses on the study of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, human metabolism, human movement, group exercise, strength and conditioning techniques and personal training skills. The business management aspect of the curriculum focuses on business management, marketing, and sales principles, entrepreneurship and private club management.  Students will culminate their educational journey with a multidisciplinary capstone and two internships opportunities. 

While completing this multidisciplinary program, Fitness Management majors have the option to participate in domestic and international service- learning programs and study abroad programs.

Utilizing our connected learning philosophy, discipline specific principles, concepts, theories and skills will be reinforced through their application in problem-based collaborative projects, laboratory activities and extensive internship experiences.

Students are immediately introduced to discipline specific concepts and skills during the first year in the program. Throughout the second and third year of the program students will navigate through classes and educational experiences in management, marketing, fitness and wellness.  During the final year of the program, students are actively engaged in undergraduate research through the research concepts and capstone courses, and two multidisciplinary field experiences that immerse students in professional settings designed to allow students an opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills and abilities with supervised autonomy

Academic standards for the Fitness Management Program include grades of "C" or better in all EXSC and BUSS courses.

Program Fee
Each Fitness Management student is charged a program fee for each semester. The program fee is used to provide instructional supplies, discipline specific technology, guest speaker honoraria, educational opportunities outside of the classroom and miscellaneous materials/supplies needed to maximize student learning.

Retention Policy
The Fitness Management program coursework, with associated prerequisites, requires a grade of "C" or better in all EXSC and BUSS courses.  Additionally, Fitness Management majors must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in the program. Failure to maintain required academic standards will necessitate the repetition of a major required course and consultation with the program director and department chair to determine a student's academic eligibility to remain in the program.

Goals and Outcomes
The following goals and learning outcomes delineate what we strive for students to achieve when they complete the major program of study in Fitness Management:

Goal 1: Communication
Upon completion of the major program of study in Fitness Management Program, students will be able to:

  1. interpret, develop, produce and disseminate disciplinary research
  2. understand and create discipline specific written work
  3. deliver professional oral presentations
  4. interact professionally and educate clients, peers and colleagues
  5. apply a collaborative, team approach to client-services

Goal 2: Professional Behaviors
Upon completion of the major program of study in Fitness Management, students will be able to:

  1. identify ethical issues 
  2. model professional conduct and behavior
  3. respect the role and responsibilities of each professional member of a multidisciplinary team
  4. advance knowledge through the use of evidence based practice and professional development
  5. practice cultural competence in delivery of client-centered services
  6. adhere to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and National Strength and Conditioning Association codes of ethics

Goal 3: Knowledge and Skills
Upon completion of the major program of study in Fitness Management, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of organizational behavior and cross-cultural management
  2. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of human resource management
  3. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of information technology
  4. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of strategic planning within management
  5. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area if fitness and wellness knowledge
  6. demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the application of fitness and wellness skills and techniques

Goal 4: Professional Decision Making
Upon completion of the major program of study in Fitness Management, students will be able to

  1. incorporate evidence based practice into professional decision making
  2. create, implement and modify fitness and wellness programs to address individual needs of the client

BUSS101 - Contemporary Issues in Business

This course is designed to familiarize students with various aspects of the business world. Areas covered include: private enterprise, forms of ownership, legal aspects, management, marketing, human resources, operations management, labor relations, and finance. In addition, students become aware of how business functions are integrated into an organization to achieve specific goals.

BUSS201 - Financial Accounting

This course provides students with an applied knowledge of the fundamental accounting process and procedures used in business. Students learn how to identify and record business transactions. In addition, students learn how to create financial statements, as well as how to become intelligent users of financial information.

BUSS205 - Legal Environment of Business

This course provides a working knowledge of everyday law as it applies to business and personal needs. The focus is primarily on contract law and property law.

BUSS220 - Marketing

In this course, fundamentals of the nature of marketing are presented and evaluated for specific functions and institutions. Policies and practices as applied generally to marketing research involve product development, selection, channels of distribution buying and physical distribution selling. Pricing under competitive conditions, social benefits of competition and government regulations are included. Prerequisites: BUSS 101, HEM 101, FASH 101, or SMGT 102; ECON 101; HEM102.

BUSS224 - Organizational Behavior

In this course, students study individuals within the context of the organization using a behavioral approach. Group dynamics and intergroup dynamics are emphasized in relation to productivity and work satisfaction along with the examination of specific aspects of organizations that influence behavior. Areas covered include: structure, leadership, and change. Teaching modalities include case studies and role-playing. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOC 101.

BUSS231 - Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation

Entrepreneurship drives global innovation and economic growth. This course exposes business students to the study of entrepreneurship and the venture creation process. Topics include analyzing new business opportunities, developing business propositions, new venture planning and financing, marketing activities, financial controls, and other topics relevant to the entrepreneurial process. Students interact with faculty, local entrepreneurs, and small business owners/managers. As a culmination activity of this course, students are responsible for the development and presentation of a business plan. Prerequisite: BUSS 101.

BUSS336 - Human Resource Management

This course examines the staffing function of management including planning, recruitment, selection, training, motivation, appraisal, compensation, labor laws, and organizational development. The course also addresses current issues affecting the human resource manager, including the changing work force and need to increase productivity, as well as changes in the area of unions and affirmative action. Both class discussions and case studies are used to prepare students for the personnel and related tasks involved in a management position. Prerequisite: BUSS 224.

BUSS498 - Internship Seminar Acct/Fin

A critical component of the internship experience is participating in a weekly seminar where students discuss and reflect on their experiences to gain a broader view of the workplace, contemporary issues and organizational trends, as well as their own developing abilities and career interests. This one credit course covers professional issues as they arise during the student's internship. Some of the topics covered include: supervision, boundary issues, self-care, stress management, and professionalism. Students are required to write a weekly reflective journal on their internship experience. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing, and a 2.0 cumulative average in all business prefix courses. Separate sections are offered for different business majors. Must be taken concurrently with BUSS 499.

BUSS499 - Internship Accounting/Finance

The internship is scheduled to take place during the senior year. Students serve as interns for a total of 150 hours over a 12-week period, done concurrently with on-campus course work as shown in the curriculum for each program. Detailed reports, a journal, and other written requirements are submitted during and at the conclusion of the internship. The internship supervisor monitors each student's performance and visits each internship site as needed. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing, and a 2.0 cumulative average in all business prefix courses. Separate sections are offered for different business majors. Must be taken concurrently with BUSS 498.

EXSC106 - Resistance Training

This course will explore the fundamentals of strength and conditioning instruction. Students will develop a practical/technical foundation for designing, instructing, and evaluating strength and conditioning routines for a variety of clientele. Major compound movements, Olympic lifts, and advanced conditioning techniques will be emphasized. Students will utilize their anatomical and kinesiological knowledgebase to evaluate exercise technique and form. Students will also develop foundational knowledge of exercise safety, cueing/correction techniques, exercise demonstration and modification, exercise progression and professionalism.

EXSC108 - Group Exercise

This course will introduce students to group exercise instruction methods. Students will gain knowledge of and skill in planning exercise sessions for groups of exercisers using a variety of formats and instructional techniques. Communication, instruction, safety, motivation, organization, music selection, and choreography with be discussed and practiced. In addition, the application of common anatomy, physiology, and behavior modification principles will be used in designing and progressing group exercise sessions. A variety of fitness activities will be explored including sports conditioning, circuit training, boot camp, step aerobics, kickboxing, strength training, yoga and indoor cycling. This course will also prepare students to sit for national certification exams.

EXSC209 - Performance Nutrition

This course studies the effects, benefits, and sources of major nutrients. It includes an overview of nutritional issues involved in disease processes and nutritional needs for an active population. Special focus on patient assessment and development of dietary plans based on energy expenditure. Prerequisites: BIO 205, BIO 206.

EXSC211 - Personal Fitness

This course prepares students for national certification exams as personal trainers. Each class addresses pertinent topics of the health fitness professional. These topics include health screening and assessment and comprehensive program design for multiple populations. The course empowers students with the skills necessary to become qualified fitness professionals.

EXSC222 - Kinesiology

This course examines the anatomical and mechanical concepts required for critical assessment, description, and qualitative analysis of human motion. The laboratory component includes analysis of human motion. Prerequisites: BIO 205, BIO 206, PHYS 111.

EXSC302 - Exercise Physiology

This course explores the acute and chronic effects of exercise on the structure and function of the body with an emphasis on the acute responses of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuromuscular systems. Various concepts related to physical fitness such as body composition, skill related fitness, and cardiovascular fitness are introduced. The practical applications of major principles are demonstrated in a laboratory setting. Students are advised that the capability to exercise moderately and maximally may be required and that documentation of a medical examination indicating cardiopulmonary status and exercise capacity may be requested by the instructor. Writing intensive course. Prerequisites: BIO 205, BIO 206.

EXSC305 - Strength Training & Conditioning

Lecture and practical sessions include principles of weight training and conditioning, orientation to different modalities, including free weights, weight machines (i.e., Nautilus), and circuit training and development of individual and group exercise programs. Students may be required to obtain medical clearance prior to participation. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

EXSC307 - Advanced Sports Performance

This course is designed to provide students advanced concepts in strength and conditioning. Emphasis is placed on the application of principles and theories covered in the Strength and Conditioning class. Students focus on the development of sports specific programs for the purpose of improving athletic performance. Prerequisite: EXSC 305.

EXSC340 - Research Concepts

This course covers research concepts in the healthcare and fitness industy including the logic of experimental and correlational designs, issues of control, sampling, measurement of variables, ethical issues in research, use of online professional search procedures, and writing in APA style. Students engage in various aspects of the research process culminating in a research paper on a discipline specific topic. Prerequisite: MATH 208.

EXSC410 - Exercise Science Field Experience I

This is an off-campus experience in a hospital, clinic, corporate, university or commercial setting, as appropriate. Concepts, theories, and practices learned in the classroom are applied in a supervised setting. Students must successfully complete at least 150 hours of field experience in addition to written assignments. Prerequisites: EXSC 302, EXSC 305 and Permission of Department Chair.

HEM205 - Private Club Management

This course explores many areas vital to the success of club management including business, finance, food, beverage, facilities, sales, operations, and multiple recreational activities while stressing the supreme importance of customer service quality. By taking this course, HEM students explore a field that covers all aspects of the hospitality industry. We are privileged to be in a great location, close to many of the area’s most notable private clubs, which can provide students with employment experience and internship opportunities. Prerequisite: HEM 101.

BUSS232 - Operations Strategy

Operations strategy examines how operations can be used as sources of competitive advantage. This class will focus on understanding the need of formulating an operational strategy (long-term plan) and making strategic operational decisions. The old view of operations management as the task of maintaining a comparatively static production or service facility has given way to one characterized by a need for renewed flexibility, relentless improvement, and the development of new capabilities at the operating unit level. As a result of this changing environment, the skills required of operations managers have changed as well. The course is based primarily on case studies supported by conceptual frameworks.

EXSC405 - Organization & Healthcare Administration

This course presents the principles of managing physical education, intramural and athletic programs, and sport and fitness businesses. Course topics include facility management, human relations, legal issues, scheduling, drug testing, staffing, and related duties of facility managers. Writing intensive course. Prerequisites: Senior standing.

BUSS440 - Business Policy

This capstone course requires students to apply a broad knowledge of management and administrative techniques to specific situations. An emphasis is placed on strategy formulation and implementation. The case study method is used. This course culminates in a formal professional presentation to members of the advisory board. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: Senior standing, Marketing/Management or Accounting/Finance Majors.

EXSC430 - Exercise Science Capstone

The capstone course synthesizes theories and practices of exercise physiology into one culminating and progressive exercise program for a client. Students serve as subjects, technicians, and administrators. The primary goal is to better prepare students to engage in research at the graduate level and to create an opportunity for students to apply various concepts and theories attained throughout the curriculum. The content of this course focuses on opportunities for exercise program design and undergraduate research, with three course design option; development of original case study research, with focus on adhering to written and oral presentation standards within the field; development of an original research question, with focus on methodology, data collection and statistical analysis; or development of an understanding of the research process, with focus on review of the literature, defining the research question, and study methodology. Prerequisite: EXSC 340