25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Coaching

The University of Southern Mississippi is a public, Carnegie-classified high research university. Among its transformative research projects was one of two national projects selected by NASA to discover whether life can survive on Mars. It has a main campus in Hattiesburg, MS, and another in Long Beach, CA. Southern Miss' graduate coaching program was designed with working students' schedules in mind. The program is intended to be finished within two years on a part-time basis. Course requirements include Foundations and Trends in Kinesiology, Motor Learning, and Sport Skill Analysis. Students can choose a thesis option or practicum as their culminating experience.

Bellevue University provides flexible education for working adults and ranks highly in affordability. Its graduate coaching program has the lowest tuition and fees on this list. The Leadership and Coaching program develops students' theoretical and applied knowledge of organizational behavior, strategic leadership, and team dynamics. Required courses include Leading Change in Organizations and Social Psychology of Leadership. The curriculum culminates in an applied leadership project or thesis. Students must also complete an Executive Coaching internship and accompanying courses. Upon completion of the program, students will have earned an additional Certificate of Completion in Executive Coaching.

Ohio University was the first university chartered by an Act of Congress. Today, it is a space-grant university with Carnegie-classified high research activity. Its university mascot is Rufus the Bobcat. Ohio's graduate Coaching Education program features a curriculum built around the National Association for Sport and Physical Education's "8 Domains of Coaching." The program begins with an introductory Coaching Workshop. Additional courses include Ethics and Diversity for Athletic Coaches, Psychology of Coaching, and Performance Recovery: Strategies for Coaches. Students also complete a four-day on-campus Coaching Symposium during their summer term.

Old Dominion University reaps its name from "The Old Dominion," a state nickname King Charles II of England gave Virginia for its loyalty during the English Civil War. The university's Physical Education graduate program offers concentrations in Adapted Physical Education, Curriculum and Instruction Concentration, and Coaching Education. Each Physical Education concentration presents a thesis and non-thesis options. Core courses include Assessment-Evaluation and Technology, Motor Learning and Development, and Planning and Administration. The core curriculum also includes research courses in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis and Research Methods in Education. Students must finish an internship, research project, or thesis as a culminating experience.

Greenville University is a private Free Methodist liberal arts university in Greenville, IL. Its academic programs integrate Christian values and focus on character development principles. The university is ranked 118th in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

Greenville's Coaching MA is designed for working coaches. Students are given opportunities to talk to experienced coaches through discussion boards and collaborative projects. Course offerings include Coaching Character, Faith Development Through Sports, and Sport Skill Analysis. The program cumulates in a capstone research paper which dives into an aspect of the student's coaching process.

Western Michigan University is a state research university in Kalamazoo, MI. Its Coaching Sport Performance curriculum has been accredited at the highest level for sports coaching by the National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education. WMU's graduate coaching program is built for practicing coaching professionals. It aims to equip students for coaching careers at all athletic levels, from youth to Olympic or professional. Course offerings include Principles of Sport Nutrition and Energy Systems and Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity. Students must also engage in a Professional Development Seminar and Professional Field Experience.

Northcentral University is an online non-profit university headquartered in San Diego, CA. It is part of the National University System, meaning it is managed by the government but operated autonomously. It is Carnegie-classified as a Doctoral Research University.Students enrolled in NCU's Sports Management program are mentored by professors who hold doctoral degrees. Students can expect to interact with these professors one-on-one. The program strengthens students' leadership skills, teaching abilities, and understanding of ethics as they apply to athletics. The curriculum includes courses which accentuate the legal, financial, and marketing aspects of modern athletic administration. Students can graduate with their degree in approximately 15 months.

Jacksonville State University is a public university with the main campus in the Appalachian foothills of Jacksonville, AL. JSU's Physical Education program offers concentrations in Human Performance, Nutrition, and Teacher Education. Teacher certification is required for admission into the Teacher Education concentration. Core Physical Education courses include Applied Exercise Psychology; Issues and Trends in Wellness and Sport Studies; and Research in Wellness and Sport Studies. Concentrated courses include Diet and Performance, Perceptual Motor Development, and Sociology of Sport. The program incorporates online learning tools such as Blackboard and LiveText. Students generally complete the degree in two years.

The University of Central Missouri is a public state university in Warrensburg, MO. U.S. News & World Reportranks it #17 among the Top Public Schools in the country. UCM's Positive Coaching program is intended not only for aspiring athletic coaches but also for aspiring life coaches, school counselors, and academic advisers. The coursework covers athletic training, ethics in sport and leadership, and gender and multicultural issues in sports. Most students take classes part-time and earn their degrees in two and a half years. Full-time students can finish the program within one year.

The University of Denver is the earliest autonomous private university in the Rocky Mountain Region. In 2006, Men's Fitness Magazineranked it among the United States' top 25 fittest colleges. Its Sport Coaching graduate program is an Applied Graduate Studies Program recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. DU's Sport Coaching program is the nation's only graduate coaching program offered in a school of psychology. Required courses include Motor Learning and Sport Pedagogy; Philosophy, Leadership, and Legal Issues of Sport; and Sociocultural Aspects of Sport Coaching.

Founded as the State Normal School of Colorado in 1889, the University of Northern Colorado has a long history of teacher education. The public research university is ranked 150th for online graduate education by U.S. News & World Report. UNC offers a Sports Coaching degree with learning objectives including Applied Coaching Research, International Coaching Perspectives, and Sport Psychology. Its online course content incorporates recorded video presentations and video analysis software. Required courses include Bridging Theory and Practice in Sports Coaching and Sports Coaching Principles and Perspectives. In year two, students complete an internship in Sport and Exercise Science. The program cumulates in a written comprehensive exam.

Drexel University is a private university with the main campus in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. In 2010, the university received a Sloan-C award for excellence in online education. U.S. News & World Reportranks Drexel #102 for Best National Universities.

Drexel's Sport Coaching Leadership program teaches coaching elements such as budgeting, energy systems, and sports psychology. Concentrations are available in lacrosse and rowing, or students can create a custom concentration. Core courses include Development and Fundraising Strategies in Sport, Ethics in Coaching, and a Global Coaching Seminar. The program also consists of a seven to ten-day international coaching residency.

Pittsburg State University occupies rural Pittsburg, KS as the only U.S. university with a gorilla as its mascot. U.S. News & World Reportranks PSU #26 among its list of Top Public Schools. PSU's Human Performance and Recreation program offers three emphasis areas: General, Human Performance and Wellness, and Sport and Leisure Service Management. Students who choose the Human Performance and Wellness or Sport and Leisure Service Management emphasis must complete related internships. Each emphasis program offers either a thesis or a coursework-only route. Core courses include Methods of Research, Social-Psychology of Sport and Recreation, and a Special Investigation independent study.

Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, NY, a few miles from the Canadian border. It has an average class size of 17 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. U.S. News & World Reportranks the college #10 nationally for best value. Canisius designed its Physical Education program for individuals seeking their New York Physical Education Professional Certificate. The program does not lead to initial certification, but approved course credits can be applied. Students complete a cumulative electronic portfolio with completed assignments, a mission statement, a resume, and sample lesson plans.

Fresno Pacific University is a private Mennonite Christian university in Fresno, CA. The university began as the Pacific Bible Institute in a large house with five staff members and 28 students. FPU continues to offer Biblical Seminary programs today, and religious and ethical values are integral to its academic programs. U.S. News & World Reportranks the university at the #39 spot among the best Regional Universities in the West.

FPU offers a master's degree in Kinesiology, the study of body movement mechanics, with an emphasis on Physical Education. The program examines the ethics, history, and philosophical underpinnings of physical education. Required courses include History and Philosophy in Kinesiology, Psychology of Sport, and Technology in Kinesiology.