Strength and Conditioning Degrees, Courses and Programs

Strength and conditioning (S&C) is the applied discipline of designing and delivering physical training programs for athletes. It draws on physiology, biomechanics, nutrition and coaching, and is taught in degrees, postgraduate programs, professional certifications and short courses.

Professional bodies in several countries run their own accreditation or certification for S&C coaches, and some universities have degrees that the bodies recognise. A degree and a professional certification are separate credentials; employers often ask for both.

Each listing says whether a program is recognised by a professional body and shows any prerequisites for the certification route.

Typical topics: Training program design, Olympic and resistance lifting technique, Speed and agility, Athlete monitoring, Injury risk reduction, Applied physiology.

Also called: Strength & conditioning, S&C, Athletic performance coaching, Athletiktraining. These names lead to this one page.

Many S&C roles ask for a degree plus a professional certification from a recognised body. Recognition is shown only where the body or provider publishes it.

• ASCA Professional Level 2 Accreditation (Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA)): Be a current ASCA member and an accredited ASCA Associate L2 coach, with 2 years full time experience or equivalent hours (3,600).
• Strength and Conditioning MSc (University of Brighton): Relevant science honours degree - minimum 2:2 - in sport and exercise science
• STAPS : entraînement et optimisation de la performance sportive (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - UFR STAPS): Licence STAPS preferred (entraînement sportif track); good academic and field knowledge of sports training; professional project consistent with the programme.
• Bachelor of Sport (University of Canterbury): University Entrance (or equivalent); English-language requirements apply if English is not the first language.
• Applied Sports Science with Strength and Conditioning - BSc (Hons) (Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest): A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish; Garda vetting required; CAO US958; CAO points 260 (year not stated).