student sitting and in discussion with instructor

Master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching

Master of Science (M.S.)

Pursue your passion for sports while building the leadership skills to drive success on and off the field.

Whether you’re envisioning a future as an athletic director, coach or sports administrator, you’ll gain the knowledge and practical expertise to advance your career and make an impact in the rapidly growing sports industry.

Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
2 years
Credit hours:
30

Why choose UND's master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching?

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

The world of sports demands strong, ethical leaders who can navigate the complexities of athletic administration while motivating athletes to reach their full potential. An on-campus or online master’s in Athletic Administration & Coaching equips you with the skills and knowledge, to excel in coaching, athletic administration and sports leadership at all levels.

Designed for aspiring leaders passionate about sports, teamwork and inspiring others, this master’s program offers a real-world approach to learning. You’ll gain hands-on experience tackling the challenges faced by athletic administrators and coaches while mastering ethical leadership, risk management and sports psychology. With a curriculum tailored to the evolving demands of the sports industry, you’ll graduate prepared to lead, motivate and create lasting impact in athletic programs and organizations.

What You Will Learn

Through the core curriculum, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of sports leadership from both a philosophical and administrative perspective. You’ll develop the ability to:

  • Navigate ethical challenges in sports leadership.
  • Manage sports organizations effectively.
  • Assess and mitigate risks in athletic programs.
  • Apply effective coaching strategies to develop high-performing athletes and teams.

With electives, you can customize your master’s degree to focus on coaching, sports psychology, administration or advocacy, ensuring your education aligns with your professional goals.

Upon completing the program, you will:

  • Develop advanced leadership skills in decision-making, ethical practices and communication.
  • Gain a deep understanding of key topics such as sports psychology, risk management and team dynamics.
  • Apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios, preparing you to tackle challenges in sports leadership.
  • Equip yourself with the tools and credentials to pursue roles such as athletic director, coach or sports administrator.

UND's Master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching

  • Develop your leadership skills. This program focuses on preparing you to inspire and guide teams in athletic settings rather than traditional management.

  • Learn from experienced professionals who bring real-world insights and practical expertise in athletic administration and coaching directly into this classroom.

  • Enjoy flexible online courses. Designed for working professionals, this 100% online program will allow you to balance your studies with full-time work and other commitments.

  • Enhance your professional skills at 60+ free workshops offered through the UND School of Graduate Studies. Our goal is to provide you with the workforce skills and job search strategies to succeed.

  • Gain a competitive edge through UND's Accelerate to Industry (A2i)™ program. This workforce readiness program provides immersive job training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. It is one of only 30 programs nationwide.

What can you do with a master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching?

110K

Median annual salary for Sports Leaders

Glassdoor

With increasing need for skilled leaders in sports and recreation and whether you're guiding student-athletes, managing operations or driving change through sports, the Athletic Administration & Coaching masters program will prepare you to lead with confidence.

There are hundreds of advanced degrees in sports management out there, but this program prepares people to be leaders in athletic departments at schools hired to run athletic departments within the academic mission of a university or school district.

Graduates of the Athletic Administration & Coaching master's program can explore roles in various settings, including:

  • Schools
  • Universities
  • Professional sports organizations
  • Community programs 
  • Private athletic facilities

Career Paths

This master's will offer the flexibility to align your career with your passions and strengths, equipping you with the skills needed in leadership and administrative roles. These roles include:

  • Athletic Director: Oversee the management of athletic programs, including budgets, hiring, compliance and overall team success.
  • Coach: Inspire and guide athletes to achieve personal and team goals while fostering growth and performance.
  • Sports Administrator: Manage the day-to-day operations of sports organizations, from scheduling to program development.
  • Recreation Director: Design and lead recreational programs that promote health and wellness in communities or organizations.
  • Team Manager: Coordinate logistics, scheduling and operations to support athletic teams and ensure smooth execution of events.

Courses You Can Take

KIN 510. Ethical Sports Leadership. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to encourage a critical analysis and examination of current issues related to the ethical leadership of sport. Students will explore common occurrences in order to clarify their own philosophy and decision-making in sports administration. On demand.

KIN 512. Sports Risk Management. 3 Credits.

An introduction into risk management in the intercollegiate sports administration setting. Legal topics covered include student-athlete eligibility and safety, fan safety and guarantees, contracts, antitrust, labor law, NCAA cases, intellectual property, and employment issues. Other topics may be introduced as current events dictate. On demand.

KIN 534. Social Issues in Sports. 3 Credits.

Consideration of social issues in sport with a focus on activism for positive change. On demand.

KIN 542. Sport Psychology for Teams. 3 Credits.

This course covers sport psychology principles related to team sports. Topics include understanding factors that influence the development of effective teams (including member attributes and structure) and factors effecting team performance (e.g., collective efficacy, cohesion, communication, leadership, etc.). SS, odd years.

KIN 543. Sport Psychology for Coaches. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to provide coaches with practical information about sport psychology so they can enhance the performance of their athletes. Topics are related to coaching effectiveness (philosophy, leadership and motivation) and the application of mental training tools (goal setting, imagery, positive thinking, etc.) to enhance mental skills for athletes (confidence, focus, energy management, etc.). SS, even years.

KIN 551. Philosophy and Application of Coaching. 3 Credits.

The course explores various philosophies, methods, and techniques of coaching to enhance the student's ability to promote athletes' improvement and growth. Emphasis is placed on the National Association for Sport and Physical Education's national standards for sport coaches. On demand.

Why UND online?

+160

online graduate programs

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

UND's master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching is 100% online. You never have to come to campus.

UND is one of the most affordable online colleges in the region. For this program, we offer the same online tuition rates regardless of your legal residency. Compare and you’ll see UND is lower cost than similar four-year doctoral universities.

Flexible Online Master's in Athletic Administration & Coaching Classes

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Top-Tier Online Master's Degree

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
Explore More Options

Looking to pursue graduate studies or connect with the department?

Department Contact
Mark Rerick
Assistant Professor
P 701.777.4343

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