Program Overview

Master's in Sports and Exercise Analytics

The Master's in Sports and Exercise Analytics at Marquette University is a 33-credit program that intersects physiology and biomechanics with data science to address specific questions regarding elite athletic, sport, exercise, and human performance. Graduates will have the analytic skills to develop new applications and interfaces for large and complex sport and human performance data sets, combined with the foundational knowledge in exercise and sport physiology to aid in the accurate interpretation and translation of results.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 33
• Years to Complete: 2
• Part-time and Online Options: Available
• Hybrid Program: On-campus and online courses

Learning Outcomes

The goal of this program is to train sports and exercise data analysts to:

• Articulate changes, trends, and implications using analytics tools that can be ethically addressed across data platforms.
• Design and implement strategies for analyzing data using appropriate methods, tools, and data sets.
• Analyze data to create actionable information and use it to establish priorities, make decisions, and solve problems aligning with the ethics, needs, and values of individuals, communities, and stakeholders.
• Display and explain the results of analytics projects using effective written, graphic, and verbal tools and techniques.
• Use advanced data processing tools incorporating regulatory, data governance, master data management, data profiling, parallel, and distributed processing best practices.
• Manage data analytics projects and teams throughout the analytics life cycle.
• Interpret and translate sports and exercise performance data for targeted consumers (private, public).

Career Opportunities

Students are prepared to pursue careers in sport and exercise performance data science, including positions at:

• Professional sports teams
• Collegiate sports teams
• Wearable companies
• Software companies
• Human performance laboratories

Hands-on Experience

The program intersects with Marquette Athletics and its staff to address specific questions regarding elite athletic performance. Students work with real data sets from research laboratories, Marquette athletes, and other large datasets, providing a rich learning environment with ample opportunities to network with prospective stakeholders.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must:

• Have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or international equivalent.
• Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
• Demonstrate English proficiency for non-U.S. citizens.
• Complete required coursework, including a computer programming course, a statistics course, and a course in exercise physiology, anatomy, or similar.

Application Details

The application requires:

• A completed online application form and fee.
• Transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• GRE scores (if degree GPA is below 3.000).
• TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency for international applicants.

Application Deadline

The program has rolling admission, with the following deadlines:

• Fall term admissions: August 1 (June 1 for international applicants).

Program Faculty

The program is led by experienced faculty, including:

• Dr. Kristof Kipp, Professor of Exercise Science and Co-Director of the Sports and Exercise Analytics Program.
• Dr. Danilo Tolusso, Clinical Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Co-Director of the Sports and Exercise Analytics Program.
• Michael Kiely, Clinical Assistant Professor of Exercise Science.
• Dr. Walter Bialkowski, Associate Professor of Practice.

Course Work

The program offers two options: a thesis option (Plan A) and a non-thesis option (Plan B). Required courses include:

• Data Science Courses: Visual Analytics, Data Intelligence, Data Analytics, Data at Scale, Data Ethics.
• Human Performance/Exercise Physiology Courses: Advanced Exercise Physiology, Advanced Applied Biomechanics in Injury Prevention and Performance, Advanced Strength and Conditioning: Data Analytics.

Tuition Cost

The tuition cost per credit is $1,400.00, with other costs applicable.