Sport Coaching MA
- Master's Degree
- Online
- Online
15 Months
Summer Term (May)
$698/Credit
Online Master’s Degree for Sports Coaching
Ready to become a better coach? Our Sport Coaching Master of Arts program is for you. This degree is designed to improve your coaching skills and help you learn new ways to lead athletes.
This program applies to all coaching contexts. It’s a great fit whether you are a:
- Teacher interested in or currently coaching
- Club or youth sports leader
- High-performance coach
- Coach in any other capacity
This program is completely online so you can fit your education into your busy schedule.
What You’ll Learn
In this master’s degree you’ll study topics like:
- Sport psychology
- Applied theory, research and practice
- Using technology in coaching and evaluation
- Injury prevention, training and conditioning
- Sport administration for coaches
Athlete Assessments Profile of Professor Douglas
Athlete Assessments profiled Sport Coaching coordinator and professor Scott Douglas. Learn about:
- His athletic, administrative and coaching histories
- The applied learning focus of the Sport Coaching graduate programs
- The role of CoachDISC Profiles for students
Career Opportunities in Coaching
Coaching Excellence
Advance your career and become a world-class coach who develops top athletes and teams. This sports coaching program can help you if you coach at the recreational / club, high school, college / university or high-performance level.
If you do work in schools, this master’s degree:
- Can help you get a pay raise if your school rewards a master’s degree.
- Prepares you as an Athletic Director who helps develop successful coaches.
Course of Study
Delivered Fully Online
Because of our innovative program design, you will be able to focus on one course at a time for most of your coursework.
- All courses are completed online. You will attend a short online orientation course to prepare you for success in the program.
- You can earn your degree in just four academic terms (about 15 months).
- In the first summer term, you will take two 6-week courses and one 12-week course.
- In the fall and spring terms, you will take one course at a time (five or six weeks each).
- You can choose (along with your advisor) the focus of your internship work.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 30-credit master’s degree program.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Also Available as a Graduate Certificate
Sport Coaching Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate shares coursework with the master’s degree. Choose the courses that fit your goals and earn your certificate in as few as eight months.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Jori Moore
Enrollment Counselor
Scott Douglas
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
What Our Alumni Say
From Playing to Coaching
As a professional athlete, I knew that I couldn’t play baseball forever. UNC’s online master’s degree in Sport Coaching provided me with the opportunity to prepare for a dream career after my playing days.
Brandon Bailey
Pitching Coach, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Knowledge and Purpose
The coursework challenged traditional notions about coaching, and reinvigorated my appreciation of a coach’s role. Every course gave me knowledge that I can directly apply to my athletes. The program transformed my coaching from average to excellent because I have skills, knowledge and purpose behind my instruction.
Chad Shaw
Eaton High School
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadline
The recommended application deadline for both programs is April 15. Additional students can be admitted after that date if space is available. Please contact the Program Coordinator if you are applying after the deadline.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Sport Coaching (M.A.)
- Start term: Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status