Master of Education in Coaching Education and Athlete Development (MEd-CEAD)

The online master program was designed using the National Standards for Sports Coaching and will be seeking accreditation through the National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education in the near future.

The tuition rate for the online CEAD program is $570 per credit hour. The total cost of tuition for the degree program will vary, depending upon transfer credits awarded, additional fees, and the cost of textbooks/materials. See the Tuition page for more information.

The students take 1 course at a time (2 per semester) lasting 8 weeks. The average timeline to complete this course is two years.

Since we have a cohort program, students must take all courses with their cohort.

The students take 1 course at a time (2 per semester) lasting 8 weeks.

There are not specific online times, but students are expected to submit work and must participate in discussions during assigned due dates.

The program's courses are in module form, generally 4 per course, and in addition to exposure to the most recent research on an issue or topic, many of the courses are project-based.

The online master program began in 2015 and has quickly gained recognition as a competitor in coaching education and athlete development.

No. It is strictly a Master of Education degree.

It is a cohort program, where you take 6 credit hours per semester, typically year-round.

The program is 30 credit hours and takes less than 2 years to complete. There is no accelerated path for this master's degree.

Yes, if such an event occurs, a student may pause the online master program and then resume with another cohort that matches their course completion to date.

Yes, there are a variety of practical projects to enhance students' coaching practice.

Yes, you should have a laptop or PC. You will also need Microsoft office, which Xavier University is able to provide.

Canvas is the learning management system. It is very student friendly.

Generally, a student should spend 1-2 hours daily or 7-10 hours per week on course related activities, that include such activities as, reading, writing, responding to discussions, viewing multimedia, etc.

The faculty is readily accessible and will typically respond to student requests within 24 hours.

There is a societal need to formally prepare individuals who coach and conduct programs for people of all ages so that sport may be a positive, safe and growth-enhancing experience. The United States is behind in this area as countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have all begun to take steps to professionalize the discipline of coaching.

For individuals who are currently coaching, whether at the club, school, collegiate or professional level, these positions are very demanding and time consuming; an online program will provide greater flexibility while experiencing a rigorous graduate degree.

The primary goal of a cohort program is to create a learning community of coaches. This will provide the opportunity for coaches from a variety of backgrounds and settings to communicate and learn from each other.

We believe that this program will be of great benefit to school coaches (middle to high school), collegiate coaches (head or assistant), and community-based club coaches who are either full-time club coaches or full-time directors of coaching. We believe that a cohort that consists of individuals from each of these three areas will provide an optimal learning experience for all involved.

Those that obtain a sports coaching degree are motivated and passionate leaders who enjoy inspiring others and are committed to their success. Graduates have skills that allow them to work in a multitude of career options such as:

• Instructional coach
• Instructional coaches are on-site professional developers who teach educators how to use different instructional methods. Coaches in this career must be skilled in public relations, communication, organization, and education. Instructional coaches observe classes, prepare materials, analyze teachers' needs, and work on building networks for change. 
• Sports nutritionist
• Sports and fitness nutritionists are professionals that are responsible for teaching athletes the best way to improve their health, optimize their performance, and manage their weight. This career requires a bachelor's in a sports nutrition-related field, and licensing may be required depending on the state. 
• Athletic director
• Athletic directors oversee all aspects of the athletic program including hiring coaches, budget preparation, providing guidance and direction for schools sports program, working with coaches to coordinate sports team trips, mediating disputes between athletes and coaches, speaking with league officials about subjects such as postseason play, and allocating time for sports fields, courts, and weight rooms. At the high school level, the athletic director can be a school administrator who provides leadership and assistance in all these areas, while at the college level, the athletic director will oversee the whole process. 
• Personal trainer
• A personal trainer will work with individuals or small groups of clients to reach their fitness goals by coaching their clients through floor work, stretching, pilates, and exercise equipment. A personal trainer is different from a sports nutritionist in that they focus mainly on increasing the client's physical flexibility. Personal trainers can be found in a variety of areas including gyms, fitness centers, colleges, or large companies. 
• College Coach
• College coaches teach the rules and techniques of specific sports while also functioning as a teacher, mentor, friend, boss, manager, provide counseling and activities director for the athletes they coach. College coaches work with Assistant coaches to analyze the competitor's strengths and weaknesses, and use that information to strategize a game plan.
• Assistant head coach
• Like the college coach, the assistant coach wears many hats; mentor, teacher, and counseling provider. Assistant coaches support the main head coach by taking over the same duties and handling situations when they arise. Assistant coaches attend all planning meetings and provide input on each player's strengths and weaknesses.
• College Athletic Recruiter
• College Athletic Recruiters find and select talented athletes by attending high school sports games. This career often requires travel to other states to watch players in sports games. College recruiters will also make strong connections with high school coaches and work with them to find out more information about the players such as scores and statistics.
• Physical education teacher
• Physical education teachers work in primary or secondary schools providing lessons in physical education to children and young adults. While the lessons will be in line with the national curriculum, the role of the physical education teacher is to provide a program that engages and interacts with the children by helping them to participate in a variety of sports or fitness activities. Physical education instructors typically have a bachelor's degree in education or relating field, followed up by postgraduate training. 
• Sports psychologist
• Sports psychology explores the psychological and physical factors that affect an athlete's performance in a sport or activity. Sports psychology combines the science of physiology, kinesiology, and biomechanics to treat mental issues in athletes and sports professionals. Students looking to become sports psychologists may earn degrees in psychology and exercise science or clinical psychology with a sports psychology concentration. Most employers will require a master's degree in psychology to enter the sports psychology field. 
• Sports manager:
•  Having a master's in coaching degree coupled with an athletic administration degree, prepares graduates for leadership positions in athletic organizations. Students in these programs will study ethical and moral issues, governance, and policy development, marketing, and management of athletic programs.