West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences has established a new minor for students pursuing a career in sports and physical activity with a concentration on strength and conditioning.
Strength and conditioning is a fast growing area and there is a lot of need for people in this field, said Kristen Dieffenbach, assistant professor of the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
"This minor will help students fulfill that need," Dieffenbach said.
New classes were developed to centralize on strength and conditioning, and existing sport and exercise physiology classes were incorporated in the minor. It focuses on the science of the human body to learn how to train athletes properly.
Strength and conditioning coach Jerry Handley had looked into developing this minor as a graduate student here at WVU.
"There has been a lot of interest in strength and conditioning in students because it is an up and coming career," he said.
Handley and CPASS Athletic Coaching Education worked together to establish this minor. They began developing classes for the minor in November 2006, Handley said.
Classes will focus on exercise physiology, sports nutrition and training program design. Students are also required to complete a supervised internship.
"During the course of completing this minor students will receive great hands on experience which will allow them to truly learn about this career," Handley said.
Some of the prerequisites for the strength and conditioning minor are available now, but all 21 credit hours required for the minor will be available in the summer of 2010.
"If a student works closely with his or her advisor, the minor can be completed in one year," said Dr. Valerie Wayda, Professor Chair, Department of Coaching and Teaching Studies.
The minor also was built to fully prepare students for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists exam, a certification required for most jobs in the field.
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