Here, you will learn to assess athlete and client physical function and to develop and implement programs to increase strength, power, speed and endurance to improve performance and quality of life across the lifespan. You will understand how the body responds and adapts to exercise through foundational courses in exercise physiology, biomechanics, neuromuscular control, and sport and exercise psychology. This knowledge will be enhanced with an array of Strength & Conditioning for Performance & Wellness–specific coursework. You will graduate prepared to sit for the National Strength & Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam and ready to pursue related career opportunities.
Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Wellness
Develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to design and implement programs to improve performance in people across the lifespan (e.g. youth, college and professional athletes through to recreational exercisers and clinical populations of all ages).
"I came into the professional world post-graduation feeling incredibly prepared from my IC program and internship experiences. An IC internship turned into a career that eventually led me to start my personal training business! I feel confident daily knowing I have a strong foundation from IC and the education in learning how to take on the fitness world head-on."
Katie Woodilla '19, Founder & Owner of Bomber Fitness, LLC
Undergraduate Strength & Conditioning for Performance & Wellness (S&C for P&W) students hone their skills in class and during experiential learning experiences at IC’s Wellness Clinic.
Undergraduate Strength & Conditioning for Performance & Wellness (S&C for P&W) students hone their skills in class and during experiential learning experiences at IC’s Wellness Clinic.
Our Educational Approach & Coursework
At Ithaca College, we pride ourselves on providing you with the theoretical knowledge to guide decision making and the space to practice and become proficient at the skills required to work as an applied practitioner in the field.
-
- Health Screening - You learn to conduct health screening and how to use this information to select fitness tests and to design safe and effective exercise programs.
- Fitness Testing: You will learn to implement tests to identify athlete and client strengths and weaknesses.
- Program Design: You will learn to develop programs to help athletes and clients achieve their goals (e.g. peak at key stages of a competitive season vs exercise safely following cancer treatment).
- Coaching: You will learn to perform, teach, and coach a range of exercises (e.g., free weights, machines, and Olympic weightlifting exercises, plyometrics, speed and agility exercises, etc.).
-
A unique aspect of our program is the requirement to complete 28–34 credits of pure strength and conditioning content. This far exceeds the level of strength and conditioning exposure offered at exercise science programs at some other institutions. Classes you will take include:
- Strength and Conditioning Foundations: You will learn basic elements of fitness testing and program design. You will learn to manipulate things like training intensity, volume, and recovery to help athletes and clients achieve their goals. You will be introduced to basic resistance training techniques and will fine-tune your performance of these.
- Personal Training: You learn best practices of testing and program design to help general population and high-risk clients achieve their health and fitness goals.
- Advanced Strength and Conditioning: This course will introduce you to more advanced concepts in fitness testing and program design. You will learn to devise periodized training programs. Practical content exposes you to up-to-date technologies used to monitor athletes. You will also discuss considerations for working with special populations (e.g. paralympic athletes).
- Pathophysiology: You learn how specific diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis) impact athlete and client health. You will learn to implement exercise strategies to treat these conditions and improve athlete / client health.
- Practicums in Strength and Conditioning: These will provide you with opportunities to develop your practical skills in areas of health and fitness testing, teaching and coaching of basic and advanced resistance exercises, as well as field-based conditioning modes (e.g., speed, agility, and cardio/endurance training).
-
Our program provides you with three different applied experiences to allow you to develop your applied skills in a gradual manner:
- Fieldwork in Exercise Science I – This experience allows you to explore different avenues within Exercise Science by having you shadow practitioners working at a strength and conditioning or a health and fitness facility.
- Applied Practice in Strength and Conditioning – This experience allows you to apply your skills while completing 100-hours of work with IC’s varsity athletes in our Strength and Conditioning Department.
- Strength and Conditioning Internship – This semester-long internship, places you in a strength and conditioning department / health and fitness facility at one of our affiliated institutions. You work alongside other strength and conditioning / health and fitness professionals to apply and hone your skills to help athletes and clients achieve their goals.
-
A unique characteristic of the Ithaca College S&C for P&W concentration is our partnerships with Ithaca College Athletics, the Robert R. Colbert Sr. Wellness Clinic, and Cornell University Strength & Conditioning. You will have the opportunity to work with strength and conditioning and health and fitness professionals in these organizations. You will work with clients ranging from general gym goers (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) through high-level athletes preparing for a specific sport. You will hone your skills by progressing from observing to teaching and coaching basic and advanced (gym- and field-based) exercises to help athletes and clients achieve their goals.
My experience in the Strength and Conditioning concentration at Ithaca College was phenomenal. Everything about the curriculum, from lectures in the classroom, to hands-on experience in my internships, gave me exactly what I needed to succeed in the world of Strength and Conditioning. My experience at Ithaca College directly influenced my success in getting my first full-time job. I seriously think that the program is THE most underrated strength and conditioning program out there and will set any willing student up for success in the world of coaching.
Ben Fleet '22, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Marist College
S&C for P&W graduates during their internships. Pictured left to right are Jacob Lewiston '19, George Crouch '19, Tyler Kisbaugh '19, Rajay Channer '24, and John Paugh '24.
S&C for P&W graduates during their internships. Pictured left to right are Jacob Lewiston '19, George Crouch '19, Tyler Kisbaugh '19, Rajay Channer '24, and John Paugh '24.
Our Graduates
Graduates from the S&C for P&W program have a wide range of paths. Learn more below.
-
Some our graduates work as strength and conditioning specialists and coaches at high schools, colleges, universities, and the military. Some work as health, fitness and/or wellness specialists working with high-risk clients (e.g. cancer and cardiac episode survivors) at private training facilities. They also work as personal trainers (campus recreation, corporate wellness, health clubs) or are entrepreneurial business owners.
Examples of the pathways of our recent graduates include:
- Performance Specialist
- Personal Trainer
- Exercise Physiologist
- Strength and Conditioning Assistant
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Some of our students opt to enter graduate and professional schools. Examples include:- Appalachian State University
- New York Chiropractic College
- Sacred Heart University
- Springfield College
-
According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA), average salaries for strength and conditioning / health and fitness professionals range from between $49,000 - $76,000.
“The internship process went great … an awesome opportunity! The practical experience has been outstanding and helped me develop to become more well-rounded as a professional. Additionally, I received a job offer before graduation and I have accepted. This experience surpassed my expectations and I would like to thank you for helping me along the way!”
Brian Gill '19, Physical Therapy student at Florida International University
CASCE Accreditation
Learn more about our CASCE accreditation below.
-
The Ithaca College undergraduate Strength & Conditioning for Performance & Wellness concentration is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE), a recognized authority in quality strength and conditioning education.
This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and excellence in our strength and conditioning program. Our curriculum, faculty, and facilities have undergone rigorous evaluation to ensure that we provide students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to excel in the field of strength and conditioning and keep athletes safe.
-
The following data will be updated as the information becomes available:
Data Point Percentage Enrollment of ESAT students in the S&C for P&W concentration. Retention rate of ESAT students in the S&C for P&W concentration. CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) exam pass rate. Graduation rate of ESAT students in the S&C for P&W concentration. Graduate placement rate of students in S&C for P&W concentration.
Questions?
Dave Diggin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Program Director