Health & Wellness Degree Programs FAQs

At Bryan University, one of our core programs is the School of Health & Wellness. We strive to create career-focused courses in a 100% online setting so that you can earn a degree at your own pace.

Today, we look at some FAQs about our health and wellness degree programs.

What health and wellness programs do you provide?

Bryan University provides three main educational tracks in our School of Health & Wellness.

1. Personal Trainer Diploma
2. Exercise Specialist Associate in Applied Science
3. Exercise, Nutrition, and Health Promotion Bachelor of Science

What knowledge can I gain by entering a program in the School of Health & Wellness?

We have a range of 22 courses in the School of Health & Wellness.

You can learn about: 

• How the human body moves
• The business side of exercise-based companies
• Human anatomy
• Sports law and ethics
• Exercise testing and research
• Leadership in health and wellness
• Health risk assessment and appraisal
• Interventions for wellness

This is just the beginning of your career-focused journey into the health and wellness field.

How long does it take to complete a degree program in the School of Health & Wellness?

It can take anywhere from nine months to three years. 

You can earn a personal trainer diploma in as little as 40 weeks (nine months), while a bachelor of science in exercise, nutrition, and health promotion is 140 weeks (35 months, or almost three years).

What courses are required for each degree track?

Course requirements vary depending on the complexity of the diploma or degree you want to earn. Our full course catalog has detailed information. 

For the personal trainer diploma, you must take a minimum of 54 quarter credit hours of work, or 660 contact hours (hours of instruction) total, including support courses on computer software management and strategies for success. Core courses in the specialty include anatomy and physiology, leisure programming, kinesiology, personal training, and the business of personal training, among others.

The exercise specialist associate in applied science degree requires 94.5 quarter credit hours and 1,235 contact hours, including support courses for computer software and general education requirements for math, writing, and psychology. Core courses in this specialty include anatomy and physiology, leisure programming, sports law and ethics, exercise testing and prescription, conducting research, personal training, and an externship.

Our bachelor of science in exercise, nutrition and health promotion includes 180 quarter credit hours of coursework and 2,280 contact hours over 35 months. Support courses include computer work and strategies for success, while general education courses cover math, writing, communication, sociology, psychology, ethics, and government. Core courses range from anatomy and physiology as well as the principles of strength and conditioning to conducting research and interventions to wellness. You’ll also need an externship that helps you develop practical skills in your degree track.

What are the purposes of each degree in the School of Health & Wellness?

You’ll become familiar with and understand the personal training industry and concepts.

The exercise specialist associate of applied science degree provides more training to develop skills necessary to function in a physical fitness environment.

The bachelor of science in exercise, nutrition and health promotion degree program at Bryan University gives you the skills needed to plan, develop and implement physical fitness and health programs for individuals, organizations, and communities.  

What are admission requirements for health & wellness degree programs?

To qualify for admission to any program at Bryan University, you must meet seven basic requirements.

1. Provide evidence of a high school diploma, completion of a homeschooling program, or GED certificate or equivalent.
2. Be 18 years of age or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance. There are exceptions for homeschooled students.
3. Complete an interactive interview with admissions staff (face-to-face or web-based).
4. Complete the Assessment for Distance Education Programs/Courses and Online Student Orientation (if required).
5. Complete and submit our application of admission.
6. Submit an application fee (if required).
7. Acknowledge that the presence of any adverse background activity or an adverse drug screen may prevent you from participating in externships, career services activities, and/or license and certification eligibility.

Once you meet these basic requirements for admission, you may need to fulfill these prerequisites for the School of Health & Wellness.

For the associate in applied science degree, you must:

1. Achieve the required threshold score or higher on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Examination administered by Bryan U.
2. Earn a minimum of 13.5 quarter credit hours (9 semester credit hours) from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
3. Earn an official ACT composite score of at least 17 or SAT score of at least 460 on both sections of the exam.

For the bachelor of science degree, you must fulfill the basic admission requirements in addition to earning an associate’s degree from a post-secondary educational institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution. You must send an official transcript to Bryan University to show evidence of your associate degree.

How many credit hours are courses in the School of Health & Wellness?

All courses in the School of Health & Wellness are 4.5 quarter credit hours, or 55 contact hours per course. 

How advanced do courses get in the School of Health & Wellness?

400-level courses represent the highest tier in the School of Health & Wellness.

We have five classes in this tier:

1. PT400 Health Risk Assessment & Appraisal, where you receive theoretical and practical experience regarding the scientific evaluation of physical fitness as it relates to developing programs that improve health and fight disease.
2. PT405 Directing Wellness Programs, a course about the general administrative and daily operational skills needed to lead and direct wellness programs and initiatives in a corporate, institutional, or community setting.
3. PT410 Principles of Strength and Conditioning, our course designed to give you skills to train athletes to improve their athletic performance through testing sessions, conditioning programs, and guidance for nutrition and injury prevention.
4.  PT415 Interventions for Wellness, a course addressing the need to implement and facilitate a comprehensive wellness program focused on tobacco management, weight control, nutrition, workplace safety, disease prevention, and other issues facing people in modern society.
5. PT420 Medical Exercise Specialist, a course for advanced health and fitness professionals providing in-depth fitness programming concepts for individuals recovering from medical issues such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and/or musculoskeletal diseases and disorders for individuals in various population groups.

How can I start my enrollment in Bryan University’s School of Health & Wellness?

Are you ready to jumpstart your career-focused training in personal training or exercise and nutrition? Contact Bryan University today to enroll, or call us toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 for more information.