Online Master’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion

Concentrations

Advanced Golf Performance

As golf industry professional and human movement specialist, you’ll help golfers of all ages and abilities avoid injury while improving their game.

You’ll learn to assess and explain common injuries associated with the golf swing, how certain movements put a strain on the body, and ways to improve movement patterns. You’ll also acquire the skills you need to create and implement comprehensive conditioning programs, as well as nutrition and exercise programs that benefit golfers.

There is a research capstone project designed to align with your particular interests in golf. Upon completion of the program, you will earn your Golf Performance Certification from TechnoGym, the official equipment supplier for the PGA Tour, as well as your Performance Enhancement Specialist Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

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Applied Sport Science

Want to help athletes decrease injury, optimize performance and enhance recovery? PennWest’s online master’s in Applied Sports Science will get you there. Learn how to integrate sport science principles and use clinical application and cutting-edge technology to deliver efficient and effective solutions.

This is the first and only academic program built around research and real-life experience from Fusionetics(R), an internationally acclaimed sport performance and recovery corporation.

Using the latest research and best practices, you’ll explore sports recovery interventions, motion analysis, injury prevention and more. After a capstone research project and a six-credit internship, you’ll earn your Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

You’ll be ready to coach and guide patients based on the latest research in movement, recover and applied sport science.

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Group Fitness Leadership

There’s a science behind exercise. That’s why an increasing number of health clubs and fitness centers across the country require employees to have an advanced degree in the field of Exercise Science and Health Promotion. With PennWest’s online master’s in Group Fitness Leadership, you will add valuable skills to your current professional credentials.

You’ll not only take a scientific approach to the creation and implementation of group exercise classes, you’ll gain insight into current fitness trends, learn how to design a fitness program for the workplace, and the practical aspects of starting and running a business related to performance enhancement and fitness training. A research-based capstone project will further your knowledge of your field of interest.

PennWest is a recognized leader in online education for exercise science professionals. It is the first and only academic institution to partner with the renowned Les Mills fitness and group exercise organization, giving students a real competitive edge in the marketplace. Whether you’re teaching cardio, weight training, barre, spinning, flexibility training or other fitness courses, this certificate will prepare you to motivate and support your clients every step of the way.

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Nutrition

Changes in diet can improve athletic performance, boost fitness and improve an individual’s overall health and wellness. When you choose PennWest’s online master’s in Nutrition, you will be prepared to provide sound, research-based guidance that will improve the health and wellness of your patients and clients.

This degree provides you with state-of-the-science information on advanced nutritional concepts, strategies for changing behavior, applied nutrition for special populations and more.

Upon completion of the program and a research-based capstone project, you will have a thorough knowledge of a variety of current topics and issues related to nutrition and sports nutrition with a focus on federal, state and organizational policy, current exercise science and nutrition trends, and research-based initiatives new to the nutrition and exercise science fields.

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Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention

Today’s athletes want to achieve peak performance to compete and win while avoiding injury. If you want to be at their side as a top sport performance coach, choose the 100% online Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention master’s degree from PennWest.

You’ll focus on the latest research and issues in sports performance training and injury prevention. You’ll become expert in implementing and applying advanced exercise science and injury prevention methodologies and techniques as they relate to flexibility, speed and agility. You’ll also learn about a variety of current topics and issues related to sport performance training, including government policy and current research.

After completing your capstone project, you will be prepared to sit for the National Academy of Sports Medicine exam to receive Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) certification. PES-certified trainers are equipped to apply the science of human movement to build top athletic performance.

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Rehabilitation Science

Do your exercise interests lie in the field of health care? Are you passionate about helping others recover from accidents, injuries or other medical conditions? Consider this online master’s in Rehabilitation Science from PennWest Global Online. You will learn evidence-based guidelines and effective strategies for musculoskeletal rehabilitation and biomechanical assessment. Highly experienced faculty will serve as your mentors as you plan and develop various corrective exercises, protocols and rehabilitation methodologies.

You will be expertly trained to be a valuable member of the rehabilitation team in a variety of settings, from athletic training rooms and physical therapy clinics to chiropractic offices and other treatment settings.

Choose a research topic that interests you for your capstone project, then prepare for the National Academcy of Sports Medicine exam that will qualify you for Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification, which signals your ability to help clients at any fitness level address muscular imbalances and faulty movement.

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Sport Psychology

Peak athletic performance demands top physical conditioning plus solid mental skills to compete. You can help athletes stay in the zone and develop strong mental fitness through PennWest’s online master’s in Sport Psychology.

Our curriculum delivers evidence-based instruction on how to plan and develop various projects that relate to wellness, counseling and sport psychology. You’ll study the effects of injury, rehabilitation and recovery, explore performance enhancement and intervention methods, and learn how to incorporate referrals into your practice.

Upon completion of your research-based capstone project and this program, you will be a well-rounded professional who can assist health care and fitness professionals, as well as coaches and others in identifying precursors to injury and psychological effects post-injury and during rehabilitation.

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Tactical Strength and Conditioning

Military service members, law enforcement professionals, emergency responders and other front-line personnel face physical challenges as extreme as any sport. PennWest’s online master’s in Tactical Strength and Conditioning puts you at their side, helping these men and women build strength, improve physical performance and decrease the risk of injuries.

Our program combines theory and practical application. Students learn how to operate within a high-performance team of professionals to generate holistic training solutions that optimize bio-mechanics and metabolic processes geared to the unique challenges of tactical careers.

In addition to courses such as designing and implementing tactical strength and conditioning programs, students will complete a research-based course as a capstone and a research paper focused on a personalized area of interest. They will earn their Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

New safety guidelines in emergency fields require all coaching personnel to have certifications and advanced education. The prestigious NSCA TSAC-F certification addresses those standards and will meet certification requirements for coaches once the NSCA’s quality initiative takes effect in 2030.

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Wellness and Fitness

Take your skills to the next level by becoming a Certified Personal Trainer.

With guidance from expert faculty, you’ll study a range of topics, including nutrition for peak performance, exercise physiology, leadership in fitness, and business and entrepreneurship in the fitness industry, and learn to design evidence-based fitness and wellness programs.

The program will also introduce you to the revolutionary exercise programming strategies of the Optimum Performance Training model. You’ll learn how this systematic approach to program design uniquely blends the science of acute variables with the concepts of flexibility, core stabilization, balance, reactive training, speed, agility and quickness, and strength training to develop a safe and effective exercise program for all individuals.

You’ll have the opportunity to select a capstone research project that suits your personal interests. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) examination for Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification.

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Wellness Coaching

Since 2010, wellness coaching has ranked in the top 20 most important fitness trends worldwide, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual survey. With the challenges of today’s society, from the global pandemic to the epidemics of obesity and sedentary lifestyles to stress, depression, poor nutrition and rising health care costs, there is a greater need than ever to help people make lasting improvements to their health and well-being.

With PennWest’s online master’s in Wellness Coaching, you’ll build expertise in promoting healthy lifestyles through behavioral changes. Under the supervision of experienced faculty, you will build evidence-based coaching competencies that are grounded in the science of positive psychology. You will study current topics in wellness coaching, review current research and develop the skills to foster well-being and prevent or treat diseases. A research-based capstone project provides you with the opportunity to enhance your knowledge on a particular topic.

This innovative program was developed at PennWest California, in partnership with Wellcoaches(R), a recognized international provider of wellness coaching education. Upon completion, you may earn the Health and Wellness Coach certification, endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine.

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Online Master’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion

A leader in the study of Exercise Science

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Concentrations

Careers and Salaries

Exercise Science Alumna Named First Female Full-Time Athletic Trainer for the Green Bay Packers.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Barry McGlumphy

Graduate Outcomes

Admissions Requirements

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