Responding
to growing interest in fitness and sports, Mercer County Community
College will begin offering an associate degree in Exercise Science
when classes begin August 29 for the fall semester.
According to
program coordinator John Kalinowski, “Students will take a
wide range of courses that include anatomy and physiology, health
and fitness, team sports management, exercise physiology, nutrition,
exercise measurement/ prescription and kinesiology.”
A practical
field experience will also be part of the program, which is now
pending final state approval. Students who complete the program
will be prepared to transfer to four-year colleges to major in fields
such as exercise physiology, kinesiology, personal training, biomechanics,
cardiac rehab, coaching, health and fitness, education, and strength
conditioning for athletes.
Kalinowski has
been teaching health and fitness classes at MCCC for several years
and taught at The College of New Jersey as an adjunct faculty member.
He is also the strength and conditioning coordinator for the MCCC’s
award-winning athletics teams. He has worked with corporate, college,
and semi-professional fitness and athletics programs, as well as
youth and professional athletes for the past ten years. His client
list includes the New Jersey Wildcats, the New York/New Jersey Hitmen,
and MLB and NFL players. Kalinowski holds a B.S. in Corporate Fitness/Exercise
Science from The College of New Jersey and an M.S. in Kinesiology
from Georgia Southern University. He is also a strength and conditioning
specialist certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Student Jenny
Takter of East Windsor, who just completed an associate degree in
General Business at Mercer, is looking forward to being one of the
program’s first students this fall. A fitness instructor and
personal trainer who works at Gold’s Gym, Takter said “I
am interested in the science behind fitness and hope to combine
my business and fitness interests for a career in the field.”
She plans to continue her education for a bachelor’s degree.
For more information
on pursuing an Associate degree in Exercise Science at Mercer, contact
John Kalinowski at 609-586-4800 ext. 3675 or e-mail kalinowj@mccc.edu.
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