Online Master of Science in Sports and Health Sciences (MS)
Learn how exercise programs can be tailored to support athletic performance and long-term wellness. This master’s degree program at American Military University (AMU) grounds coursework in peer-reviewed research to examine how training methods and nutrition can shape physical outcomes.
About AMU’s Online MS in Sports and Health Sciences
This online master’s degree program in sports and health sciences examines how the human body adapts to physical activity. Coursework covers how exercise prescriptions account for the long- and short-term effects of regular movement. Students also discuss how nutrition affects metabolism and sports performance.
AMU’s curriculum centers on exercise physiology and emphasizes evidence-based practice. Students review scientific literature as they learn how to design training plans to help support overall wellness and enhance athletic ability. Courses explore the psychological factors that affect human performance, as well.
Concentrations delve deeper into real-world applications of exercise and sport science. Class discussions and written assignments sharpen career-relevant skills as students consider how regular movement can improve athletic performance and help prevent chronic disease.
The program concludes with a capstone course where students formulate research questions and review published studies to investigate them.
Spanish-language learners may complete the sports and health sciences program through select courses in the General concentration.
MS in Sports and Health Sciences Concentrations
Concentration options allow students to tailor their studies and explore specific areas of sports and health sciences. Each concentration emphasizes career-readiness and examines a distinct application of exercise science.
Select a concentration to learn more.
About the Concentration
This general concentration allows you to select from all the concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.
Program Objectives
This general concentration allows you to select from all the concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.
About the Concentration
With growing evidence that exercise and activity can help alleviate the burden of chronic disease, it is important for Health and Fitness Professionals to understand the positive effects of exercise on chronic diseases. This concentration will prepare the learner to design and implement fitness programs for individuals and groups who suffer from one or more chronic diseases. Students will learn the role of fitness professionals in the healthcare continuum, be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of common chronic diseases, and design and implement fitness programs for individuals who suffer from common chronic diseases.
Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze effects of exercise and activity on health and chronic diseases
- Evaluate the roles and limitations of fitness professionals in the healthcare continuum
- Create safe and effective fitness programs for those suffering the effects of chronic diseases using industry best practices
- Utilize critical thinking skills to synthesize relevant knowledge to implement fitness programs for individuals who suffer from common chronic diseases
About the Concentration
The Exercise Science and Human Performance concentration is a scientific study of the concepts and applications designed to appraise and enhance athletic performance for researchers and practitioners. Students will develop skills to effectively assess and evaluate exercise and human performance through test administration and program design. Course content focuses on factors influencing health and performance; including adaptations to exercise, biomechanics, nutrition, testing and evaluation, exercise techniques, exercise prescription, and psychological aspects of performance.
Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Design an individualized exercise prescription using results from fitness and exercise testing and evaluation.
- Analyze the functional anatomy of the lower and upper extremities during exercise and human performance.
- Synthesize sports nutrition and supplementation findings into recommendations for professional practice.
- Assess concepts associated with functional movements as they pertain to integrated training.
- Generate mental training strategies to improve an athlete’s performance.
About the Concentration
The Health and Wellness Management concentration helps give students the knowledge to design and implement wellness programs. Students will develop skills to effectively design and manage health and wellness programs for individual clients and corporate settings. Course content focuses on topics crucial to effective fitness leadership and quality management in health and wellness occupations.
Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Implement programs for exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle change in designing health and wellness programs for clients in private, community, and corporate settings.
- Construct an ethical and leadership philosophy for managing a corporate wellness facility and program.
- Evaluate the role of healthier fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle habits have on disease prevention, general health, and overall well-being.
- Hypothesize solutions to current challenges facing the fitness, wellness, and healthcare industries.
View Course Requirements
Discover How This MS in Sports and Health Sciences Can Help You Pursue Your Goals
AMU’s online master’s degree program in sports and health sciences provides an in-depth exploration of how the human body responds to physical activity. Courses cover evidence-based practices that health and fitness professionals employ to develop exercise prescriptions and nutrition recommendations aligned with their clients’ goals.
Students will also:
- Apply qualitative and quantitative research to relevant issues in sports and health sciences
- Understand the relationships between psychological behaviors such as personality, motivation, stress, and aggression
- Analyze sport movements and design movement-oriented exercise prescriptions
- Illustrate the potential for enhancement of muscle strength, muscular endurance, power, flexibility, and motor performance during anaerobic training
AMU’s online master’s degree program explores the evidence-based applications of exercise science that support athletic performance and long-term health. Students examine how professionals conduct fitness assessments and write exercise prescriptions aligned with clients’ capabilities and limitations.
Graduates may have potential career opportunities as:
- Human performance or readiness specialists, who support physical readiness and performance programs and may work within military or federal organizations
- Strength and conditioning coaches, who develop conditioning programs to enhance physical performance and injury prevention
- Health promotion or wellness coordinators, who manage wellness initiatives that support health education, physical activity, and organizational wellness goals
The Master of Science in Sports and Health Sciences may also prepare graduates to pursue continued education or research opportunities in sports, health, or human performance sciences.
This online master’s degree program examines how fitness professionals evaluate their clients’ physical capabilities and interpret performance data to develop custom exercise programs. Coursework is grounded in peer-reviewed research, and students learn how to evaluate the quality of a study before applying its findings.
Graduates are prepared to:
- Apply sports and health science principles to enhance physical readiness and performance in military populations
- Design training and conditioning programs that support operational fitness and resilience
- Analyze performance and health data to inform readiness and injury mitigation strategies
- Evaluate injury prevention and recovery protocols within structured operational environments
- Integrate technology and monitoring systems that support physical performance and wellness initiatives
- Prepare structured briefings and professional reports aligned with chain-of-command requirements
“ All content in our courses is based on peer-reviewed research. This information provides the evidence and data to inform practical guidelines and recommendations. ”
Explore AMU’s Curriculum for the MS in Sports and Health Sciences
Students in this online master’s program gain working knowledge of exercise physiology as they study the long- and short-term effects of physical activity. Core courses explore the strength and conditioning methods that enhance physical fitness, as well as sports nutrition and the dietary strategies that support athletic performance. Students also complete sports psychology coursework to understand how athletic and exercise settings influence human behavior.
Degree concentrations delve deeper into specialized areas of exercise science. Courses cover subject areas such as the determinants of human performance and the role of exercise in managing chronic disease.
To conclude the program, students complete a capstone course where they formulate research questions and answer them through a review of published scientific literature.
Spanish language learners may complete this course in Spanish.
Spanish language learners may complete this course in Spanish.
Explore Networking Opportunities While You Study Sports and Health Sciences Online at AMU
Connect with faculty members, alumni, and fellow students through AMU’s wide selection of virtual clubs and communities. Organizations such as the Health Sciences Honor Society and the Sports Experience and Events Network may be especially well-suited to students pursuing this Master of Science in Sports and Health Sciences.
The University also hosts a broad range of social and cultural organizations, in addition to clubs for servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses. Learn more about student life and other ways to get involved when you pursue an online master’s degree at AMU.
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Learn MoreEarning a Master's Degree in Sports and Health Sciences Is Affordable at AMU
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Earning a degree is a valuable investment, but it needs to fit into your budget. Our tuition estimator can help you estimate your tuition and fees, so you can plan a manageable path to your educational goals. For full details, please refer to the financial aid cost of attendance (COA). This estimate does not include course materials, supplies, equipment, software and other expenses such as lab fees. You may be eligible for partnership grants through your employer. Speak with your admissions representative for more details.
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Learn MoreApply to AMU’s MS in Sports and Health Sciences Program Today
AMU’s Master of Science program is designed to make higher learning accessible for working professionals and active-duty servicemembers with demanding schedules. Online courses have no set login times, and the University provides 24/7 access to all course materials. Students may participate in class discussions and complete weekly assignments from anywhere with an internet connection. The University also has rolling admissions and welcomes new students to the sports and health sciences master’s program year-round.
Review our admission requirements and submit your application today.
- No Entrance Exams No GRE or GMAT required for undergraduate programs4
- No Application Fee For master's-level courses
- Courses Start Monthly Enroll now, start next month
- All AMU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®) or its international equivalent. If you have a non-U.S. transcript, please view our International Admissions page for more information.
- Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation including a legible copy of your valid government-issued photo ID (civilian students) or official JST or CCAF transcript (military students).
- There is no fee to complete the AMU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.
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Learn More About the MS in Sports and Health Sciences
Pursuing a graduate degree in the exercise science field may be a practical choice if you want to deepen your understanding of how the body responds to physical activity. At American Military University, this course of study is offered as a Master of Science in Sports and Health Sciences.
Coursework examines exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and the strength and conditioning methods that support athletic performance. Students learn how to conduct fitness assessments and write exercise prescriptions suited to a client's goals and limitations.
The curriculum is grounded in peer-reviewed research, and students practice evaluating scientific literature before applying its findings. Degree concentrations allow students to focus on human performance, wellness program design, or the role of exercise in managing chronic disease.
AMU’s MS in Sports and Health Sciences program does not award any professional certifications, but may be helpful in preparing to earn such certifications. For example, SPHS509 – Optimal Sports Performance is designed to prepare students for the Performance Enhancement Specialist examination offered by the National Academy of Sports Medicine®10 (NASM-PES). This course is offered through select degree concentrations.
Students who are interested in pursuing certifications are encouraged to review all requirements and eligibility criteria from the appropriate credentialing bodies.
Ultimately, the value of an online master’s degree depends on whether the curriculum aligns with your academic and professional interests. AMU’s Master of Science in Sports and Health Sciences examines how exercise supports athletic performance and long-term health. Students learn how to evaluate peer-reviewed research as they complete coursework in subject areas such as sports nutrition, sports psychology, and exercise physiology.
The program also includes degree concentrations that emphasize specialized knowledge and skills in the following domains:
- Exercise Science and Human Performance
- Health and Wellness Management
- Exercise and Chronic Disease
A General concentration is available as well, allowing students to combine coursework from across the other concentrations.
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