Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The Master of Science in Sport Coaching (delivered online) is designed for professional learners interested in further developing their technical skills and enriching their capacity to support athletes in high-performance settings. The program is the ideal fit for those looking to better understand the profession of sport coaching and the factors that influence peak athlete performance in individual and team sports.
The curriculum incorporates a unique balance of theoretical and applied courses that are designed to meet the needs of coaches in today’s dynamic sport industry. Each course builds upon a multi-dimensional framework that outlines the fundamental competencies that sport coaches must master to facilitate the long-term development of their athletes and teams. These competencies address the pedagogy of sport coaching, reflection and critical thinking, professionalism and ethics, and use of technology.
The primary goals of the Sport Coaching program are for students to graduate with the essential competencies necessary to work with athletes and teams in a variety of contexts and to enhance their professional skills as a sport coach.
Admissions for 2026-2027
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.
Major Code: 5529
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| ACE 508 | The Sport Coaching Profession (should be first course completed) | 3 |
| ACE 585 | Applied Professional Development (should be last course completed) | 3 |
| Electives | 24 | |
Select eight of the following: | ||
| Psychology of Coaching | ||
| Motor Behavior for Sport Coaches | ||
| Creating a Healthy Competitive Environment | ||
| Positive Youth Development in Sport | ||
| Training Theories for Coaches | ||
| Sport Movement Analysis | ||
| Strength and Conditioning Methods for Coaches | ||
| Coaching Education Administration | ||
| Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | ||
| Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | ||
| Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management | ||
| Social and Ethical Responsibility in Sport | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Sport Coaching
The goal of the program is for students to graduate with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for a career in sport coaching.
Professional Knowledge - Understand advanced disciplinary knowledge and the primary modes of inquiry that form the basis for evidence-informed practice in their field.
Professional Practice - Apply evidence-informed strategies in their professional practice to meet the differentiated needs of the client groups and key stakeholders whom they serve.
Professional Leadership - Contribute to the leadership of communities of professional practice as collaborative learners who can facilitate their own continued development and that of others.