Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Sciences

Coaching Education (Online) – MS8160

Delivery Mode: Online

Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer

Program Overview

The Coaching Education program online provides students with cutting-edge information and practical experience to pursue a coaching career in youth sports, interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics, and Olympic or professional sports. The program aims to develop students’ knowledge of the technical, tactical, physiological and psychosocial aspects of coaching and the theories and principles that underpin them. Students in the program learn how to create a system for long-term athletic success through the utilization of an athlete-centered approach to coaching.

Ohio University’s Department of Recreation and Sport Pedagogy is a leader in the field of coaching education, offering a campus-based program since 2001 and an online option since 2008. Students will work in each course with faculty who are content experts and who have extensive coaching and coaching education experience. Because of the online format and the way residencies are organized, students in the program can continue to live, work, and coach in their communities while completing their master’s degree. This is a part-time program where courses are delivered one at a time, and it takes 5 semesters (approximately 20 months) to complete the program.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Promote a critically reflective examination of coaching practice.
• Develop a detailed and critical knowledge and understanding of the major foundational aspects of sports coaching pedagogy.
• Critically analyze the impact of athlete-centered practices on long-term player development.
• Demonstrate the coaching qualities needed to critically analyze successful leadership and management of athletes and sports programs.
• Utilize effective strategies to analyze sport performance and enhance player development.
• Apply and integrate academic frameworks, theories, and understandings related to the technical, tactical, physiological and psychosocial aspects of coaching.
• Develop a critical knowledge and understanding of injury prevention, recovery, fitness development, and other player development concepts.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/education/recreation-sport-pedagogy-consumer-sciences/coaching-online

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of Ohio University, applicants must provide the following materials before being considered for admission into the master’s program in Coaching Education:

1. Completed application for admission.
2. Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended.
3. A minimum overall undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on the last 90 quarter hours or the last 60 semester hours.
4. A resume of outlining their educational background and professional work experience.
5. A two-page typed essay that includes information about their background and prior experience, their professional purpose and career goals, and how the Coaching Education program can help them to fulfill their career goals.
6. Three letters of recommendation using the recommendation form provided on the Forms page of the Graduate College website. At least one reference must be from someone who can attest to your qualifications in your chosen field and at least one must be from an academic faculty member who can support your ability to produce successful academic work at the graduate level.

Applications are accepted year-round. Application priority dates are June 15 (for fall entry), November 15 (for spring entry) and March 15 (for summer entry). Note that applications after these priority dates will be considered on a space-available basis. Requirements for admission into Ohio University can found on the Graduate College website.

International Students

This program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may not be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours as follows: