Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
This major prepares you to work with high-performance athletes in the athletic or tactical contexts, or with recreational participants in community or club leagues. As a profession, coaching has evolved well beyond merely teaching skills and strategy to athletes. Today, coaches need to evaluate and monitor athlete performance from the perspective of both a sport scientist and a sport pedagogist. The Coaching and Performance Science major is designed to prepare future coaches who will specialize in “on-field” coaching versus “off-field” coaching (e.g., strength and conditioning, athlete performance and recovery). Students will complete an area of emphasis in one of three areas: Coaching and Leadership, Strength and Conditioning, or Applied Sport Science.
The Coaching and Leadership area focuses on the development of sport specific and underlying scientific content knowledge as well as the essential interpersonal and intrapersonal skills necessary for quality teaching and leadership within the sport context. The program challenges students to focus on their personal professional foundation and on-going development through the integration of applied sport science and hands-on application in coaching.
Strength and Conditioning area concentrates on the science of training, designing training prescriptions and the ability to coach both in and out of a weight room. Students participate in hands-on experiences performing and coaching strength exercises to peers as well as how to administer different strength and power tests in our instructional performance lab.
The Applied Sport Science area of emphasis focuses on athlete monitoring and performance assessment, allowing for an improved understanding of how athletes are responding to their training prescription and better overall steering of the training/recovery process. Students participate in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute’s Human Performance Innovation Center; an applied sport science laboratory and/or with WVU athletic teams.
Admissions
All students are directly admitted into the Coaching and Performance Science program who meet the University requirements.
Students admitted from other majors within WVU must be in good academic standing (2.0 GPA).
Students transferring from another institution must be in good academic standing (2.0 GPA).
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 5510
Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 49 | |
Career and Professional Development Common Core | ||
Coaching and Performance Science Major Requirements | 71 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
University Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8 | 21 | |
PASS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
General Electives | 26 | |
Total Hours | 49 |
Professional and Career Development Common Core
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Common Core * | ||
First-Year Seminar | ||
Career Exploration in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
Internship: Practicum & Data Analysis | ||
Strength and Conditioning Internship | ||
Capstone Experience in PASS |
Coaching and Performance Science Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ACE 215 | Sport for the Exceptional Athlete (GEF 7) | 3 |
ACE 256 | Principles and Problems of Coaching (must earn B- or higher) | 3 |
HN&F 171 | Introduction to Human Nutrition (GEF 2) | 3 |
Select one of the following courses (GEF 3): ** | 3 | |
Intro Concepts Of Mathematics | ||
Algebra with Applications | ||
PET 124 | Human Body: Structure and Function | 2 |
PET 125 | Principles of Human Movement | 2 |
PET 175 | Motor Development | 2 |
PET 244 | Motor Learning and Performance | 2 |
Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 3 | |
Organizational Communication | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
ACE 305 | Diversity and Sport (must earn B- or higher) | 3 |
ACE 310 | Coaching Pedagogy (must earn B- or higher) | 3 |
ACE 410 | Training Theories for Coaches | 3 |
ACE 468 | Sport Movement Analysis | 3 |
ACE 488 | Practicum Coaching Exceptional Athletes | 3 |
ACE 469 | Basic Strength/Conditioning-Coaches | 3 |
EXPH 365 | Exercise Physiology 1 | 3 |
PASS 300 | Career Exploration in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences | 3 |
SEP 272 | Psychological Perspectives of Sport (GEF 4) | 3 |
SM 426 | Liability in Sport | 3 |
Complete one of the following Areas of Emphasis (AoE) | 18 | |
Coaching & Leadership *** | ||
Strength and Conditioning | ||
Applied Sport Science | ||
Proof of Certifications | ||
Total Hours | 71 |
- *
PASS 191 is accounted for in the University Requirements, PASS 300 in the Major Requirements, and the Capstone is accounted for in the specific AOE chosen.
- **
Coaching and Leadership students complete MATH 121. Applied Sport Science and Strength and Conditioning students complete MATH 124.
- ***
Students completing the Coaching and Leadership Area of Emphasis must complete CDFS 110 with a minimum grade of C- which also fulfills GEF 8.
Areas of Emphasis Offered:
Applied Sport Science Area of Emphasis
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | 3 |
EXPH 364 | Kinesiology | 3 |
ACE 453 | Applied Sport Science Stats | 3 |
ACE 457 | Introduction to Sport Technology and Sport Science | 3 |
ACE 458 | Internship: Practicum & Data Collection | 3 |
ACE 459 | Internship: Practicum & Data Analysis | 3 |
Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | MATH 124 (GEF 8) | 3 |
PET 124 | 2 | PET 125 | 2 |
PET 175 | 2 | HN&F 171 (GEF 2) | 3 |
PASS 191 | 1 | ACE 215 (GEF 7) | 3 |
GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 2 | 3 |
General Electives | 6 | General Electives | 2 |
17 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PET 244 | 2 | STAT 211 (GEF 8) | 3 |
ACE 256 | 3 | ACE 305 | 3 |
SEP 272 (GEF 4) | 3 | PASS 300 | 3 |
GEF 6 | 3 | EXPH 364 | 3 |
General Electives | 4 | General Electives | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
EXPH 365 | 3 | ACE 310 | 3 |
ACE 453 | 3 | SM 426 | 3 |
ACE 457 | 3 | COMM 306 or 316 (GEF 8) | 3 |
ACE 468 | 3 | General Electives | 3 |
General Electives | 3 | ||
15 | 12 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ACE 410 | 3 |
ACE 458 | 3 | ACE 459 | 3 |
ACE 469 | 3 | ACE 488 | 3 |
General Electives | 6 | GEF 8 | 3 |
General Electives | 3 | ||
15 | 15 | ||
Total credit hours: 120 |
Coaching and Leadership Area of Emphasis
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
LDR 201 | Principles of Leadership | 3 |
CDFS 412 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
CDFS 414 | Adolescent Problems and Disorders | 3 |
ACE 430 | Coaching Education Administration | 3 |
ACE 489 | Practicum Coaching Youth Sport | 3 |
PASS 489 | Capstone Experience in PASS | 3 |
Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | PET 125 | 2 |
PET 124 | 2 | HN&F 171 (GEF 2) | 3 |
PET 175 | 2 | ACE 215 (GEF 7) | 3 |
PASS 191 | 2 | GEF 2 | 3 |
GEF 5 | 3 | General Electives | 5 |
General Electives | 2 | ||
14 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
MATH 121 or 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | CDFS 110 (GEF 8) | 3 |
PET 244 | 2 | LDR 201 | 3 |
ACE 256 | 3 | ACE 305 | 3 |
GEF 8 | 3 | SEP 272 | 3 |
General Electives | 4 | COMM 306 or 316 (GEF 8) | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PASS 300 | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
ACE 310 | 3 | SM 426 | 3 |
EXPH 365 | 3 | ACE 430 | 3 |
ACE 468 | 3 | ACE 488 | 3 |
General Electives | 3 | General Electives | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
CDFS 412 | 3 | ACE 410 | 3 |
ACE 469 | 3 | CDFS 414 | 3 |
ACE 489 | 3 | PASS 489 | 3 |
General Electives | 6 | GEF 6 | 3 |
General Electives | 3 | ||
15 | 15 | ||
Total credit hours: 120 |
Strength and Conditioning Area of Emphasis
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
HN&F 200 | Nutrition/Activity/Health | 3 |
EXPH 364 | Kinesiology | 3 |
ACE 457 | Introduction to Sport Technology and Sport Science | 3 |
ACE 473 | Strength and Conditioning Coaching Techniques | 3 |
ACE 487 | Sport Specific Strength/Conditioning | 3 |
ACE 475 | Strength and Conditioning Internship | 3 |
Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | MATH 124 | 3 |
PET 124 | 2 | PET 125 | 2 |
PET 175 | 2 | HN&F 171 (GEF 2) | 3 |
PASS 191 | 2 | ACE 215 (GEF 7) | 3 |
GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 2 | 3 |
Elective | 2 | Elective | 2 |
14 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PET 244 | 2 | HN&F 200 | 3 |
ACE 256 | 3 | ACE 305 | 3 |
SEP 272 | 3 | PASS 300 | 3 |
GEF 8 | 3 | EXPH 364 | 3 |
Electives | 4 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
EXPH 365 | 3 | ACE 310 | 3 |
ACE 457 | 3 | SM 426 | 3 |
ACE 468 | 3 | ACE 473 | 3 |
ACE 469 | 3 | ACE 487 | 3 |
GEF 8 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | COMM 306 (GEF 8) | 3 |
ACE 475 | 3 | ACE 410 | 3 |
GEF 6 | 3 | ACE 488 | 3 |
Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
15 | 15 | ||
Total credit hours: 120 |
Major Learning Outcomes
Coaching and Performance Science
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.
By the completion of the program, graduates: