Strength and Conditioning, MS
Athletic Performance, Athletic Training, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Coach, Exercise Science, Health, Performance, Science, Sports, Sports Performance, Strength Coach, Tactical Performance Specialist, Wellness, approved for STEM-OPT extension, fitness, human
Is it your dream to coach athletes or improve human performance? Learn to use programming, recovery and injury prevention techniques to help others achieve their goals and reach their physical potential.
In the Master of Science program in strength and conditioning, students focus on specialized knowledge of human physiology and movement mechanics to optimize the physical abilities of active groups, including athletic and tactical populations, and to prevent injury-related problems.
Required courses address advances in health and performance monitoring, how to design successful exercise and recovery programs for maximum physical performance, and coaching strategies that motivate increased individual effort in sport or tactical work.
Students gain practical experience that hones their coaching skills and refines their ability to motivate individuals to achieve the increased workloads that are necessary for performance improvement.
The MS program is currently seeking accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
30 credit hours and a written exam
Required Core (24 credit hours) Other Requirements (6 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The internship is a fully immersive experience during which the student works under a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Hours are spent learning all aspects of the job, including best practices for improving athletic performance.
KIN 520 Applied Sport Psychology (3)
KIN 530 Exercise and Sport Physiology (3)
KIN 540 Sport Biomechanics (3)
NTR 555 Nutrition and the Athlete (3)
SSP 501 Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation in Strength and Conditioning (3)
SSP 530 Advanced Performance Programming (3)
SSP 534 Measurement and Monitoring in Sport and Fitness (3)
SSP 560 Performance Sports Coaching (3)
SSP 584 Internship (6)
written comprehensive exam (0)
The written comprehensive exam covers the three coaching application courses SSP 530, SSP 534 and SSP 560.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Health Solutions.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, sports science, exercise physiology, human movement, physical education or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with a bachelor's degree in another area may apply and be considered if they can demonstrate experience in strength and conditioning.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- two references (academic or professional)
- letter of intent
- resume or curriculum vitae
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
If an applicant does not have a bachelor's degree in one of the areas listed above but has strength and conditioning experience, evidence must be included in either the professional resume or the letter of intent.
All applicants must have basic competencies in human anatomy and physiology with laboratories (BIO 201 and BIO 202), exercise and sport physiology (SSP 315 and SSP 316), and applied anatomy and biomechanics of sport and movement (SSP 325).
The letter of intent should address the applicant's area of professional or scholarly interest; their professional goals; their philosophy of strength and conditioning; and relevant experience, background and training.
Contact information for two references is required. References are contacted via email to respond to a series of questions about the applicant. At least one reference should be from an academic source. One reference may be from an employer in a related field or from a coach if the applicant was previously a student-athlete.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/15 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Evaluate the skills and abilities needed of an athlete to perform in a specific sport/activity.
- Create advanced strength and conditioning programs for sport or tactical (police, military, firefighter) populations to enhance performance and reduce participant’s risk of injury.
- Apply the appropriate coaching intervention based on their evaluation of the participant and their desired performance outcomes.
This program prepares students to sit for certification examinations offered through the National Strength and Conditioning Association to become certified strength and conditioning specialists, tactical strength and conditioning facilitators, or certified performance sports scientists.
Graduates have acquired the fundamental skills not only to be a strength and conditioning coach but also to pursue a sports scientist career, a career as a tactical performance professional, or a career working with high-activity occupations (e.g., members of the military, police officers, firefighters or emergency medical technicians).
Career opportunities include these positions:
- athletic trainer
- exercise physiologist
- fitness or wellness coordinator
- fitness trainer or aerobics instructor
- sports performance coach or scout
- sports scientist
- strength and conditioning coach
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
College of Health Solutions
|
HLTHN 401
chsgrad@asu.edu
602-496-3300
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
