Graduate studies in the Department of Human Performance and Health Education are designed to provide experiences enabling the student to:
The M. A. in Coaching Sport Performance is designed to provide 36 graduate credit hours of classroom and field experiences enabling students to develop skills and knowledge that high performance coaches and related sport clinicians should possess. The M.A. in Coaching curriculums clearly supports an athlete-centered philosophy of sport and encourages each student to set personal goals that will maximize the benefits of sport for all participants. The objectives of the curriculum are aligned with those identified in the National Standards for Sport Coaches (NASPE 2006) and NCACE Accreditation Level 5.
The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education has accredited WMU at Level V for its coaching education program. WMU's coaching education program is the first to be accredited by NCACE at Level V and will serve as a prototype for other organizations seeking to promote excellence in coaching preparation.
Admission to a graduate program is secured through the following steps:
Request an "Application for Admission" from The Office of Admissions .
Determine from The Graduate College Bulletin the degree sought and the curriculum to be studied.
Return the "Application of Admission" and $40 application fee before the published admission date.
Request the Registrar of each college previously attended, except Western Michigan University, to send one official transcripts of credits to The Office of Admissions prior to the admission date.
To be admitted to the Master of Art in Coaching program in the Department of Human Performance and Health Education, candidates must meet The Graduate College’s admission standards. In addition, candidates must meet departmental admission standards, including a successful track record in academia, GPA of 2.7 or above, an undergraduate degree in HPHE or coaching experience. Where qualifications are in question, the candidate’s advisor may require completion of additional coursework.
The Master of Arts in Coaching Sport Performance degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 36 graduate semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. A maximum of six years is allowed for completion of the master’s degree before a "status of limitations’ is imposed. Each graduate student must maintain a "B" average, with a minimum of one-half of the coursework at the 600 level. Graduate students, in consultation with advisors, must develop a planned program before completing ten semester hours of course work. This planned program includes a combination of 10 core coaching classes, 6 hours of student selected electives, and a capstone coaching field experience. This coursework is designed to meet each student’s individual career goals. The planned program for such students is the joint responsibility of the department advisor and the graduate student.
The graduate non-degree application is for a student with a bachelor’s degree who wishes to enroll in certain courses, but does not plan to pursue a program leading to a graduate degree, or is not eligible for degree admission. This status does not constitute admission to a degree or certificate program, and the courses taken under this status might not apply to a particular degree or certificate program. For students who are eligible for admission, a maximum of nine credits taken under non-degree status may be considered in a degree program if the student should later decide to apply for admission to a degree program and if an advisor and the graduate dean approve the credit. Non-degree status is not available to students with dual enrollment (undergraduate/graduate status).
Graduate students find positions as coaches in school-based and community-based sport, as well as instructional staff for coaching education programs.