Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The Master of Science in Sport Coaching (delivered online) prepares students to be lifelong learner who can adapt professional practices to meet the changing needs of today’s athletes. Students in our program learn by applying the latest recommendations for best practice to their own coaching. This program is perfect for professional learners who have a coaching placement at the collegiate, scholastic, club or community level. The Sport Coaching curriculum is aligned with the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) Sport Coaching Framework. This multi-dimensional framework outlines the fundamental competencies that sport coaches must master to facilitate the peak development of their athletes and teams. Attention is also paid to strategies for protecting and maintaining the personal well-being for the coach both in- and out-of-season.
Our holistic approach to coaching centers on training the whole athlete physically, mentally, and technically while developing their interpersonal and life skills off the field. The program provides students with a variety of classes to enhance current practices and to support aspirational coaching opportunities. The standards-based curriculum addresses the following essential content areas: professional knowledge, applied sport science, pedagogy and content, and leadership development. All courses are designed to build relationships with faculty and peers, grow professional networks, and advance student careers in coaching.
Admissions
Criteria
- Resume: including coaching background, sport participation, sport-related awards, and employment and/or experience (e.g., athletic administration, officiating, volunteering)
- Personal statement: 1-2 pages on professional goals and reasons for seeking admission
Note: Students who do not meet the 2.75 grade point average requirement may be admitted as a provisional graduate student only if their GPA is between 2.50 and 2.75. Provisionally admitted students are required to attain a 3.0 GPA in their first 9 hours of adviser approved course work in order to remain in the program and to be reclassified as a regular graduate student.
No more than twelve graduate hours may be taken toward the master's degree as a non-degree seeking graduate student.
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis until August 1st for a fall term start, December 15th for a spring term start, and May 1st for a summer term start.
Admission Requirements 2023-2024
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2023-2024 Academic Year.
Major Code: 5529
Degree Requirements
| Student must complete a total of 30 credits across the three areas in the ICCE Framework. | ||
| Intrapersonal Knowledge | ||
| ACE 508 | The Profession of Sport Coaching (New Title: The Sport Coaching Profession) | 3 |
| Interpersonal Knowledge | ||
| ACE 585 | Applied Professional Development (New Title: Applied Professional Development) | 3 |
| Professional Knowledge | ||
| Pedagogy and Context | 6 | |
| Psychology of Coaching | ||
| Motor Behavior for Sport Coaches | ||
| Create Healthy Competitive Environments | ||
| Positive Youth Development in Sport | ||
| Applied Sport Science | 6 | |
| Training Theories for Coaches | ||
| Sport Movement Analysis | ||
| Strength and Conditioning Methods for Coaches | ||
| Leadership Development | 6 | |
| Coaching Education Administration | ||
| Sport Management Processes | ||
| Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | ||
| Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | ||
| Additional Coursework * | 6 | |
| Psychology of Coaching | ||
| Motor Behavior for Sport Coaches | ||
| Create Healthy Competitive Environments | ||
| Positive Youth Development in Sport | ||
| Training Theories for Coaches | ||
| Sport Movement Analysis | ||
| Strength and Conditioning Methods for Coaches | ||
| Coaching Education Administration | ||
| Sport Management Processes | ||
| Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | ||
| Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
Additional coursework cannot be fulfilled by courses already completed in Pedagogy and Context, Applied Sport Science, or Leadership Development content areas.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Semester | Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE 508 | 3 | ||
| ACE 541 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Second Semester | Hours | ||
| ACE 568 | 3 | ||
| ACE 510 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Third Semester | Hours | ||
| SM 535 | 3 | ||
| ACE 522 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Fourth Semester | Hours | ||
| SM 571 | 3 | ||
| SM 578 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Fifth Semester | Hours | ||
| ACE 518 | 3 | ||
| ACE 585 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Total credit hours: 30 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Sport Coaching
The goal of the program is for students to graduate with the essential skills and knowledge to work with athletes in a variety of contexts across their lifetime.
1.Content Knowledge – Students will demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to synthesize and apply Professional Knowledge, Interpersonal Knowledge, and Intrapersonal Knowledge through the use of best practices related to athlete development and sport coaching.
2.Reflection and Critical Thinking – Students will develop and utilize critical thinking skills as they refine their professional practice and promote lifelong athlete development.
3.Professionalism and Ethics – Students will model leadership competencies including ethical practices representative of professional conduct.
Courses
ACE 508. The Profession of Sport Coaching. 3 Hours.
An interaction-based course pertaining to professional coaching, coaching theory, and the engagement in problem solving and critical thinking in the profession of sport coaching.
ACE 510. Training Theories for Coaches. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to promote critical thinking, problem solving and use of current training theories for best practice in coaching across all levels to develop and nurture talent.
ACE 518. Psychology of Coaching. 3 Hours.
In-depth understanding of the psychology of coaching athletes and application of this knowledge into coaching practices for optimal athlete development and performance. Contemporary issues also covered.
ACE 522. Motor Behavior for Sport Coaches. 3 Hours.
Designed to increase coaches' understanding of how athletes learn motor skills. Theories of motor learning, techniques to provide effective instruction, practice design, stages of learning, assessment, and coaching strategies to structure training and practice to optimize skill acquisition and performance.
ACE 530. Coaching Education Administration. 3 Hours.
An administrative focus on leadership, finance, fundraising, planning, facility development, personnel supervision, public relations, rules and regulations, purchase and care of equipment and the conducting of athletic events.
ACE 539. Create Healthy Competitive Environments. 3 Hours.
Course explores topics related to techniques of training, ergogenic aids, performance enhancement, and the coach roles and responsibilities in designing, creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
ACE 541. Positive Youth Development in Sport. 3 Hours.
PR: ACE 508. Review literature and outreach programs in positive youth development. Emphasis on development of psychosocial assets in youth such as life skills and character.
ACE 568. Sport Movement Analysis. 3 Hours.
This course applies the laws of physics to sport activities with the objective of finding the most efficient use of the human body to achieve the highest levels of performance.
ACE 569. Strength and Conditioning Methods for Coaches. 3 Hours.
Present basic exercise performance methodologies to assist in coaching athletes. Types of training include speed drills, agility drills, conditioning workouts, flexibility exercises, balance-improvement drills, and proper training- environment safety techniques.
ACE 573. Advanced Strength and Conditioning Coaching Techniques. 3 Hours.
Present various exercises in hands-on setting to utilize in training. Proficiency is taught in Olympic movements, free weights, machine weights, and plyometrics. Speed and agility track exercises will be included.
ACE 580. Evaluation in Coaching. 1 Hour.
Key principles of research methods, evaluation, and planning to identify and organize instruments for data analysis and formulation of a Program Evaluation Strategy. Knowledge and skills needed to initiate a well-designed evaluation of their team, program, and self (as a coach). Course is online.
ACE 582. Program Evaluation for Coaches. 1 Hour.
PR: ACE 580. Integration of a Program Evaluation Strategy (PES) utilizing program materials and concepts in an applied professional setting. The PES will be implemented and evaluated over two full semesters. Students must have a position coaching in an applied sport setting. Course is online. (1 credit; repeated twice).
ACE 584. Evaluation Based Planning for Coaches. 1 Hour.
PR: ACE 582 with a minimum grade of B-. This course enhances coaches’ understanding of their own coaching through reflection. Insights, limitations, and future coaching strategies to overcome limitations in students’ coaching practices are presented as a way of reflecting to facilitate coach development.
ACE 585. Coaching Internship. 1-6 Hours.
Students will complete a contract detailing terms of the learning experience. The levels of coaching include but are not limited to elementary schools, little league, secondary schools, and collegiate levels.
ACE 587. Strength and Conditioning Program Design Coach. 3 Hours.
Students in this course will learn to design programs in athletic resistance training, plyometrics, conditioning, and agility, and students will learn to handle detraining, sports specificity, and periodization for offseason and competition programs.
ACE 591. Advanced Topics. 1-6 Hours.
PR: Consent. Investigation in advanced topics that are not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
ACE 592. Directed Study. 1-6 Hours.
Directed study, reading, and/or research.
ACE 593. Special Topics. 1-6 Hours.
A study of contemporary topics selected from recent developments in the field.
ACE 594. Seminar. 1-6 Hours.
Special seminars arranged for advanced graduate students.
ACE 595. Independent Study. 1-9 Hours.
Faculty-supervised study of topics not available through regular course offerings.
ACE 602. Action-based Research for Coaching. 3 Hours.
Examination of action based research as applied to sport studies. Emphasis placed on learning the skills of disciplined inquiry to inform and change ones practices in the future.
ACE 645. Contemporary Issues in Sport. 3 Hours.
Contemporary issues in sport; to make you a more successful coach, expose you to situations in today's coaching profession, and prepare you to plan for situations that may arise.
ACE 671. Women in Sport. 3 Hours.
ACE Graduate: Study the history of women in sport, and investigate issues that are directly related to women in sport as participants, coaches, administration, parents and fans.
ACE 682. Program Evaluation for Coaches. 1 Hour.
PR: ACE 680. Integration of a Program Evaluation Strategy (PES) utilizing program materials and concepts in an applied professional setting. The PES will be implemented and evaluated over two full semesters. Students must have a position coaching in an applied sport setting. Course is online. (1 credit; repeated twice).
ACE 685. Coaching Internship. 1-6 Hours.
Students will complete a contract detailing terms of the learning experience. The levels of coaching include but are not limited to elementary schools, little league, secondary schools, and collegiate levels.
ACE 688. Coaching Techniques. 1-6 Hours.
Students will complete a contract detailing terms of coaching technique topics relevant to their individual coaching experience.
ACE 691. Advanced Topics. 1-6 Hours.
PR: Consent. Investigation of advanced topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
ACE 692. Directed Study. 1-6 Hours.
Directed study, reading, and/or research.
ACE 693. Special Topics. 1-6 Hours.
A study of contemporary topics selected from recent developments in the field.
ACE 694. Seminar. 1-6 Hours.
Special seminars arranged for advanced graduate students.
ACE 695. Independent Study. 1-9 Hours.
Faculty supervised study of topics not available through regular course offerings.
ACE 696. Graduate Seminar. 1-3 Hours.
PR: Consent. Each graduate student will present at least one seminar to the assembled faculty and graduate student body of his or her program.
ACE 697. Research. 1-9 Hours.
PR: Consent. Research activities leading to thesis, problem report, research paper or equivalent scholarly project, or a dissertation. (Grading may be S/U.).
ACE 698. Thesis or Dissertation. 1-6 Hours.
PR: Consent. This is an optional course for programs that wish to provide formal supervision as needed during the writing of student reports, theses, or dissertations. (Grading is Normal).
ACE 699. Graduate Colloquium. 1-6 Hours.
PR: Consent. For graduate student not seeking coursework credit but who wish to meet residency requirements, use the University's facilities, and participate in its academic and cultural programs. Note: Graduate students who are not actively involved in coursework or research are entitled, through enrollment in their department's Graduate Colloquium to consult with graduate faculty, participate in both formal and informal academic activities sponsored by their program, and retain all of the rights and privileges of duly enrolled students. Grading is Normal; colloquium credit may not be counted against credit requirements for masters programs. Registration for one credit of 699/799 graduate colloquium satisfies the University requirement of registration in the semester in which graduation occurs.
ACE 900. Professional Development. 1-6 Hours.
Professional development courses provide skill renewal or enhancement in a professional field or content area (e.g. education, community health, geology.) The continuing education courses are graded on a pass/fail grading scale and do not apply as graduate credit toward a degree program.
ACE 930. Professional Development. 1-6 Hours.
Professional development courses provide skill renewal or enhancement in a professional field or content area (e.g. education, community health, geology.) These tuition-waived, continuing education courses are graded on a pass/fail grading scale and do not apply as graduate credit toward a degree program.