Achieve meaningful victory with a coaching career.

If you’ve been searching for a sports coaching degree program that can both be completed online and help you make a difference in the lives of athletes and in your career goals, congrats: you’ve found it! The Master's Degree in Coaching & Fitness Leadership program from the University of the Cumberlands can give you the expertise you need to be successful in coaching any stage of individual and team sports – whether that be amateur, college, or professional. Develop practical leadership skills, an understanding of sports and coaching, and use your skills and knowledge to inspire and lead athletes

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

#1

in U.S., Affordable Master's

100%

Student-Focused

30

Max Class Size

$10.4K

Average Financial Aid
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

Online Master's in Coaching and Fitness Leadership

This online master’s program in coaching emphasizes practical application from strong academic content, giving you the tools you'll need to coach, teach, and influence individual and team performance. You’ll learn what it takes to develop an ethical and effective leadership style, how to help athletes prepare to reach their goals, and what it takes to guide individual and team performance during your master’s in coaching. Education for your master’s in coaching degree online program will engage you in topics ranging from exercise physiology and fitness to coaching and management strategies to help prepare you to launch a successful coaching career.

Course Requirements (30 hours)

HHP 530     Research Methods
HHP 532     Applied Nutrition
HHP 534     Exercise Physiology
HHP 535     Exercise Testing and Prescription
HHP 633     Current Issues in Coaching and Fitness Leadership
HHP 638     Administrative and Management Strategies

HHP 537    Coaching and Fitness Leadership
HHP 631     Advanced Coaching and Fitness Leadership

Choose two courses from the following:

HHP 531      Applied Statistics
HHP 533     Health and Fitness Psychology
HHP 536     Foundations of Physical Activity in Health Promotion
HHP 630     Health Promotion through Physical Activity
HHP 632     Current Issues in Health Promotion
HHP 634     Strength and Conditioning
HHP 635     Youth Health and Fitness
HHP 636     Plant-Based Nutrition
HHP 637     Applied Sports Medicine
HHP 639     Special Topics

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The mission of the coaching & fitness leadership program at Cumberlands is to instill students with strong leadership qualities, an appreciation for sportsmanship, and the skills needed to lead a team of athletes well. Through this program, you will:

Analyze the role of behavior in health, fitness, and performance.
Perform appropriate health and fitness assessments.
Design and implement coaching programs for diverse populations and needs.
Apply ethical leadership strategies for sports activities.
Explore coaching or health and wellness careers.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Coaching & Fitness Careers & Outcomes

*All statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Coach: $38,970

Coach: $38,970

Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport.

Sports Scout: $38,970

Sports Scout: $38,970

Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits.

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.

Fitness Trainer/Instructor: $40,700

Fitness Trainer/Instructor: $40,700

Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.

Physical Therapist: $95,620

Physical Therapist: $95,620

Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

Exercise Physiologist: $47,940

Exercise Physiologist: $47,940

Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help injured or sick patients recover.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

With your master’s degree in coaching & fitness leadership, you have the ability — and credentials — to pursue a number of athletic- or fitness-related careers. Some options in this field include:

  • Head Coach  
  • Scout
  • Athletics Director
  • Fitness Trainer
  • Community Health Consultant

Each course lasts eight weeks, called a bi-term. There are two bi-terms per semester, and three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer). Many classes are asynchronous, meaning there is no set login time; you can work on schoolwork whenever you find time. Cumberlands provides free rental textbooks to online students as part of its One Price Promise. 

Yes! Through this program, you'll gain practical skills in leadership, teamwork, and health and wellness that are valued by employers in a variety of different fields.

You will not need to come to campus for this degree. This degree is offered in a 100% online format, so you can earn your degree without ever coming to campus. 

University of the Cumberlands’ online master’s in coaching and fitness leadership degree program is made by coaching and fitness professionals, for coaching and fitness professionals. It’s designed to accommodate both pre-professional students who wish to further their education and those already working in coaching and fitness careers looking to advance within their respective areas. 

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation. For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Anchor: Faculty

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