M.S. in Strength & Conditioning

All NCAA institutions are now required to have a certified strength & conditioning coach on staff. Additionally, high schools nation wide are recognizing both the need and the benefit of having individuals trained in strength & conditioning. Harding's program is designed for those who are interested in assisting athletes at all levels to improve athletic performance and emphasis on primary prevention of injuries. Our graduates will be well-equipped to fill those influential roles with Christian professionals.

Start in: fall or spring

TWO TRACKS AVAILABLE

There are two tracks students may take to prepare for the Master of Science in strength & conditioning exam.

Accelerated – This accelerated dual degree curriculum makes it possible for qualified students to complete both a Bachelor of Science in strength and conditioning and a Master of Science in strength & conditioning in five years. 

• Students will declare strength and conditioning as the undergraduate major, complete liberal arts credits and prerequisites during their first three years, and finish graduate school in years four and five. 
• The two years of graduate school start in the fall (beginning Fall 2021) and conclude the following fall, totaling four semesters. 

Traditional – Students follow a traditional four-year undergraduate track, ensuring that any required prerequisites are part of undergraduate curriculum. 

• Interested applicants may apply for the graduate program as early as their final year of undergraduate study. 
• The two-year strength and conditioning master’s program requires a secondary application process (the program opens Fall 2021).

Special opportunities 

During year one of the program, students will prepare to take the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist exam from the National Strength and Conditioning Association at the conclusion of the year. 

Hands-on experience:

Students will complete an internship and a practicum as part of the master’s curriculum, totaling 640 hours of supervised practice under a certified strength & conditioning coach. Upon completion of the practicum, students will qualify to sit for the Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified recognition offered by the College Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association. See Academic Curriculum below for further information. 

Application Requirements

• Complete the online application.
• Request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to MSSC@harding.edu
• Request two recommendations be sent through
• 1. Academic reference
  2. Character reference 
• Upload a resume.

*Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Applicants with less than a 2.5 GPA can appeal to the Strength and Conditioning Graduate committee for provisional acceptance. 

PREREQUISITES

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II
• • OR one anatomy course and one Physiology course
• One Exercise Physiology course 
• College Algebra or Statistics
• AED/CPR/First Aid certification are required but may be completed upon entering the program.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Students who (1) speak English as a second language, and have (2) not previously completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited American college or university must meet a minimum score on a nationally recognized test of English language proficiency such as the TOEFL or IELTS. However, in lieu of these exam, professional programs in the health sciences may assess such students with an interview and/or a writing exam. 

Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission to the university are 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (Internet-based test). The minimum IELTS score is 6.0. Scores must not be older than two years prior to the date of application to the university. Please note that individual programs may have more stringent minimum requirements. 

Contact Us

Exercise Science: EXSS@harding.edu

Strength & Conditioning: mssc@harding.edu