The best new programs are typically born out of necessity.

That was the case for the new Strength and Conditioning Minor when Tyler Williams, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, was approached to start a new class in his specialty, called Applied Strength and Conditioning. It didn’t take long to learn that additional classes would be needed to effectively prepare students for the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certificate exam.

“We realized that so many students were interested in athlete performance and would benefit from having this certification, we needed to add several new classes to provide comprehensive preparation for the certification exam,” Williams said. “We prepared a proposal to start three new classes to go along with our original class.”

The value in the new minor has shown in the number of those passing the CSCS certification. The department has seen a 100% first-time pass rate since 2019.

When asked what he enjoyed most about the classes in the Strength and Conditioning Minor, Williams said, “I enjoy the hands-on aspects of the class that teach students how to integrate scientific principles into training approaches that will enhance performance and fitness. Students are receiving so many messages through social media and other fitness influencers, so it is fun to challenge many of the common myths and misconceptions in our field.”

Currently, there are more than 30 students declaring it as a minor with many more currently in classes as electives. Most of the students have a kinesiology major, but that is not the case for all.

Williams added that this is a great opportunity for students from all disciplines to learn about strength and conditioning who may want to work with athletes in any professional manner or are interested in improving their own exercise or sport performance.