The Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance (M.S.) program is designed to meet the diverse needs of graduate students seeking advanced professional preparation in sports administration, sports management, human performance, and physical education. The program prepares students for professional opportunities in athletic administration/management, human performance, exercise science, and fitness management, as well as supervisory roles in physical activity. The Human Performance and Sport Management concentrations are fully online, accommodating various student needs and schedules.
16:1
Divisional Faculty-Student Ratio
30
Credit Hours
(10 classes)
2
Concentrations
Why Get a Sport and Human Performance
Master’s Degree at DSU?
The industry demand for professionals with expertise in this field is high. Most facilities prefer candidates with a master’s degree in addition to their experience, making this program ideal for career advancement. Many teachers also pursue this degree to obtain their AA certification. Getting a M.S. in Sport and Human Performance at Delta State University is an excellent choice for advancing your professional career, whether you are in teaching, coaching, or health fitness professions.
Additionally, Delta State boasts knowledgeable, experienced, approachable, and passionate instructors. The faculty specializes in areas such as recreation, physical education, exercise physiology, and sport coaching, offering a well-rounded and expert-led educational experience. Students will develop a strong background in principles and practices within their respective fields, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and proficiency. Students will also engage with special resources, including a practicum with an associated research project where they will work in the field, collect and analyze data, write a research report, and present their research, if desired.
- Online classes
- Student advisement available online
- 30 credit-hour program
- Synchronous and asynchronous courses
- Thesis and practicum options
- Complete at your own pace
Concentrations in Sport and Human Performance
Sports Administration/Management
The Sports Administration/Management concentration is offered online and provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in finance, management, marketing, and law related to sports organizations. The coursework prepares students for careers with amateur, collegiate, and professional sports organizations, enabling them to pursue various sports-related opportunities after graduation. Students take multiple business courses and can elect to take two extra business courses (ACC 320 and ECO 210 or 211) to meet the prerequisites for entering the MBA program. Many established business professionals choose to pursue sports management programs to transition successfully into the sports industry. As a graduate program, it is an advanced study of the discipline, with research and writing components.
Human Performance
The Human Performance concentration is offered online and provides knowledge of the human body; coaching; sport-specific techniques and philosophies; and how physical activity, healthy eating, and maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce chronic disease and disability. The program includes courses such as fundamentals of movement physiology, kinesiology, exercise testing, motor learning and development, sports coaching classes, methods of coaching, health courses, and physical education courses.
What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree
in Sport and Human Performance?
With a Master’s Degree in Sport and Human Performance from Delta State University, you can pursue a variety of exciting career paths. Whether you are fascinated by the amazing abilities of the human body or want to help athletes achieve better performance and recover more quickly, this program offers different areas of concentration that align with your professional goals. The Sport and Human Performance master’s program opens doors to roles in athletic administration, human performance, exercise science, fitness management, and supervisory positions in physical activity. The advanced education and practical experience provided by this program equip you to significantly impact the health and performance of athletes and individuals in various settings.
- Exercise physiologist
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Fitness trainer
- Athletic director
- Facilities manager
- Sport/Fitness program director
- Ticketing/Sales manager
Graduate Funding Opportunities
Graduate students at Delta State University have a number of funding opportunities available to them, including Graduate Assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and loans. In addition, we also offer an affordable tuition rate with no additional fees for out-of-state students. We work closely with students to identify and apply for federal and state financial aid programs, as well as student loans and state scholarships. We are committed to providing our students with all of the tools necessary to succeed in the education field, including access to affordable education and financial support.
Program Goals
Some of the many goals of the HPER Division are to educate, motivate, and prepare our students. From the time they enter one of our many educational paths, we do our best to get them ready for their professional career. Not everything can be learned from a textbook. Our faculty have years of direct knowledge that they pass down to students. We give our students hands-on experiences so they may see how practical what they are learning can be.
Admission Requirements
- Meets all requirements for admission to Graduate School.
- Has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with an overall minimum GPA of 2.75, or 3.0 on the last 60 hours of coursework. Applicants with a 2.5-2.74 undergraduate GPA may be admitted with a hold for B’s or better in the first nine hours of graduate coursework.
Program Requirements
In each concentration, relevant undergraduate preparation is expected:
- a student in the sport administration/management concentration needs preparation in statistics or measurement and evaluation.
- a student in the human performance concentration needs preparation in statistics or measurement and evaluation, anatomy and physiology or kinesiology, and exercise physiology.
Admitted students are required to enroll in 9 hours of initial course work as specified by the division.
NOTE: A minimum grade of B is required for each course for the initial 9 hours. A student with less than a grade of B in any of the three initial required courses will be allowed to repeat that course(s) one time. No additional courses toward completion of the degree may be taken until the 9-hour grade point average requirement is fully met.
Curriculum
The 30 credit-hour program has two concentrations: sports administration/management and human performance.
Core Course Requirements
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PER 571 | Sports Management | 3 |
| PER 602 | Risk Management in Sports | 3 |
| PER 611 | Current Literature and Trends in Physical Education | 3 |
| PER 680* | Advanced Tests and Measurements in Physical Education | 3 |
| ELR 605 | Method of Educational Research and Statistics | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
Sport Administration/Management
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PER 617 | Organization and Supervision of Recreational Services | 3 |
| PER 670 | Facilities and Event Management | 3 |
| PER 685 | Practicum in Health Education, Physical Education, or Recreation | 3 |
| MKT 540** | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
Human Performance
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PER 566 | Strength and Conditioning Program Design | 3 |
| PER 638 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| PER 670 | Facilities and Event Management | 3 |
| PER 685 | Practicum in Health Education, Physical Education, or Recreation | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
*PER 680 requires a prerequisite of an undergraduate statistics or measurement and evaluation course.
**MKT 540 requires a prerequisite of an undergraduate introduction to marketing course.
Degree Requirements
A candidate for the Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance is required to meet the following:
- Fulfill the general requirements for a graduate degree at Delta State University;
- Complete graduate work consisting of core courses, major field concentration hours and elective hours as specified.
- Earn a B average on the degree core courses (PER 571, 602, 611, 680 and ELR 605)
- Pass an oral and/or written examination in the candidate’s major concentration administered by a committee appointed by the division chair.
- THESIS OPTION: With the consent of the advisor, a candidate may elect to write a thesis for 6 semester hours– the thesis does not replace the requirement for comprehensive exams.
For more information on degree requirements and specifics on courses needed to complete the degree, consult the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Fees
Tuition at DSU covers the cost of classes.
This program will require an online course fee of $5/per credit hour.
