Commit to helping individuals and teams manage their physical and mental well-being.

With Ithaca College’s hands-on Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences, you can develop your professional passions, establish foundational knowledge, and sharpen your expertise with hands-on practice. Prepare for postgraduate study with a thesis, or focus on launching your professional career with the non-thesis track.
A student in a blue shirt is running on a sensor pad with sensors attached to her legs. Another student is standing nearby taking notes on a clipboard.
Select your concentration.
Choose a concentration in Mental Performance or Human Performance, each providing thesis and non-thesis tracks.
Choose your concentration
Program Highlights

Dive head-first into your professional future with IC’s Master’s in Exercise and Sports Sciences. Start by selecting a concentration in mental performance or human performance. Then further hone your interests through courses, practical experiences, and research projects that align with your passions. You can also choose your type of study with either a thesis—ideal for preparing to complete a PhD—or non-thesis track.

Hands-on Learning Opportunities
In small classes alongside dedicated fellow learners, you’ll gain hands-on experience in practical opportunities working with athletes, teams, and individuals. Be mentored by faculty in completing research of interest to you. Our department has four lab spaces and the Wellness Clinic at IC. These facilities, along with collaborations with labs and clinics connected with other departments, allow you to pursue projects and opportunities across disciplines within sport, health, and wellness.

Choose Your Direction
The mental performance concentration, formerly known as the sport psychology concentration, includes the graduate level coursework required for the Certified Mental Performance ConsultantⓇ/Coach (CMPC) exam. Complete coaching internships with an athletic team, start obtaining hours towards CMPC, or take additional coursework to expand your knowledge and skills.

The human performance concentration includes a capstone experience working with athletes or individuals providing sport science services and designing custom interventions and programming. Complete an internship to gain work experience, take additional coursework to expand your knowledge and skills, or work in a lab to gain research experience.

Curriculum

The theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice of IC’s exercise and sport sciences master’s program prepares you to contribute to the health and wellness of clients, athletes, and teams—whether directly or behind-the-scenes as a researcher discovering new insights that impact lives across the country. IC’s labs, clinics, internships, and classrooms will equip you to thrive.

VIEW REQUIRED COURSES AND CLASS DESCRIPTIONS. 

"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to study at Ithaca College in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences. The experiences I had interacting with faculty, staff, and classmates were memorable and continue to expand even after graduation. The department along with my general feel for the college is a strong-bonded community that takes learning and growth seriously. As a result of my experience at Ithaca College, I feel well-prepared for my life-long journey. I would like to thank my professors for leading inspiring classes and taking the time to get to know their students outside of the classroom."

Joshua Warren, MS Exercise Science - Sport Psychology

Career Outlook

The knowledge gained through the Master’s in Exercise and Sports Science is applicable across multiple professions, from certified mental performance consultants, strength and conditioning specialists, fitness and wellness specialists to exercise physiologists. As you progress through your degree, you’ll focus more on the courses and practical work that best prepare you for your desired professional path. Some careers in this field are in especially high demand; for example, positions for exercise physiologists are projected to grow by 13% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Apply Today!

The application cycle for Fall 2024 entry closes soon! Information on applying for your master's degree in exercise and sport science and how to complete your application is available here. The application deadline is February 15 for scholarship consideration and April 15 for regular admission. 

If you are not ready to apply but would like more information about the program or be notified when future enrollment cycles open, please complete our graduate interest form

Questions?

Deborah King, Graduate Program Chair
Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training
Ithaca College • 324 Center for Health Sciences • Ithaca, NY 14850