Sport Performance Training

Program Overview

Do you want to increase your knowledge in sports performance, but cannot fully commit to a full master’s degree? Our fully online 13-credit graduate certificate post-baccalaureate program in Sports Performance Training is designed to increase your knowledge of strength and conditioning for coaches and athletes of all levels and abilities. These courses will help you be a greater facilitator of sports performance and recovery practices to aid in your athletes’ short and long-term needs.

Our graduate certificate program is designed to fit your needs as a coach with fully online courses to enable you to work around your busy schedule.

Program Outcomes

The graduate certificate in Sport Performance Training will enable you to build confidence and improve your ability to facilitate short and long-term strength and conditioning programs, making you a more competent and complete coach to address the various general and specific sports performance and recovery needs. Completing the graduate certificate also allows for you to transfer your classes into the master’s degree program.

Based on your chosen courses and competency areas, the graduate certificate can help you become more efficient in the following areas:

Exercise program design and periodization models necessary for various exercise and sport modes, including but not limited to aerobic endurance and resistance training exercise
How to tailor programs based on individual, position, and team needs, along with considerations for training age, injury history, and resources available
Applications of general and sport specific nutrition strategies to aid in performance outcomes and recovery needs
Ethical decision-making skills, especially centered around athlete safety, injury control and risk management
General sport science knowledge (to become a better consumer of evidence and information and how they inform practice as a coach or sport leader)
Scientific writing skills (to better communicate your learning experiences during the program)

Career Outlook

The Sport Performance Training graduate certificate program is best suited to a student aiming to improve their exercise program design to complement sport-specific skills needed to positively influence their athlete’s performance in as many ways as needed. A graduate certificate can help build your confidence in designing these programs to suit the age range and abilities of the athletes you work with. A certificate can enhance your knowledge and skills, making you a more complete coach and practitioner, and can aid in your advancement within the job market.

A Top-Ranked Education

29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025

Tuition & Fees per credit

In-State Tuition

Out-of-State Tuition

$937.25

$1,181.25

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 on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.

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 since 1855.

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 since 1998. 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.

Course Information

Core courses

KIN 815 – Essentials of Strength and Conditioning (3 credits)
KIN 815B – Essentials of Strength and Conditioning II (3 credits)
KIN 819 – Advanced Sport Nutrition (3 credits)
KIN 852 – Ethics for the Sport Practitioner (1 credit)

Electives

One additional 3-credit Kinesiology course approved by the student’s academic advisor.

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
Current résumé (2-page max) that highlights all work experiences relevant to sport coaching, strength and conditioning, and/ or sports performance.
A written academic statement clearly stating your professional goals and how you anticipate this program would help you to attain them.
- Your statement should be very close to 750 words. An ideal statement shows research into our course offerings and shows your deliberation and planning on what you hope to achieve in this program. It will also be used to help assign you to an academic advisor that best matches your interests.
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.
Optional: Written personal statement that illustrates your unique qualities and life experiences that might make you a stronger candidate for admission (750 words max).

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 applicants should speak with the program director about potential restrictions for online degree programs.

Sport Performance Training

Graduate Certificate

Online

Course Delivery

13

Total Credits

$978.25

Credit Hour

8 months

Minimum Duration

Dr. Nick Mortensen

Assistant Professor, Strength & Conditioning

Program Overview

Program Outcomes

Career Outlook

A Top-Ranked Education

Key Dates

Fall Semester

Application Deadline

Spring Semester

Application Deadline

Summer Semester

Application Deadline

Tuition & Fees per credit

Cost of Attendance

The MSU Value Promise

Next Steps

Course Information

Core courses

Electives

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

To apply to this program: