Studies & Degrees in Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness Study Programs
Health and fitness is the study of how exercise, nutrition and daily habits affect the body, and of how to help other people become and stay active. It sits between sports science and health education. Students learn exercise science and then apply it: assessing a person's fitness, designing a safe training programme and leading individuals or groups through it.
The subject matters for public health. The World Health Organization states that regular physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits, and that 31% of adults and 80% of adolescents do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity (fact sheet of 26 June 2024).
Course lists usually include anatomy and physiology, exercise techniques, fitness assessment, programme design for different ages and conditions, nutrition, behaviour change, and first aid. Many programmes add business and management for those who want to run a gym or work for themselves.
Qualifications and levels
Health and fitness can be studied at almost every level, and the level decides which jobs are open afterwards.
- Certificates and industry certification. In the United States, fitness trainers and instructors typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Personal trainers usually must be certified before they begin working with clients, and most trainers also need certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
- Community college courses and associate degrees. Chemeketa Community College in Oregon runs Health and Human Performance as an open programme that students can join at any time. It covers topics such as nutrition, personal and community health, first aid and CPR, and fitness conditioning, and many of its health courses count toward transfer degree requirements.
- Vocational training in Spain (FP). The higher-level qualification Técnico Superior en Acondicionamiento Físico lasts 2,000 hours. The Spanish vocational training portal describes it as the qualification for people who want to work as trainers in gyms and fitness centres.
- Bachelor's degrees. Degrees in exercise science, kinesiology or sport and exercise give the scientific base. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that employers may prefer personal trainers with an associate's or bachelor's degree and that trainers who move into management may need a bachelor's degree. Exercise physiologists typically need a bachelor's degree in exercise science or a related field. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
- Master's programmes. The Máster en Actividad Física y Salud offered through the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER) is aimed at university graduates and trains them to plan, assess and design exercise programmes adapted to each person's physiological and medical situation. The qualification is issued by the university in which the student enrols, so applicants should check which university that is and what kind of qualification it awards.
- Single courses. University summer schools offer individual credit courses, for example the health sciences courses in human nutrition at Boston University Summer Term.
Where to study it
This directory lists nine active schools for health and fitness: six in the United States and one each in New Zealand, Spain and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The US schools include the University of Michigan, the University of Pittsburgh, Regis College, Chemeketa Community College and Boston University Summer Term. Otago Polytechnic is the school in New Zealand, and FUNIBER, based in Barcelona, is the Spanish entry.
Programmes in the United States and New Zealand are taught in English, and FUNIBER presents its programme in Spanish and lists it as online. When comparing options, check how many hours are practical, whether the course prepares for a recognised industry certification, and whether a work placement is included.
Careers
Graduates work as personal trainers, group fitness instructors, gym and fitness centre staff and managers, and workplace or community wellness coordinators. With a degree in exercise science they can also work as exercise physiologists, who develop fitness and exercise programmes to help people improve their health.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gives these figures for the United States:
- Fitness trainers and instructors held about 388,400 jobs in 2025, and 55% worked in fitness and recreational sports centres. Employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Exercise physiologists held 21,200 jobs in 2025. Employment is projected to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a degree to work as a personal trainer?
Not in the United States, where a high school diploma is the typical entry level and certification is what employers ask for. A degree helps for clinical work, management and jobs as an exercise physiologist.
How can I study fitness in Spain without going to university?
Through vocational training. The Técnico Superior en Acondicionamiento Físico is a higher-level FP qualification of 2,000 hours aimed at work in gyms and fitness centres.
What is the difference between a fitness trainer and an exercise physiologist?
A fitness trainer instructs and motivates healthy clients and groups. An exercise physiologist typically has a bachelor's degree in exercise science and develops exercise programmes to help people improve their health.
Is first aid part of the training?
Usually yes. Most trainers in the United States need CPR and first aid certification, and the Spanish FP qualification includes a module on fitness assessment and intervention in accidents.