Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
This major prepares students to work with high-performing athletic and tactical settings, as well as high school athletes and recreational participants in community and club environments. Strength and conditioning has elevated beyond exercise prescription; professionals must evaluate, minor, and enhance performance through the combined lens of sport science and coaching, using evidence-based methods to support athlete development and health.
The program is accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE), ensuring academic rigor and applied competency development. Students graduating with the Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning are prepared to sit for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam. The curriculum integrates foundational sciences, performance training, coaching practice, and experiential learning through labs, internships, and field experiences.
This alignment is critical as completion of a CASCE-accredited program will be required for CSCS eligibility beginning in 2030. Graduates are prepared for careers in collegiate, high school, and professional strength and conditioning, private sector performance training, tactical settings, and sport science, as well as for graduate study.
Admissions for 2027-2028
First-Time Freshmen who meet the University requirements are directly admitted into the Strength and Conditioning program.
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).
Major Code: 5554
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 65 | |
| Career and Professional Development Sequence | 0 | |
| Strength and Conditioning Major Requirements | 55 | |
| 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, 3, 5, 6, and 8 | 30 | |
| CAHS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| General Electives | 33 | |
| Total Hours | 65 | |
Professional and Career Development Sequence
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Sequence | ||
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences | ||
| Capstone Strength and Conditioning | ||
| Total Hours | 0 | |
Strength and Conditioning Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACE 149 | Introduction to Applied Anatomy | 3 |
| ACE 256 | Foundations of Coaching | 3 |
| ACE 257 | Assessment and Monitoring in Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| ACE 307 | Applied Sport Physiology | 3 |
| ACE 310 | Coaching Pedagogy | 3 |
| ACE 327 | Applied Biomechanics | 3 |
| ACE 369 | Foundations of Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| ACE 371 | Coaching and Cueing in Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| ACE 387 | Periodization and Programming in Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| ACE 410 | Training Theories for Coaches | 3 |
| ACE 430 | Coaching Program Administration | 3 |
| ACE 475 | Capstone Strength and Conditioning | 3 |
| CAHS 300 | Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences | 3 |
| HN&F 200 | Nutrition/Activity/Health | 3 |
| PET 175 | Motor Development | 2 |
| PET 215 | Adapted Sports and Physical Activity for All Learners (GEF 7) | 3 |
| PET 244 | Motor Learning and Performance | 2 |
| PET 477 | Adapted Sports and Physical Activity Practicum | 3 |
| SEP 272 | Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 3 | 3 |
| SEP 272 (GEF 4) | 3 | ACE 149 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 3 | PET 244 | 2 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | ACE 256 | 3 |
| PET 175 | 2 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| CAHS 191 | 2 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PET 215 (GEF 7) | 3 | GEF 2 | 3 |
| ACE 307 | 3 | ACE 327 | 3 |
| ACE 310 | 3 | ACE 369 | 3 |
| CAHS 300 | 3 | ACE 257 | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEF 8 | 3 | ACE 410 | 3 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | PET 477 | 3 |
| ACE 371 | 3 | HN&F 200 | 3 |
| ACE 387 | 3 | General Electives | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ACE 430 | 3 | ACE 475 | 3 |
| General Electives | 12 | General Electives | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Strength and Conditioning
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 will:
- integrate disciplinary knowledge, skills, and dispositions and apply them to professional issues in strength and conditioning.
- reflect on their professional readiness and think critically about the continued refinement of the disciplinary knowledge, skills, and dispositions learned across the curriculum in strength and conditioning.
- model professional and ethical behaviors that are consistent with industry standards and the related recommendations for best practice learned across strength and conditioning.
- demonstrate the ability to evaluate and integrate best practices for assessing athlete needs and designing, implementing, and evaluating practice plans.