Online Colleges for Physical & Health Education

Physical and Health Education Online Colleges

While it may seem strange to think that you could find online physical and health education programs, there are actually a number of programs available. They focus on a range of topics such as health club operations, nutrition science, personal fitness and sports management. You can also seek out a four-year teaching degree to be able to teach health and nutrition in schools and to motivate students to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of the degrees that you might find available online include a Certificate to be a Certified Personal Trainer, an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Club Operations, a Bachelor's degree in Sports and Recreation and a Master's of Science degree in Health Education. These types of programs help introduce you to important skills and to lay the foundation for success in a physical and health education career.

Your pay will depend on the specific career you choose. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides wage information for a number of occupations in the field. Fitness workers, which includes trainers and instructors, for example earned mean annual wages of $35,920, according to 2010 BLS data. In the classroom, physical education and health teachers in middle schools did better, earning mean annual wages of $54,880 while high school educators earned $55,990. Of all teachers, postsecondary recreation and fitness studies instructors made the most, earning mean wages of $63,760. Another occupation to consider is that of health educators, who most often work in health care and social assistance. Their mean annual wages were $50,270, according to the BLS. Dietitians and nutritionists earned mean annual wages of $53,340. If you like the idea of working in the field, but are looking for something a little less fitness oriented, you could consider related jobs such as being a counselor, dietitian technician, food service manager, nurse or even social worker. The upside to physical and health education--in addition to being able to help others--is that many fitness and health occupations are expected to grow at or above average during the 2008-2018 decade, which suggests that opportunities will be readily available.

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