Program Overview

Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education

The Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education is a world-class program offered by Ball State University. This program is designed to provide coaches with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their careers.

Program Overview

The Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education is a 30-credit program that can be completed in five semesters. The program is offered entirely online, with no residency requirement, allowing students to earn their degree without leaving their coaching position. The program is taught by faculty who are recognized authorities in their athletic areas and have years of experience in teaching, coaching, and mentoring.

Quick Facts

• Next Start Date: May 11, 2026
• Delivery: 100% Online or Blended
• Major Credits: 30
• No GRE required
• Consistently nationally ranked by U.S. News

Career Outcomes

Athletic coaching offers a diverse and rewarding range of career pathways that combine a passion for sports with the ability to shape lives and inspire excellence. Graduates of this program can leverage their expertise to mentor athletes and optimize team performance. They can confidently step into roles such as professional and collegiate coaches, performance analysts, and sports scouts.

Why a Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching?

The Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education is a world-class program that provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their careers. The program is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in best online graduate education programs. The program is fully online, with no residency requirement, allowing students to earn their degree without leaving their coaching position.

Program Contacts

• Bill Zenisek, Program Coordinator
• Jeremy Johnson, Student Success Specialist

Course Requirements

The online master's in athletic coaching education program provides students with the opportunity to study and network with classmates who are their coaching peers from across the country. The program requires 30 credits and can be completed in five semesters.

Plan of Study

Students have their choice of beginning the program with a fall, spring, or summer cohort. Depending on when they start, the sequence of courses will vary. Below are recommended plans of study to meet course requirements for this 30-credit program.

Sport Coaching

• ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning (3 credits)
• ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches (3 credits)
• ACE 625: Evaluation in Coaching (3 credits)
• ACE 670: Sport Safety and Injury Prevention (3 credits)
• ACE 632: Philosophy and Ethics (3 credits)
• ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches (3 credits)
• ACE 618: Skills and Tactics for Coaches (3 credits)
• KINE 601: Research Applications (Non-Thesis) (3 credits)
• ACE 600: Internship in Athletic Coaching Education (3 credits)
• ACE 692: Organization and Administration for Coaches (3 credits)

Sport Performance

• ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches (3 credits)
• EXSC 514: Biomechanics of Human Movement (3 credits)
• ACE 670: Sport Safety and Injury Prevention (3 credits)
• EXSC 603: Exercise Physiology 1 (3 credits)
• ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning (3 credits)
• ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches (3 credits)
• ACE 618: Skills and Tactics for Coaches (3 credits)
• KINE 601: Research Applications (Non-Thesis) (3 credits)
• ACE 600: Internship in Athletic Coaching Education (3 credits)
• NUTR 644: Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (3 credits)

Student Learning Outcomes

• Design and write a strength and conditioning program for a team sport.
• Utilize a sport analysis software program to analyze sport technique and provide appropriate feedback.
• Help athletes to develop a mental game plan that includes pre-game preparation, a contingency plan for errors during competition, and how to avoid competitive stress.
• Develop a practice plan that utilizes the concepts of: distributed practice, techniques for gaining and maintaining attention, drill progressions based on complexity, demonstrations of new skills, practice events for closed skills and open skills and provides various forms of feedback.
• Apply the NASPE/NCACE 8 domains of coaching competencies in their present coaching position as demonstrated in their internship.

World Class Faculty

The faculty members of the Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education program are recognized authorities in their athletic areas and have years of experience in teaching, coaching, and mentoring. They are published authors, active researchers, and have coached Olympians and NCAA champion athletes.

Coach Beyond Indiana

Coach Beyond-Indiana is a grant-funded partnership between The Ohio State University and Ball State University. The goal is to expand positive youth development and youth coaching training resources to at least 7,500 youth coaches in the state. All youth coaches at any level or setting are eligible to participate in trainings, and all Coach Beyond resources are free to any youth coach in Indiana.