Strength and Conditioning, MS
Is 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 full physical potential.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
In the Master of Science program in strength and conditioning, you 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.
You gain practical experience that hones your coaching skills and refines your ability to motivate individuals to achieve the increased workloads that are necessary for performance improvement.
This program is currently seeking accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours and a written comprehensive 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.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- 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.
Evaluate the skills and abilities needed of an athlete to perform in a specific sport/activity.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
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: Additional Application Information 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.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/15 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Students are prepared 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 to become a strength and conditioning coach, sports scientist, tactical performance professional or specialist who works with individuals in high-activity occupations (e.g., members of the military, police officers, firefighters, 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
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Human Performance and Lifespan Health
|
HLTHN 401
chsgrad@asu.edu
602-496-3300
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
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. 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.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
