25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Sports Medicine in 2021

Concordia University Chicago awards a Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science. The program offers students five concentrations to choose from, such as Fitness and Health Promotion, Human Movement Science, Sports Nutrition, Sports Performance Training, and Strength Conditioning. Students may choose to pursue multiple concentrations at once. Each concentration option has rolling admissions, can be completed in a fully online capacity and includes courses spanning eight weeks in length. Core courses across all concentrations include Applied Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sport Nutrition, and Research Design and Methods in Exercise Science. The program is asynchronous, meaning students set their own schedules and do not have to log on at certain times for live class sessions. Students culminate the program with a capstone experience in such forms as a publishable journal article, field experience, conference presentation, or website.

Concordia University Chicago is the oldest institution in the Concordia University System, which comprises eight institutions operated by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. CUC is now a private, comprehensive liberal arts university. Originally located in Addison, IL, the campus relocated to suburban River Forest in 1913. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university 72nd in the Midwest and 44th for best value.

The University of Texas at El Paso awards a Master of Science in Kinesiology program. In order to be admitted, students must possess an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology or a related field. Students can concentrate in, either, Exercise Science or Pedagogy of Physical Activities, although the Exercise Science concentration is not offered in an online capacity. The 36-credit hour curriculum requires courses in Advanced Exercise Physiology, Biomechanical Basis of Sport, and Motor Learning and Control, as well as statistics and research methods courses. The Pedagogy of Physical Activities concentration requires courses in Effective Instruction in P.E., Physical Activities for Young Children, and Programs of Physical Activity. Students can pursue a master's thesis, or opt for a non-thesis option with a graduate project and an additional three credit hours.

UTEP opened in 1914 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. A practice mineshaft remains on campus today. Now a public research university, UTEP is a member of the University of Texas system. As of 2019, it is classified in the top tier of research universities by the Carnegie Foundation. The university is noted as the second-largest U.S. university with a mostly Mexican American student population, at about 80 percent. Located in El Paso, TX, the hilltop campus overlooks the Rio Grande river and offers a view across the border at Mexico's Ciudad Juárez. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university's graduate Physical Therapy programs 154th in the nation.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program within its Master of Science in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science. The program prepares entry-level and experienced professionals alike for work with disabled individuals in rehabilitation services. Courses are delivered entirely online, including one live online session per week. Sample course offerings include Cross-Cultural Counseling, Ethical Issues for Helping Professions, and Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability. Students also complete three semesters of field experience in their own communities. The 48-credit hour degree program requires three years of enrollment. Graduates of the program are eligible for related certification and licensure exams.

UH is located in Manoa, a prosperous valley neighborhood in Honolulu, HI, about three miles from downtown. The Carnegie Foundation classifies UH as having very high research activity. Research areas include marine biology, oceanography, underwater robotics, astronomy, aquaculture, and tropical medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranks UH Manoa 157th in the country, 80th among public schools, and 47th for graduate Rehabilitation Counseling.

Liberty University's Master of Science in Exercise Science and Wellness is a 100 percent online program with no residency or internship requirements. The 33-credit hour curriculum covers areas such as biomechanics, physiology, and sports nutrition. Students can choose to specialize in either Fitness and Performance or Nutrition and Wellness. Core courses include Fitness Assessment & Programming, Principles of Nutrition, and Research Methods in Exercise Science. Fitness & Performance concentrated courses include Advanced Strength Development and Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active. Nutrition & Wellness concentrated courses include Diabetes, Obesity & Eating Disorders and Promoting Physical Activity in the Community. Each course spans eight weeks. The degree takes an average of a year and a half to complete.

Liberty University began as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971. It has since grown into the largest private non-profit university in the U.S. and one of the biggest Christian universities in the world. The majority of students are enrolled in an online capacity. The university is informally affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, and it plays a prominent role in Republican politics. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty's campus features a synthetic ski slope, an observatory with research telescopes, and an on-campus shooting range. It also houses the National Civil War Chaplains Museum, the only museum in the country devoted to exhibitions on religious activity during the Civil War era.

Northcentral University offers a Master of Education with an Athletic Coaching Specialization. Throughout the degree program, students are mentored by professors with professional experience in the coaching field. The curriculum is comprised of 10 courses totaling 30 credit hours. It emphasizes skills in coaching leadership and explores coaching strategies, performance enhancement techniques, and coaching ethics and values. Major core courses include Coaching Psychology, Ethics in Sport, Legal Aspects in Coaching, and Sport Nutrition. Students culminate the program with a three-credit hour capstone course. The degree takes approximately 20 months to complete.

Northcentral opened as a for-profit university in 1996. In 2019, it was acquired by the National University System and changed to non-profit status. The private, fully online university is designated a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It consists of five schools focused on business, education, health sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and technology.

The University of Western States offers its Master of Science in Sports Medicine in a hybrid format. While most courses are offered online, students are also required to attend hands-on lab sessions in Portland, OR. Alternatively, students can arrange practicum hours with a supervisor in their area. Applicants should hold an initial professional degree and practical experience in a related health care field, or a minimum of 16-semester credits of relevant undergraduate coursework. Students can enter the program in January or April. MS in Sports Medicine courses includes Spinal Rehabilitation, Emergency Management, and Sport Psychology. All students must also complete an original research capstone project. The program spans six to seven quarters or one and a half to two years. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for credential exams.

Founded in 1904, UWS is the second-oldest chiropractic university in the world. It was also the first chiropractic college to receive a research grant through the United States Health Resources and Services Administration. UWS is a private integrated health science university with an enrollment just shy of 1,000 students. It offers programs in the areas of chiropractic care, human nutrition, diagnostic imaging, sport psychology, mental health counseling, and sports medicine. Each program emphasizes an evidence-based, whole-person approach to health care. In 2018, the university's Master of Science in Sports Medicine program was ranked No. 1 in the field by Best Colleges.

Southern Utah University offers a Master of Science in Sports Conditioning & Performance through its Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation. The coursework is offered primarily online, though students are required to attend intensive summer workshops on campus for one to two weeks. The 33-credit curriculum includes required courses such as Designing Resistance Training Programs, Evaluation in Sport Fitness, and Advanced Techniques of Sport Conditioning. Elective offerings include Bioenergetics and Sport Nutrition, Motor Skill Acquisition, and Psychological Aspects of Sport Performance and Conditioning. Each student then develops and defends a three-credit master's thesis in their last semester of the program.

SUU was established in 1897 as the first teacher training school in southern Utah. After numerous decades and name changes, the school grew into a public university. It is one of 27 universities in the country to be designated a public liberal arts and sciences university by the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. SUU offers many performing and visual arts opportunities, and vocal students have won a multitude of singing competitions. The university is widely known for hosting the prestigious Utah Shakespeare Festival each summer. U.S. News & World Report ranks SUU 81st in the West and 27th among public schools.

Texas A&M University – Kingsville offers a flexible online Master of Science in Kinesiology. Students may choose to pursue generalist Kinesiology study or tailor their plan of study to emphasize sport administration/kinesiology pedagogy or health/exercise science. Core research courses include Physiology of Exercise, Research Methods in Kinesiology, and Statistical Analysis of Research Data. Sport administration elective offerings include Sport in the Modern World, Public Relations in Sport, and Sport and Athletic Law. Health and exercise science electives include Drug Education, Healthy Aging, and Cardiovascular Health. The online program follows a courses-only degree plan, with no required thesis or research project.

Texas A&M – Kingsville was chartered as the South Texas Normal School in 1917, but its opening was delayed due to World War II. It was officially founded in 1925 as South Texas State Teachers College. In 1989, it joined the Texas A&M University System and changed to its current name. Today, it is a public research university noted for its degrees in agriculture, music, science, and engineering. It was also the first institution in the United States to offer a doctoral degree in bilingual education. More than half of all students enrolled at the university are Hispanic. The school's diverse student body reflects the culture of its South Texas surroundings.

Concordia University's fully-online Master of Science in Exercise Science prepares students for leadership positions in exercise science. All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field and relevant field experience for admittance. The curriculum focuses on the ways exercise affects human health. It covers topics such as nutrition and metabolism and the psychology of sport and exercise. The course sequence includes Exercise Prescription, Mechanisms of Skilled Neuromuscular Behavior, and Ethics and Policy in Sport and Exercise Science. The 33-credit curriculum culminates in a Master's Capstone.

Concordia University is a private university founded in 1893. It is an affiliate institution of the Concordia University System, which is operated by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. The university offers a liberal arts education while aiming to build students' marketable professional skills. Its online programs use cohort-based learning, with students progressing through the program in groups. As of 2018, Concordia enrolls approximately 5,000 students. According to the university, it has one of the most diverse student bodies among private schools in the Twin Cities. The university is ranked 94th in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. The school mascot is the Golden Bears.

Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Science. The program is designed to prepare professionals for the many facets of sports and athletic performance, such as biomechanics, leadership, nutrition, and sport psychology. Required courses include Sport Nutrition, Concepts in Sport Business, and Motor Development in Sport. Students are expected to complete a professional seminar and field experience in Kinesiology. Students can choose to pursue a master's thesis or complete a graduate research project. All students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam to complete the degree.

TAMU-CC opened in 1947 as the University of Corpus Christi, operated by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In 1970, Hurricane Celia caused extensive damage to the campus. The university joined the Texas A&M University System in 1989. The campus is located on Ward Island in Oso Bay in Corpus Christi, TX. Students are nicknamed "Islanders," the university slogan is "The Island University," and the university greeting is the "Shaka." The public state university conducts research in fields such as coastal and marine sciences, geospatial engineering, and environmental issues facing the Gulf of Mexico. Located on the cultural border with Latin America, TAMU-CC is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution.

Houston Baptist University offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sport Management through its Pampell Online Division. The degree program prioritizes critical thinking, ethics, and social responsibility in its approach to athletic management. The 35-credit hour curriculum covers interdisciplinary aspects of the sports world such as advertising, finance, law, and leadership skills. Required courses include History and Culture of Sport, Legal Issues in Sport, Event and Facility Management, and Marketing Management. Additional degree requirements include an internship in Sport Management and a master's thesis.

The private Baptist university is located in Sharpstown, a community in Houston, TX. The campus' Morris Cultural Arts Center houses the Dunham Bible Museum, the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Southern History. HBU students are nicknamed Huskies, and the campus' Husky Village is comprised of seven apartment buildings reserved primarily for upperclassmen and university staff. The Christian liberal arts university is ranked 69th in Regional Universities West by U.S. News & World Report. Its school colors are orange and blue.

George Washington University offers an online Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning. The program equips students to help improve athletic performance and prevent inactivity-related health disorders. Most of the 36-credit hour curriculum is taught online, with some live elements. All students are required to attend a three-day on-campus capstone course in the second year of the program. Strength and Conditioning course offerings include Biochemical Analysis, Current Topics in Strength and Conditioning, and Science and Theory of Resistance Training. All students must also complete both a graduate internship and a comprehensive exam. The program spans four semesters or two academic years.

Originally called Columbian College, its name was later changed in honor of George Washington. Records show that Washington had previously expressed wishes for a university to be built in the nation's capital. The private university's main campus, Foggy Bottom, is situated in the heart of Washington, D.C. It is categorized in the top tier of research universities by the Carnegie Foundation. Notable GW research facilities include the National Security Archive and the Institute for International Economic Policy. The university also operates two satellite campuses in the Washington metropolitan area. U.S. News & World Report ranks GW 63rd in the nation and 37th in innovation.

Southern Arkansas University offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Coaching. The program is offered through the university's Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation within its College of Education. It can be completed online in its entirety. The 33-credit hour curriculum builds understanding in areas such as administration, coaching philosophy and ethics, communication, and safety and injury prevention. Course examples include Legal Issues in Kinesiology, Methods of Research in Kinesiology, Psychology of Athletic Coaching, and Sport Administration. Students complete the program with a Coaching Capstone Portfolio.

The university was established in 1909 by the Arkansas state legislature. Originally a high school named Third District Agricultural School, SAU has since grown into a public university. Located in Magnolia, AR, the university also operates Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, AR. Student life traditions include the annual Bed Races, in which students from each residence hall build and race "beds" consisting of a twin-sized mattress atop four bike tires. The university also hosts a Christmas Celebration of Lights, which involves lighting up the campus bell tower and a large Christmas tree, a festive parade, caroling, and a community holiday buffet dinner.

Sul Ross State University's Master of Science in Health and Human Performance is a fully online fast-track program. It runs on eight-week terms and can be completed in just one full-time year. Students can alternatively complete the program on a part-time basis. Course offerings include Advanced Human Behavior, Group Dynamics, Issues in Sports Law, and Physiological Basis of Human Behavior. All students must pass a comprehensive final exam upon completion of the core curriculum. Students culminate the program with an advanced practicum, or with an internship and accompanying project in Exercise Science.

SRSU opened in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College with an intended purpose as a teacher-training school. It was named after former Texas governor and Civil War Confederate general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. The public university is governed by the Texas State University System Board of Regents. It has a main campus in Alpine, TX, serving West Texas. It also operates branch campuses under the name Rio Grande College in Castroville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde. The university's research facilities and projects include the Chihuahuan Desert Resource, Conservation, and Development Area; the Museum of Big Bend; and the Minority and Small Business Development Center.

Fresno Pacific University offers a Physical Education Emphasis within its Master of Arts in Kinesiology program. The 36-credit program incorporates ethics, history, and philosophy in its approach to physical education. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, a minimum of 12-semester credits of study in physical education, or four years of full-time professional physical education experience. The fully online program includes courses in Psychology of Sport, Technology in Kinesiology, and Issues in Kinesiology.

FPU was founded by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in 1944. Originally called Pacific Bible Institute, the institution changed its name to Fresno Pacific University in 1997. The private liberal arts university is located in Fresno, CA. It operates regional campuses throughout Central California in Bakersfield, Merced, North Fresno, and Visalia. U.S. News & World Report ranks FPU 42nd for best value and 39th in the West. The school mascot is Sunny the Sunbird.