An Online Master's Degree For Applied Sport Coaching
The Sport Coaching Master of Arts degree is designed to enhance your coaching knowledge and expertise, and to advance your existing coaching practices through evaluation and application of current research. One of very few online graduate coaching degrees in the country, this innovative program combines academic knowledge with applied practice and the latest technology.
Online courses allow you to fit this degree into your busy schedule. Whether you are a teacher interested or involved in athletic coaching, or you're a coach in any other capacity, this program will advance your knowledge and skill in all facets of coaching. The principles covered in this degree apply to all coaching endeavors and are not specific to any one sport.
An NCACE Accredited Program
This Sport Coaching master's program has received Level 5 comprehensive accreditation from the National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education. UNC is one of only four universities that hold Level 5 accreditation.
Program Objectives Include...
- Sport Pedagogy (Teaching)
- Injury Prevention
- Sport Psychology
- Training and Conditioning Principles
- International Coaching Perspectives
- Applied Coaching Research
Athlete Assessments Profile of Professor Douglas
Athlete Assessments recently profiled professor Scott Douglas' athletic, administrative and coaching histories, the applied learning focus of the Sport Coaching master's degree, and role of CoachDISC Profiles for master's students. Read the profile and a Q&A at AthleteAssessments.com.
Coaching Excellence and Career Opportunities
The coaching profession is expected to experience double-digit growth over the next decade. The UNC Sport Coaching online master's was developed in response to this growing demand for high expertise in the field of coaching. Advance your career interests and become a world-class coach who develops high-performing athletes and teams.
This is a 30-credit-hour Master of Arts degree. Because of our innovative program design, you will be able to focus on one course at a time for much of the program.
- All courses are completed online, with many incorporating video analysis software and recorded video presentations into the course content.
- You can choose (along with your advisor) the focus of your internship work in year two.
- Before the program begins, there is a short online orientation course to prepare you for success in the program.
Courses by Term
To see a typical list of courses by term, visit an example Current Students page for this program.
Semester 1 (Fall)
- SES 581 Developmental Perspectives for Sport Coaching (2)
- SES 587 Sport Coaching Principles and Perspectives (3)
- SES 588 Evaluation of Coaching using Technology (3)
Semester 2 (Spring)
- SES 586 Injury Prevention, Training and Conditioning Principles for Sport Coaches (3)
- SES 589 Bridging Theory and Practice in Sport Coaching (3)
Semester 3 (Summer)
Semester 4 (Fall)
- SES 604 Teacher and Coach Action Research (3)
- SES 692 Graduate Internship in Sport and Exercise Science - students need to take 4 credits total. Can be taken semester 4, semester 5, or both.
Semester 5 (Spring)
- SES 583 International Perspectives of Sport Coaching (3)
- SES 692 Graduate Internship in Sport and Exercise Science - students need to take 4 credits total. Can be taken semester 4, semester 5, or both.
Comprehensive Exam
All students in this online program will take a written comprehensive examination in place of the portfolio requirement that is listed in the catalog.
For full details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
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Additional Resources
- Visit the School of Sport and Exercise Science Sport Coaching MA page.
- You can also view information about the world-renowned UNC Sport Pedagogy/Physical Education Faculty.