Program Overview

Florida State’s online graduate certificate in coaching provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be an effective coach regardless of sport and level. Coaches have a significant role in the lives of their athletes, and this program teaches current and future coaches how to meet the athletic, academic, and personal needs of their athletes.

During the coaching certificate program, you will explore a number of topics related to the profession. Topics include, but are not limited to: principles of training, ethics, planning practices, teaching skills effectively, team tactics, staff management, recruiting and evaluating talent, sports nutrition, sport psychology, and motor learning.

Due to the online nature of the certificate, you can work through the course material on your own time. This makes the certificate ideal for both prospective coaches and current coaches interested in gaining more training and experience. The certificate is available to both degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students.

The coaching graduate certificate is housed within FSU’s Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching (FSU COACH), the first academic center in the United States dedicated to coaching. It draws on knowledge from the Colleges of Education and Human Sciences as well as FSU’s Department of Athletics. As such, FSU COACH helps even the most experienced and veteran coaches enhance their skills and improve their performance.

As sports and athletics play a larger and larger role in society, coaching has grown in importance. The online graduate certificate in coaching can open up career possibilities in this ever-expanding field.

Admission Requirements

Any individual who has an undergraduate degree and is eligible to enroll as a non-degree seeking student, or who qualifies for graduate admission to the university, is eligible to apply for admission to the online graduate certificate in Coaching.

Step 1: Apply for admission to the University (select one)

Step 2: Complete Admissions Form 

Admission to the graduate certificate program is required. Students are not enrolled in a certificate program by virtue of being enrolled in related courses. Students must apply to and be admitted to the certificate program in order to be considered enrolled.

Admission to College of Education (COE) graduate certificate programs requires submission of the Certificate Admissions Form to the appropriate department Certificate Program Coordinator and to the COE Office of Academic Services and Intern Support (OASIS) prior to the completion of two courses in the certificate program.

The Certificate Admissions Form must identify the courses and anticipated semesters you intend to take to fulfill certificate requirements.

Course/Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete 12 hours of coursework across a variety of coaching-related areas. Click here to complete the Certificate Admissions Form.

Required Courses (12 Credit Hours)

  • PET 5175 - Philosophy & Ethics of Coaching (3) 
  • PET 5769 - Theory and Practice of Coaching (3)
  • PET 5392 - Coaching for Human Performance (3) 
  • PET 5940 - Athletic Coaching Internship (3) 
    • Prerequisite: PET 5769 - Theory and Practice of Coaching or PET 5175 - Philosophy & Ethics of Coaching
    • Must provide evidence of being CPR/First Aid certified

After all certificate coursework is completed, but no later than 2 weeks after grades post, a Certificate Completion Form must be filled out and submitted to the Program Coordinator. Approved completion forms will be forwarded for processing and be posting to your official transcript.

Tuition & Aid

Information about tuition and fees can be found here. Please note that students may incur costs associated with the purchase of books/materials for courses.

Contact(s)