Sport Coaching, Leadership, & Administration
Master of Science
Online
Course Delivery
30
Total Credits
$933
Credit Hour
20 Months
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
Professionally minded, passionate, lifelong learners hold the key to developing the effective sport programs of tomorrow. But what do highly motivated future coaches and sport leaders need to learn? We believe that kinesiology and the sport sciences form the backbone of an effective sport program. Our Michigan State University online master's degree program builds fundamental knowledge and skills in the sport sciences, including sport psychology, skill acquisition, human development, physiology, and anatomy.
Courses in leadership, positive youth development, safety promotion, law, ethics, and administration help our students to build programs of distinction. Our semester-long practicum course employs intensive video review and reflection to help students refine their coaching practice, and our capstone options help students to integrate knowledge and skills acquired during the program. Our degree delivers core competencies for sport coaches and leaders at the youth, age-group, scholastic, intercollegiate, or professional level. Designed with current coaches and leaders in mind, the online delivery of coursework enables you to work around a busy schedule.
Program Outcomes
Our master’s degree program will enable you to build your confidence and improve in your coaching/leadership capacity. Although a degree is not a requirement for entering into the coaching profession, this degree will enhance your knowledge and skills and help you advance in the job market. There are some circumstances where a degree is a requirement for placement or advancement in sports coaching jobs. A master's degree is typically required for new coaches who want to work at the intercollegiate level. Depending on state and school district policies, this master's degree can enable a salary increase for teacher-coaches; if this situation pertains to you, we recommend that you discuss the matter with your supervisor(s).
Based on your chosen concentration (coaching or sport administration), the master's degree program can help you become more efficient in the following areas:
- Safety, injury control, and risk management (to promote athlete, employee, and spectator safety)
- Reflective practice skills (to help with your daily, weekly, and lifelong professional development)
- Effective written and verbal communication skills in scientific, academic, and narrative formats (to athletes and other stakeholders)
- Ethical decision-making skills informed by principles of diversity and equity and inclusive leadership
- Effective planning skills (to develop practice plans and program environments to enhance athlete performance and personal development)
- General sport science knowledge (to become a better consumer of evidence and information and how they inform practice as a coach or sport leader, and to enable critical thought and leadership on complex, interdisciplinary problems).
- Effective sport pedagogy (including instructional messages and constraints-led approaches to technical and tactical development)
- Principles of marketing, communications, economics, budgeting and finance applied to sport
Career Outlook
If you are committed to working in the sport professions, our Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration Master’s program is for you. High-performance coaches, teacher-coaches, and youth sport coaches will benefit from our coaching concentration. Sport leaders (administrators, athletic directors, and coach developers) will benefit from our sport administration concentration. Historically, students with prior or current work experience in the sport professions truly thrive in our program.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Andy Driska
Assistant Professor, Program Director
Dr. Andy Driska is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, where he directs the graduate programs in sport coaching and leadership, advises and mentors students, and teaches graduate-level courses in sport psychology, skill acquisition, leadership, ethics, and coaching science. He has served as a consultant for several collegiate sports programs and for USA Swimming. He has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including mental toughness, the design and evaluation of coach development programs, and coaching ethics. He recently served on the nationwide committee to revise the National Standards for Sport Coaches and is a member of the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.
Course Information
Core
MS Coaching Concentration
Required courses (6 credits)
KIN 852 - Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership (1 Credit)
KIN 872 - Coaching Science: Applied Research (3 Credits)
KIN 896 - Integrative Capstone in Sport Coaching and Leadership (2 Credits)
Selectives (15 credits)
Physical cognate (2 courses)
KIN 829 - Safety and Injury Control (3 Credits)
KIN 856 - Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 868 - Skill Development in Athletes (3 Credits)
Psychosocial cognate (2 courses)
KIN 846 - Sociocultural Issues for Sport Practitioners (3 credits)
KIN 855 - Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 857 - Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Sport (3 Credits)
Administration cognate (1 course)
KIN 851 - The Sport Enterprise (3 credits)
KIN 854 - Legal and Administrative Issues for Administrators and Coaches (3 Credits)
KIN 853 - Athletic Administration and Governance (3 credits)
Electives (6 credits) Choose 1 additional course from either the physical or psychosocial cognate + choose 1
Elective course (consult with your advisor first)
Practicum or Internship (3 credits)
Choose KIN 880 (Practicum) which is strongly recommended, or KIN 893 (Internship) which is appropriate in some cases
MS Sport Administration Concentration
Required courses (18 credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 852 - Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership (1 Credit)
KIN 872 - Coaching Science: Applied Research (3 credits)
KIN 896 - Integrative Capstone in Sport Coaching and Leadership (3 credits)
+ All courses from the Administration cognate (9 credits): KIN 851, KIN 853, and KIN 854
Selectives (6 credits)
Physical cognate (1 course)
KIN 829 - Safety and Injury Control (3 Credits)
KIN 856 - Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 865 - Stages of Athlete Development (3 Credits)
KIN 868 - Skill Development in Athletes (3 Credits)
Psychosocial cognate (1 course)
KIN 846 - Sociocultural Issues for Sport Practitioners (3 credits)
KIN 855 - Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 857 - Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Sport (3 Credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Choose 1 elective course (consult with your advisor first)
Internship or Practicum (3 credits)
Choose KIN 893 (Internship) which is strongly recommended, or KIN 880 (Practicum) which is appropriate in some cases
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
Undergraduate degree transcript that shows a minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution of higher education - Previous work experience
Current résumé (2-page max) that highlights all work experiences relevant to sport coaching and leadership - A written academic statement
Academic statement of 750 words where you explain how this program will help you meet your professional goals - 3 letters of recommendation
One should come from an academic source who can vouch for your credentials as a student, the other should come from workplace source who can vouch for your credentials on the job. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them. - Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all transcripts to Michigan State University.
- International students should complete the international application and should consult with the program director about potential restrictions for online degree programs.
Key Dates
Fall
Application Deadline
June 15th
Summer
Application Deadline
January 15th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
Program Overview
Professionally minded, passionate, lifelong learners hold the key to developing the effective sport programs of tomorrow. But what do highly motivated future coaches and sport leaders need to learn? We believe that kinesiology and the sport sciences form the backbone of an effective sport program. Our Michigan State University online master's degree program builds fundamental knowledge and skills in the sport sciences, including sport psychology, skill acquisition, human development, physiology, and anatomy.
Courses in leadership, positive youth development, safety promotion, law, ethics, and administration help our students to build programs of distinction. Our semester-long practicum course employs intensive video review and reflection to help students refine their coaching practice, and our capstone options help students to integrate knowledge and skills acquired during the program. Our degree delivers core competencies for sport coaches and leaders at the youth, age-group, scholastic, intercollegiate, or professional level. Designed with current coaches and leaders in mind, the online delivery of coursework enables you to work around a busy schedule.
Program Outcomes
Our master’s degree program will enable you to build your confidence and improve in your coaching/leadership capacity. Although a degree is not a requirement for entering into the coaching profession, this degree will enhance your knowledge and skills and help you advance in the job market. There are some circumstances where a degree is a requirement for placement or advancement in sports coaching jobs. A master's degree is typically required for new coaches who want to work at the intercollegiate level. Depending on state and school district policies, this master's degree can enable a salary increase for teacher-coaches; if this situation pertains to you, we recommend that you discuss the matter with your supervisor(s).
Based on your chosen concentration (coaching or sport administration), the master's degree program can help you become more efficient in the following areas:
- Safety, injury control, and risk management (to promote athlete, employee, and spectator safety)
- Reflective practice skills (to help with your daily, weekly, and lifelong professional development)
- Effective written and verbal communication skills in scientific, academic, and narrative formats (to athletes and other stakeholders)
- Ethical decision-making skills informed by principles of diversity and equity and inclusive leadership
- Effective planning skills (to develop practice plans and program environments to enhance athlete performance and personal development)
- General sport science knowledge (to become a better consumer of evidence and information and how they inform practice as a coach or sport leader, and to enable critical thought and leadership on complex, interdisciplinary problems).
- Effective sport pedagogy (including instructional messages and constraints-led approaches to technical and tactical development)
- Principles of marketing, communications, economics, budgeting and finance applied to sport
Career Outlook
If you are committed to working in the sport professions, our Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration Master’s program is for you. High-performance coaches, teacher-coaches, and youth sport coaches will benefit from our coaching concentration. Sport leaders (administrators, athletic directors, and coach developers) will benefit from our sport administration concentration. Historically, students with prior or current work experience in the sport professions truly thrive in our program.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Andy Driska
Assistant Professor, Program Director
Dr. Andy Driska is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, where he directs the graduate programs in sport coaching and leadership, advises and mentors students, and teaches graduate-level courses in sport psychology, skill acquisition, leadership, ethics, and coaching science. He has served as a consultant for several collegiate sports programs and for USA Swimming. He has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including mental toughness, the design and evaluation of coach development programs, and coaching ethics. He recently served on the nationwide committee to revise the National Standards for Sport Coaches and is a member of the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.
Course Information
Core
MS Coaching Concentration
Required courses (6 credits)
KIN 852 - Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership (1 Credit)
KIN 872 - Coaching Science: Applied Research (3 Credits)
KIN 896 - Integrative Capstone in Sport Coaching and Leadership (2 Credits)
Selectives (15 credits)
Physical cognate (2 courses)
KIN 829 - Safety and Injury Control (3 Credits)
KIN 856 - Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 868 - Skill Development in Athletes (3 Credits)
Psychosocial cognate (2 courses)
KIN 846 - Sociocultural Issues for Sport Practitioners (3 credits)
KIN 855 - Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 857 - Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Sport (3 Credits)
Administration cognate (1 course)
KIN 851 - The Sport Enterprise (3 credits)
KIN 854 - Legal and Administrative Issues for Administrators and Coaches (3 Credits)
KIN 853 - Athletic Administration and Governance (3 credits)
Electives (6 credits) Choose 1 additional course from either the physical or psychosocial cognate + choose 1
Elective course (consult with your advisor first)
Practicum or Internship (3 credits)
Choose KIN 880 (Practicum) which is strongly recommended, or KIN 893 (Internship) which is appropriate in some cases
MS Sport Administration Concentration
Required courses (18 credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 852 - Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership (1 Credit)
KIN 872 - Coaching Science: Applied Research (3 credits)
KIN 896 - Integrative Capstone in Sport Coaching and Leadership (3 credits)
+ All courses from the Administration cognate (9 credits): KIN 851, KIN 853, and KIN 854
Selectives (6 credits)
Physical cognate (1 course)
KIN 829 - Safety and Injury Control (3 Credits)
KIN 856 - Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 865 - Stages of Athlete Development (3 Credits)
KIN 868 - Skill Development in Athletes (3 Credits)
Psychosocial cognate (1 course)
KIN 846 - Sociocultural Issues for Sport Practitioners (3 credits)
KIN 855 - Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes (3 Credits)
KIN 849 - Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 Credits)
KIN 857 - Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Sport (3 Credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Choose 1 elective course (consult with your advisor first)
Internship or Practicum (3 credits)
Choose KIN 893 (Internship) which is strongly recommended, or KIN 880 (Practicum) which is appropriate in some cases
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
Undergraduate degree transcript that shows a minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution of higher education - Previous work experience
Current résumé (2-page max) that highlights all work experiences relevant to sport coaching and leadership - A written academic statement
Academic statement of 750 words where you explain how this program will help you meet your professional goals - 3 letters of recommendation
One should come from an academic source who can vouch for your credentials as a student, the other should come from workplace source who can vouch for your credentials on the job. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them. - Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all transcripts to Michigan State University.
- International students should complete the international application and should consult with the program director about potential restrictions for online degree programs.
Key Dates
Fall
Application Deadline
June 15th
Summer
Application Deadline
January 15th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.