Fitness and Nutrition BS
Earn your online Fitness and Nutrition degree online with Southern Miss!
Program-at-a-Glance (Undergraduate)
Learn more about this program:
The Fitness and Nutrition BS from The University of Southern Mississippi will turn your passion for health and wellness into a career. You will develop the skills necessary to immediately join the workforce and make a difference in the health of your community! This fully-online Fitness and Nutrition BS degree combines your interests in kinesiology, fitness, and nutrition to give you a well-rounded knowledge base so you will make a bigger impact in the fitness and nutrition space.
Our classes will also prepare you for professional certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and/or the American Council on Exercise. With our fully asynchronous classes, you’ll be able to learn it all on your own time! Looking to learn more? Our enrollment coaches are here to help. Click here for more info! This is your life, plus college!
Scholarship opportunities are available for online students! Our Online Student Scholarship gives first-time, fully-online students an opportunity for $500 toward their first semester. To get started with our Online Student Scholarship or to view our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, visit our Student Scholarship page now!
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A fitness and nutrition DEGREE?
A Fitness and Nutrition degree can open up various employment opportunities in wellness centers, corporate wellness, recreation, personal training, and community wellness.
We are here to help! Our enrollment coaches are standing by to help you take the next step.
We’ll call you soon! In the meantime, learn more about us from our blog or start your application.
Semester Guide
FALL FIRST YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Composition One
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Art Appreciation
|
3 hrs. |
|
Dance Appreciation
|
3 hrs. |
|
The Enjoyment of Music
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.
|
3 hrs. |
|
World Civilizations: 1500 C,E. to the present
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Plane Trigonometry
|
3 hrs. |
|
College Algebra
|
3 hrs. |
|
any higher level math
|
3 hrs. |
SPRING FIRST YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Composition Two
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 Natural Science and Lab:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Biology and Society
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Principles of Biological Science II
|
3 hrs. |
|
Chemistry and Our Environment
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Chemistry I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Weather and Climate
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Physics I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Physics II
*
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 untaken course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.
|
3 hrs. |
|
World Civilizations: 1500 C.E. to the present
|
3 hrs. |
|
Introduction to Philosophy
|
3 hrs. |
|
Ethics and Good Living
|
3 hrs. |
|
Comparative Religion
|
3 hrs. |
FALL SECOND YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
World Literature
|
3 hrs. |
|
Concepts of Wellness
|
|
|
General Psychology
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 untaken Natural Science class from the list above.
SPRING SECOND YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Cooking for Wellness
|
3 hrs. |
|
Public Speaking
|
3 hrs. |
|
Nutrition
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Counseling Theory and Practice
|
3 hrs. |
|
Health Psychology
|
3 hrs. |
|
Multicultural Counseling
|
3 hrs. |
|
Group Procedures
|
3 hrs. |
FALL THIRD YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Anatomy and Movement
|
3 hrs. |
|
Foundations of Fitness & Nutrition
|
3 hrs. |
|
Nutrition and Weight Control
|
3 hrs. |
|
Motor Development
|
3 hrs. |
SPRING THIRD YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Exercise Psychology
|
3 hrs. |
|
Exercise Testing & Prescription
|
3 hrs. |
|
Lifestyle Management for Chronic Disease
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Principles of Marketing
|
3 hrs. |
|
Introduction to Sport Marketing
|
3 hrs. |
FALL FOURTH YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Management for the Fitness Professional
|
3 hrs. |
|
Community Nutrition
|
3 hrs. |
|
Creating and Implementing Exercise Programs
|
3 hrs. |
|
Nutrition and Performance
|
3 hrs. |
SPRING FOURTH YEAR (15 credits)
3 hours – Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Current Trends in the Fitness & Nutrition Industries
|
3 hrs. |
|
Methods of Strength and Conditioning
|
3 hrs. |
|
Exercise Specialist Certification Preparation
|
3 hrs. |
|
Movement and Sport Skill Analysis
|
3 hrs. |
Additional Note
Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
To get started with the application process, visit the application page.
For more information on financial assistance, please visit the Office of Financial Aid’s website: http://www.usm.edu/financial-aid
While the certification process is not part of the program itself, students will take a certification prep course in their last semester of the program to learn about and prepare for certifications in the field. Graduates of this program will be prepared to sit for certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Graduates of the program are qualified to work in fitness and wellness centers, corporate wellness facilities, public and private recreation centers, hospitals, or become personal trainers.
A Fitness & Nutrition degree can help you find a fulfilling career making a positive impact on the lifestyle behaviors of our population by promoting healthy eating and exercise habits!
If you have questions about tuition, transfer credits or anything else about the university, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!
Admission Requirements
The following is required from all undergraduate applicants:
- Application for Undergraduate Admission
- $45 non-refundable application fee
- An official high school transcript for freshman (high school) applicants OR official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school for transfer applicants
- Submission of ACT or SAT scores for freshman (high school) applicants
Program Academic Policies and Requirements:
- See University Academic Policies and Requirements
- Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all program curriculum courses (DEG01 and DEG02).
- Students desiring to transfer from other schools or colleges within the University must be in good academic standing and possess a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to be admitted to a degree program
