My Dream Job, What to Major In?

L

luvmydane

0
Hi all.

Well I have started giving much thought about going back to school.. I'm 26, female and until recently I thought I'd never go back to school after quitting at 20 years old. I only have about 1 1/2 years of college down.. just basic classes. I was in a very bad state of mind back then, eating disorder that consumed my life, but now I have grown from that and know what I want...

I know WHAT I want to do with a job one day but I need advice on how to get there.. What to major in..

Fitness, strength training is my PASSION... I'm not looking to make LOADS of money, though it would be great,, I just want to love what I do. The two things I can see myself doing and loving would be:

a) high school PE teacher

or

b) (my fave) being a strength and conditioning coach for some team. (even if its just high school.. BUT a College team would be ultra awesome ..

Can anyone help me here?

Thanks in advance!

Emily
 
look into NCSA's CSCS certification. it requires ANY 4-year degree. but if you want to go on to their advanced certification (which would be what college/pro teams would look for in a trainer) you'll want a 4-year degree in a sports medicine/fitness type program.

being happy with your job is more rewarding than making a ton of money and hating your life :)
 
CSCS is the way to go. It should get your foot in the door in most areas of the industry.....this includes strength/athletic coaching.
 
I'm a grade 8 teacher and I love teaching, one of the most rewarding and mind stimulating jobs around. But I'm bias obviously. :)
 
luvmydane said:
Hi all.

Well I have started giving much thought about going back to school.. I'm 26, female and until recently I thought I'd never go back to school after quitting at 20 years old.
Click to expand...

Oh please! I'm 41 and returning to finish up my degrees. Yes, plural.

I know WHAT I want to do with a job one day but I need advice on how to get there.. What to major in..

Fitness, strength training is my PASSION... I'm not looking to make LOADS of money, though it would be great,, I just want to love what I do. The two things I can see myself doing and loving would be:

a) high school PE teacher

or

b) (my fave) being a strength and conditioning coach for some team. (even if its just high school.. BUT a College team would be ultra awesome ..

Can anyone help me here?
Click to expand...

Exercise physiology and nutrition. Those would be the most benefit for your goal. However, remembering back on my childhood, my PE teacher was a history teacher that couldn't find a job as a history teacher.

So, if you want to work in the fitness field, take up a physiology and nutrition path.
 
If you wind up being a PE teacher, then you can coach but taht doesn't mean you'll end up being a strength and conditioning coach. However, teaching is a very cool profession. Most states will require you to take a class or classes in some sort of athletic injury assessement/management and be up on first aid/CPR. Some school districts are allowing schools to hire athletic trainers or strength coaches but often the strength and conditioning is left up to the individual coaches...which sometimes is horridly done.

Education is sort of a double major. You have your area of emphasis and then you take you core ed psych, child psych, adolescent psych, student teaching, etc etc It can take a couple semesters longer than some of your other bachelors degrees but it's well worth it if that's what you want to do. In Oklahoma you have 3 state tests you have to take-general, subject area(s) to be certified in, and the professional test at the end of graduation. I have my subject certifications in the areas of English and phys ed/safety/health. The phys ed test is actually harder than most realize and if Ii had not had all my anatomy, phys, ex phys, strength&conditioning classes, etc I would not have done well or would have failed.

Anyway...
Your other options are
-Major in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science and then go on to do your masters work and put in to do your grad work under a strength and conditioning coach at a university
-Get the ed bachelors and take your CSCS and LAT (liscensed athletic trainer)
-And it'd be cool if you went so far as to get your USAW certifications (Oly lifting coach)

The CSCS exam is hard and you should buy the study materials for it. The text and audio tapes make for great references and refreshers.

I will be taking the CSCS come January after my student teaching is over. I will then take the USAW certification...strictly because money won't be such a big deal at that point.

Good luck to you.
 
You guys are awesome,, I really appreciate all of your responses!! Im getting super excited about the fact that my dream can be a reality!

Thanks..
Emily
 
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