Application Deadlines
Master’s Degree
- January 15 for a Summer Semester (mid-May) start
- June 15 for a Fall Semester (late-August) start
- If you’re interested in a Spring Semester (early January) start, this may be permitted. Please reach out to the program coordinator for further information.
Graduate Certificate
- January 15 for a Summer Semester (mid-May) start
- June 15 for a Fall Semester (late-August) start
- October 15 for a Spring Semester (early January) start
Application Requirements
Application requirements are the same for the master’s degree and graduate certificate. Please submit all application materials through the online graduate application.
When you start your application, use the following program names:
- Master’s Degree: Sport Coaching, Leadership and Administration (Online Program) (Masters)
- Graduate Certificate: Sport Coaching (Online Program) or Sport Leadership and Administration (Online Program)
This link will begin your application through the MSU Graduate School portal. Please choose either the domestic applicant or international applicant link.
Required Application Materials
- A full official transcript of your undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Transcripts can be submitted electronically to kingrad@msu.edu.
- 3 letters of recommendation. One letter should speak to your capabilities as a student (an ideal source is a former professor or instructor). Another letter should speak to your professional capabilities (an ideal source is a supervisor, senior colleague, or mentor). The third letter can come from either type of source
- Professional resume detailing your academic and work experience (2 page max; please note that a Curriculum Vitae is not ideal for this requirement).
- Written academic statement clearly stating your professional goals and how you anticipate this program would help you to attain them. Your statement should be very close to 750 words. An ideal statement shows research into our course offerings and also shows your deliberation and planning on what you hope to achieve in this degree program. It will also be used to help assign you to an academic advisor that best matches with your interests.
Optional Application Materials
- Written personal statement that illustrates your unique qualities and life experiences that might make you a stronger candidate for admission (750 words max).
The GRE is not required for an application to either program.
Questions about the program and how it fits with your career and learning goals should be addressed to the program director, Dr. Andy Driska.
Questions about submitting application materials should be addressed to Sarah Miloshoff (scla@educ.msu.edu).
Students interested in applying for the Kinesiology M.S. degree or the M.S. in Athletic Training, which are different degree programs, should visit the Department of Kinesiology Master’s Programs webpage.
How to Apply
Complete your application on MSU’s application management system. Follow the steps listed below:
- Create account and login.
- Start New Application: To apply to the master’s program elect Graduate from dropdown menu and Create Application. To apply to a graduate certificate program, select Graduate Certificate.
- Provide Personal Background information.
- Under Other Information, select the first semester you wish to enroll in classes. To select Major Preference, scroll to the College of Education and select your desired program. Provide additional details about Enrollment Information, Communications preferences, and Financial Aid. Providing information on your experiences in the COVID-19 section is optional. Provide responses to Conduct Questions and Other from the dropdown menus and in text boxes where appropriate.
- Include all Academic History information. To begin, click on Add Institution.
- Test Scores: The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is not required. All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be able to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to MSU. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standards. Find more information on the Graduate School’s website.
- Employment/Activities Page: Leave blank.
- References: Using Add Recommender, provide contact information for two people who are familiar with your academic and professional accomplishments and potential for success. The portal will then send out recommendation requests to the people you listed. The requests come from admissions@admissions.msu.edu. One letter should speak to your capabilities as a student (an ideal source is a former professor or instructor). The other letter should speak to your professional capabilities (an ideal source is a supervisor, senior colleague, or mentor).
- Provide your Signature electronically by typing in your full legal name, then select Confirm.
- The Review section will provide you with a list of potential errors if a section has not been completed. Please return to those sections and make the appropriate corrections before finalizing the application and submitting your payment.
- Once you have finalized your application, you will complete the payment ($65 for domestic applicants of $75 for international applicants).
Once you have finalized your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You can then login to the application portal to upload and track your application materials. If you have any questions, please contact our program coordinator, Sarah Miloshoff, at scla@educ.msu.edu.
- Add the following documents in the application portal (see Required Application Materials above for more information):
- Professional resume detailing your academic and work experience (2 page max; please note that a Curriculum Vitae is not ideal for this requirement).
- Written academic statement clearly stating your professional goals and how you anticipate this program would help you to attain them. Your statement should be very close to 750 words. An ideal statement shows research into our course offerings and also shows your deliberation and planning on what you hope to achieve in this degree program. It will also be used to help assign you to an academic advisor that best matches with your interests.
- Optional personal statement that illustrates your unique qualities and life experiences that might make you a stronger candidate for admission (750 words max).
- Request the registrar of each college or university attended to send one copy of each official transcript. We cannot accept transcripts sent by applicants. Transcripts of work taken at MSU need not be requested. Colleges and universities generally require both fees and time to process requests for transcripts. To be considered “official” the transcripts must have a university seal or notarization mark and be sent directly by the institution electronically to MSU.
Questions about submitting application materials should be addressed to our program coordinator, Sarah Miloshoff, at scla@educ.msu.edu.