Florida State University’s online master’s degree in Athletic Coaching has been designed by coaches for coaches. Our goal is to provide current and future coaches and sports professionals with current knowledge and best practices that are based on experience and research. We want our students to be the most knowledgeable and successful in the profession.
Athletic coaching is an old profession, but a relatively new academic discipline. Coaching requires expertise across many kinesiology and pedagogy-based disciplines, such as exercise science, physical education and sport psychology. Knowledge and skills in this discipline are important to be successful in what is an increasingly demanding and complex role and within a competitive job market.
This program is housed in FSU's Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching (FSU COACH), which is dedicated to using research and scientific knowledge to help coaches become better at what they do so that their athletes are more successful within and external to their sport. You can learn more about the center at fsu-coach.fsu.edu.
- Where do I apply? You can apply here.
- When do I have to apply? Deadlines are November 1, March 1, and July 1 to start in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
- Do I need to do the GRE? No!
- What do I need to apply? You need: (1) unofficial transcripts (official if accepted into the program), (2) TESOL test (if an international student), (3) resume, (4) statement explaining why you want to enroll in the program, (5) writing sample (e.g., a college paper), and (6) a 3.0 GPA in upper division coursework (the last 60 hours) of your undergraduate degree.
- What if I don't have the 3.0 GPA? FSU typically doesn't accept students who do not meet this requirement. However, in some situations students can be admitted under provisional status, whereby the student must achieve certain academic expectations in their first semester.
- How long does it take to find out if I've been admitted? Usually, you will have an answer within a few weeks.
The admissions committee will holistically review all application materials, including academic and professional credentials, for factors that merit an applicant’s admission to the program.
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
- Transcripts – Official transcripts from each college/university attended should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
- Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Building
P.O. Box 3061410
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
USA
- Florida State University
- Valid Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores*. Successful applicants to the master’s program should score at or above the 50th percentile on Verbal and Quantitative portions of the exam, and at least a 3.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing portion. *NOTE: The GRE admission requirements for master's and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
- CV/resume: A professional review of your education, training, work experience, and skills that help to support why you should be accepted into the Master’s in Athletic Coaching program.
- Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose should convince the FSU COACH faculty that you have the background and potential to be successful in the program. Include information about yourself, summarize your educational, athletic, and coaching experiences, and discuss how your future goals will be helped with the completion of this degree program. Statements should be limited between 500-1000 words and ideally, should be submitted in an APA-formatted Word document.
- Writing Sample: Submit a piece of writing that demonstrates your ability to analyze and accurately and professionally present a topic in Athletic Coaching. We recommend submitting a paper based on recent research or a current topic in sports, for example. However, you could use an undergraduate paper or something else you’ve written as long as it demonstrates the quality of your writing and it is professionally presented. The paper should be approximately 2,000-3,000 words and ideally be submitted in an APA-formatted Word document.
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Language proficiency test (international students only) – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
Master's Student Handbook 2022-2023
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Master's Program of Study |
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Content Knowledge (18 hours) |
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| Intrapersonal Knowledge | |||
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PET 5769 |
3 |
Theory & Practice of Athletic Coaching |
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PET 5175 |
3 |
Philosophy & Ethics of Sport & Coaching |
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| Interpersonal Knowledge | |||
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PET 5250 |
3 |
Sociology of Sport & Cultural Foundations of Coaching |
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Professional Knowledge |
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PET 5235 |
3 |
Motor Learning for Coaches |
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APK 5121 |
3 |
Sport & Exercise Psychology for Coaches |
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PET 5392 |
3 |
Coaching for Human Performance |
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Research & Practice (6 hours) |
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PET 5530 |
3 |
Understanding & Conducting Research in Sports & Coaching |
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PET 5940 |
3 |
Athletic Coaching Internshipa |
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Electives (6 hours) – other electives may be approved by Program Director |
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PET 5855 |
3 |
International Perspectives of Coaching |
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PET 5856 |
3 |
Coaching the Athlete 360 |
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aMust complete PET 5769 and PET 5175 as prerequisites
- How much will it cost? Normally, the Master’s degree tuition is $1,075.66 per credit hour for out of state students. However, exclusively for Athletic Coaching Master’s students, FSU is offering a NEW “AC Scholarship” awarded to the first 10 students who are admitted into the 2023 spring and summer semesters who are non-Florida residents. Students may be awarded a $400 scholarship for each credit hour enrolled. Over the course of the 30-credit hour Master’s degree, this scholarship totals $12,000 and reduces the cost of tuition to $675.66 per credit hour.
- Do you have any other scholarships? Yes, we have several scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $2,500. Other FSU COACH and College of Education scholarships are also available. Students must be enrolled in the program to apply.
- What are my odds of being awarded other scholarships? This year, 75% of students that applied were awarded a scholarship.
- Spring – November 1
- Summer – March 1
- Fall – July 1
- Is the Master's online? Yes, 100%. You never even have to come to Tallahassee, but we always enjoy meeting our students in person.
- What kind of students do you have enrolled? Many of our students are already coaching but not all. Those who coach range from volunteer to high school to college to professional. We also have students who are not coaches but work with coaches or athletes in some capacity.
- Why should I enroll in this program over another? There are many excellent coaching programs in the United States and we're proud to be one of them. FSU is a top 20 ranked academic institution, and FSU COACH is the only center for athletic coaching in the US. Our degree was developed from scratch by coaches and every class is taught by a current or former coach.
- Are class times set? What if I have a conflict with that time? The vast majority of the program you complete in your own time around your schedule. Periodically, we may meet virtually as a class, but alternative assignments are provided if you can't meet at that time.
- How long does it take to complete? That's entirely up to you. Some of our students have completed the program in one calendar year (summer, fall, spring) whereas others prefer to complete just one class a semester.
A master's degree in Athletic Coaching from Florida State can open up a variety of career opportunities in the coaching and sports professions. Examples include, but are not limited to: sport coach, performance coach, personal trainer, sport scientist, scout, athletic director, coach educator, and sport development officer.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "employment of coaches and scouts is projected to grow 12 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing participation in high school and college sports may boost demand for coaches and scouts."
