Strength and Conditioning, Master of Science
The Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (MSSC) program will prepare students to work with recreational, secondary school, collegiate, professional, and/or elite athletes developing and implementing exercise programs to support and enhance performance. The 36-credit-hour program provides coursework, both theoretical and clinical, designed to prepare students to become leaders in the field of Strength and Conditioning and Sports Performance, with a specific focus on injury prevention and return-to-play criteria. The Department of Exercise Science offers an accelerated program that allows undergraduate Exercise Science students to begin taking specified graduate level courses that will double-count towards both their BS and MS degrees.
Admission Requirements
Graduates from the Gardner-Webb Exercise Science (EXSI) program will be seamlessly admitted into the MS in Strength and Conditioning program within one year of graduation. Applicants will be required to show proof of meeting item 1 from the list below. A minimum GPA of 2.75 and the internal approval form from the EXSI program are also required.
Admission into the traditional two-year MSSC degree program is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following program-specific minimum requirements.
1. A baccalaureate degree is required, preferably in exercise science, health and fitness, physical education, or another related area.
2. Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students with less than a cumulative 2.75 undergraduate grade point average may be provisionally admitted with additional requirements upon the recommendation of the program coordinator. Students who are provisionally admitted must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average in their first six hours of coursework in the program as well as successfully meet any other additional requirements identified by the program coordinator before being granted full admission.
3. A one-page personal statement indicating the applicant’s interest in the program and describing professional intent.
4. Undergraduate coursework in the following: Human Anatomy and Physiology (eight credit hours); Kinesiology, Biomechanics, and/or Exercise Physiology. These courses should be completed prior to formal admission into the program and registration in graduate courses with few exceptions.
5. Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the physical activity professions and in graduate work.
Accelerated Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning
The accelerated program allows undergraduate Exercise Science students to begin graduate level coursework in the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (MSSC) program. Students may apply as early as the semester in which they will have earned 60 credit hours (including transfer credit hours accepted by GWU in addition to institutional credit hours. They will be awarded their Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (BS) degree after completing all requirements for that major and transition seamlessly into the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (MS) degree. Up to 12 credit hours of graduate level coursework taken as an undergraduate student may be double-counted towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In addition to 60 completed credit hours, applicants to the program must have an overall institutional GPA of at least 3.0 and be fully accepted into the Exercise Science undergraduate major. For more information see the BS in Exercise Science program detail.
Degree Requirements
Students will apply for graduation to have the BS degree conferred once all requirements for the undergraduate degree have been met. Once all requirements for the BS degree have been met, students will be conferred the degree. To transition into the MSSC degree from the accelerated program, students must demonstrate conferral of the BS EXSI degree from GWU with a 3.0 GPA or better in their graduate-level courses and at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. If GPA requirements are not met, students may still apply for the MSSC program and their application will be reviewed by the MSSC program coordinator for determination of admission.
Accelerated students transitioning into the MSSC program will be required to complete the full 36-hour program curriculum. Students will take 120 hours of undergraduate courses, and 36 hours of graduate coursework, of which twelve hours can be applied to the undergraduate degree.
The following courses meet both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements:
PSYC 520 taken at the graduate level will also count as PSYC 320 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 524 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 224 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 532 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 432 at the undergraduate level.
EXSI 535 taken at the graduate level will also count as EXSI 335 at the undergraduate level.
Students not accepted or unable to continue with the accelerated program may complete the remaining requirements for the BS degree in Exercise Science in a concentration that is most suitable to their needs (e.g., Health Fitness). These students may apply to the traditional graduate degree program.
Student Learning Outcomes
PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION
To master effective professional communication in oral, written, and technology formats; collaborating with professionals and peers; expressing ideas clearly; and giving and receiving feedback.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE
To utilize advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to evaluate tasks and individual and environmental constraints; develop, implement, and evaluate strength and conditioning programs; and employ behavioral strategies to motivate individuals to adopt and adhere to programming goals.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT
To demonstrate mastery of behavior, grounded in Christian faith and the liberal arts tradition, that preserves the integrity of a profession, prevents misrepresentation, and protects the consumer.
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
To continuously improve knowledge, skills, and abilities and to uphold a professional image through actions and appearance.
PROFESSIONAL DECISION MAKING (PROBLEM SOLVING)
To demonstrate mastery of critical thinking by making decisions based on multiple perspectives and evidence-based practice.
MSSC Curriculum (36 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 36