Click here to find out more about the ranking methodology that we used to compile this list.

Congratulations! If you represent a college or university that is included in this list, please collect your seal below.

Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire an online master’s degree in sports medicine, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best online master’s in sports medicine programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. George Washington University, GW Online, Washington, DC

GW’s master of science in exercise science in strength and conditioning trains learners in the practice and theory of resistance training, building the skills to improve athletic performance and prevent health-related issues. Learners of all backgrounds can apply to the degree program, and GW only requires the completion of one undergraduate class in exercise physiology.

While most classwork is online, the degree program does require candidates to visit the campus for a three-day capstone class held at the end of the second year. The coursework readies graduates to sit for the certified strength and conditioning specialist designated and the level one weightlifting coaching class.

2. Towson University, Towson, MD

Towson’s master of science in kinesiology serves the requirements of K-12 physical education teachers. The degree program coursework covers key concepts, such as research design and methodology, the design and implementation of assessment tools and  physical education coursework, and evaluation methods of teacher effectiveness. Learners partake in discussions, independent assignments, and group projects, collaborating with peers through Towson’s holistic online platform. All degree candidates finish a capstone project and a comprehensive final exam. The capstone entails learners to finish a research project connected to some aspect of physical education.

3. University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

The school’s master of science in kinesiology with a concentration in physical education has support for teachers, coaches, and other professors seeking to improve their physical education skills. The degree program entails a minimum of 36 credits, with thesis and non–thesis options available.

Learners finish 30 core credits, studying motor learning, corrective and adaptive physical education, foundations and culminates in kinesiology, degree program design in physical education, and legal aspects of sports. Thesis candidates finish six credits of thesis work, while non-thesis candidates finish a three-credit special problems class and one additional three-credit class.

4. Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

IWU has a master of science in athletic training that builds hypothetical and clinical knowledge in athletic healthcare. This post-professional degree program serves candidates who have already finished a bachelor’s degree in athletic training sanctioned by the Commission on Accrediting Body of Athletic Training Education.

This online master’s degree in sports medicine entails a two-week residency session that occurs at the beginning of the degree program in July. This intensive residency contains two major classes: athletic training/clinical anatomy and advanced prevention and emergency management methods. Classes take advantage of the on-campus format to offer experiential learning. The remaining class material occurs entirely online.

5. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

Georgia Southern serves more than 27,000 learners via several campuses and a substantial online degree program. While not a conventional sports medicine degree program, the master of science in kinesiology stresses the scientific aspects of coaching education. The degree program contains a required practicum in which learners apply class learning to their coaching practice.

6. University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

The school’s master of arts in sports and exercise science with an emphasis in sport coaching combines academic theory and applied learning. Requiring a total of 30 credits, the degree covers major concepts in sport pedagogy, injury prevention, sport psychology, training, and conditioning principles, and applied coaching research. Learners benefit from a primarily online format intended to accommodate full-time or part-time coaching schedules. Most learners finish their sports medicine degree online in 18 months.

7. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

The college’s master of science in kinesiology with a concentration in sport management has  multidisciplinary coursework that stresses interdepartmental collaboration and communication, giving learners a holistic viewpoint on the field of sport management.

This 36-credit degree program contains a total of 12 classes, with six core classes that cover concepts in administration, organizational behavior, social issues, finance, and sports law. Learners select an additional four elective classes that investigate focused concepts in the field, such as facilities management or policy development. Learners can finish their online master’s in sports medicine in 12 months of full-time study.

8. North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

One of North Dakota’s largest colleges, NDSU, grants admission to more than 14,000 learners annually via a primary campus in Fargo and a distance education degree program. NDSU has a master of science in health, nutrition, and exercise science with a choice in leadership in physical education, requiring 30 credits for graduation. It covers major concepts, including sport governance, sports skills instruction and acquisition, leadership and entrepreneurship, and the role of sport in American society. All classes utilize a fully online, asynchronous format with no required campus visits, though learners must finish observation activities in a K-12 or institution athletic environment.

9. Concordia University–Saint Paul, St. Paul, MN

A Christian institution, CSP manages a conventional campus and an extensive online learning degree program, which contains a master of science in exercise science. The degree centers on the application of exercise principles to human health, training learners for work in the exercise science sector. Candidates to the degree program must possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field and demonstrate either professional experience or research connected to exercise science.

Combining hypothetical approaches and real-life application, the online sports medicine degree coursework includes concepts in biomechanics, applied exercise prescription, nutrition and metabolism, and sports psychology. This 33-credit degree has fully online classes in adaptable seven-week blocks, making it convenient for working learners to balance schoolwork and professional obligations. The degree program concludes with a master’s capstone that synthesizes and assesses overall learner learning.

10. Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA

A Christian college, FPU has two sports medicine online degree programs: a master of athletic training and a master of kinesiology—physical education. Programs feature entirely online, asynchronous classes with no required campus visits, along with start dates in the fall, spring, and summer. The athletic training degree program readies candidates to serve as trainers at the high school, institution, or professional level, stressing teaching and training methods, rehabilitation practices, and clinical teaching skills.

The degree entails 30 total credits and normally takes between 18 and 22 months to finish. The physical education degree program helps working coaches and physical education teachers develop their professional skills, building technical proficiency and leadership skills. The degree program entails a total of 36 credits and normally takes 17 to 19 months to finish.

11. Texas A&M University–Commerce, Commerce, TX

Situated about 65 miles outside of Dallas, A&M–Commerce offers an online master of science in health, kinesiology, and sport studies with four concentration chances: athletic administration, health promotion, exercise science, and physical education pedagogy.

The athletic administration path caters to full-time coaches and teachers and takes just one year to finish. The health promotion path readies learners for careers in the wellness field, including the corporate, commercial, and community sectors. The exercise science path investigates concepts in physiology and conditioning, training learners for rehabilitation and wellness work. Finally, the physical education pedagogy path trains certified physical education teachers in coursework development, teaching strategies, sports psychology, and research.

12. University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX

Part of the prominent University of Texas System, UT Tyler, offers a holistic online degree program that contains one of the top sports medicine online degree programs in Texas. The 36-credit master of science in kinesiology contains an 18-credit degree program core, 12 credits of electives, and a thesis or internship component worth six credits. Core classes investigate foundational concepts, including research design, biometric methods, motor learning, and biomechanics. Elective courses normally draw from offerings within the department of health and kinesiology, but learners may take classes from other departments with faculty approval.

For the degree program’s final section, candidates finish either a thesis, performing original research for an endorsed topic in kinesiology or an internship, applying degree program principles to hands-on work in a professional kinesiology environment. Learners who do not finish a thesis must take a holistic exam that assesses overall degree program knowledge.

13. University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX

UTPB has a master of science in kinesiology with three focus areas: exercise science, the psychology of exercise and sport, or teaching, coaching, and administration. The 36-credit degree coursework entails 12 credits of core classes that build foundational knowledge in research, physiology, and exercise psychology. An additional nine credits of concentration classes enable learners to investigate their professional areas of interest, with many class chances available. For example, candidates in the exercise science path select from classes including sports nutrition, the US health system, heat stress and exercise, and applied biomechanics.

All concentrations offer a thesis and non-thesis option. Thesis candidates finish 30-degree program credits and a six-credit research thesis that generally functions as a lab or field experiment. Non-thesis candidates finish 33-degree program credits and a three-credit research project, such as a field study or research survey.

14. University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX

Serving more than 23,000 learners, UTEP offers an online master of science in kinesiology with an emphasis on the pedagogy of physical activities, training learners for athletic teaching, and coaching work. This online sports medicine degree entails a total of 36 credits, split among 15 credits of core classes, and 21 credits of emphasis classes. Core classes cover major concepts in research, biomechanics, and exercise physiology, while concentration classes investigate concepts in physical education instruction.

UTEP participates in the UT System Online Collaborative, which enables distance learners to take online classes via other institutions in the UT System, thus making it easier to finish a degree online. Candidates to the kinesiology degree program must possess at least 12 credits of endorsed undergraduate kinesiology classes.

15. California Baptist University–CBU Online, Riverside, CA

Associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, CBU serves more than 9,000 learners from a primary campus in Riverside and via a diverse online degree program. The college’s master of science in kinesiology has multidisciplinary coursework that couples research methods, fitness, and wellness studies. Candidates pursuing their sports medicine degree online take advantage of a holistic distance education platform that contains virtual lectures, cooperative classwork, and interactive tutorials, with an adaptable format that caters to working adults.

The degree entails 30 total credits and contains major concepts, such as and fitness testing and exercise prescription, legal aspects of kinesiology, applied statistics, and ethics, and leadership in kinesiology. The degree program culminates with one of three culminating experiences: a holistic exam, a thesis, or a graduate research project. Most candidates finish the degree in about 12 months of full-time study.