Physical education department offers Global Fitness and Wellness
By: Marisa Gallagher
The Physical Education, Recreation and Health Department introduced the Global Fitness and Wellness program to Kean this fall.
The new bachelor program, for students in the College of Education, came from the evaluation of the previous program, Adult Fitness. The idea for an evaluation came from Dr. Walter Andzel of the physical education department and suggestions made by students in the current Adult Fitness program.
“Today’s fitness and wellness is not just for adults. It is for everyone,” said Andzel.
Andzel also said the decision that Global Fitness best suits the title of the program was made to prepare students for the present and future trends in fitness and wellness.
“The new name Global Fitness and Wellness reflects the fact that our program prepares our students for many careers in fitness and wellness,” said Andzel, who is also the program coordinator.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal, the number one worldwide fitness trend in 2012 was educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals. Other worldwide fitness trends listed in the top 20 included, children and obesity, personal training, wellness coaching, ZUMBA and other dance workouts.
A bachelor’s degree in Global Fitness and Wellness can help prepare students for many careers in the field, such as cardiac rehabilitation, personal training, weight-management programming, Pilates, yoga instructing, law enforcement and military fitness and wellness.
Students enrolled in the program are required to have a GPA of 2.75 upon graduation. Some major requirement courses include: Zumba Fitness, Group and Personal Exercise Programs, Nutrition and Internship in Global Fitness & Wellness. A student can complete the program in four years with a 200-hour summer internship in a fitness and wellness center.
According to the web registration on KeanWISE, a number of classes that fulfill the program evaluation are being offered in the upcoming spring semester. Major courses being offered include Physiology of Exercise, Wellness, Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Group and Personal Exercise Programs and Exercise Testing and Interpretation.