SRJC introduced a new major program this semester for those interested in nutrition, fitness and health.
The Fitness, Nutrition and Health major is designed to provide study and application of principles of nutrition, weight management, behavior modification, fitness testing, physical fitness training, exercise leadership and program design. This program is for those students interested in careers such as personal trainers, health and wellness coaches and group exercise instructors. The program is different from a physical education or health program.

Physical Education Generalist and Kinesiology Instructor Tara Jacobson said, “[The program] encompasses comprehensive topics in the area of health, nutrition, and behavior change vital for fitness trainers to address broader client goals and to meet the need of a growing trend toward wellness type coaching.”

This makes the program unique along with the “hands-on” experience and teaching techniques.
Jacobson said the Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance (KAD) program has been pushing for this program for years. The program is offered at other colleges and aims to help those who desire to be in the fitness industry pass the certifying test.

The push for the program was due to industry need. “We incorporated health and nutrition because it is important for fitness specialists to understand the role exercise and nutrition plays in health problems our society is dealing with,” Jacobson said.

The emphasis on exercise in this field is beneficial in increasing immune function productivity, learning skills as well as mental health. “[Exercise] has shown to reduce stress and anxiety and can be as effective as psychotherapy for treating depression,” Jacobson said.

Those engaging in this field will be able to benefit society in the fight against Type II diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Students will be able to advise clients on credible health information.

“This particular major is for those students seeking careers in the fitness industry. Some may want to work in the industry while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology or related field. Others want to personal train, lead group exercise, yoga, or Pilates part-time but are pursuing a degree in another field,” Jacobson said.

The California Labor Market has jobs available for those pursuing careers in the fitness industry. In Sonoma County there is a 21.4 percent increase in the field, in San Francisco Bay Area 10.5 percent increase and in California 21.8 percent, according to California Labor Market.

Jacobson said fitness-related careers are a growing field.