An online master's in physical education and coaching teaches the science of movement, the methods for teaching it to children and teenagers, and in many programs the craft of running a team. The coursework arrives at a distance, but gym classes do not, so supervised teaching still happens in person at a school near you.
Programs fall into three groups: those that lead to a first teaching license, those that move a licensed teacher up to an advanced certificate, and coaching degrees that carry no teaching license at all. Which group a program belongs to, and what your state accepts, matters more than the degree title. The sections below cover each group, the rules for online students, costs and how to choose.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in physical education and coaching ranked, from 35 schools
35
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
12
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$18,106
home states among the 25 schools on the list
18
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in physical education and coaching only. Hybrid programs, programs with a required campus visit and programs on campus are counted but not ranked here.
The 25 Best Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in physical education and coaching are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 35 ranked programs the median charge is $10,294 in state and $18,106 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
Northwest Missouri State University
Master of Science in Education in Health and Physical Education
Maryville, Missouri
88.0- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 49 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
Practicing teachers who want professional growth and not an initial license are the audience for Northwest Missouri State University's online M.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education, and no teaching license is required to apply. Coursework emphasizes adapted physical education, comprehensive school health, and contemporary teaching approaches. The degree is ten courses and 30 credit hours, with multiple start dates each year and a finish in as few as 12 months. Faculty include current and former SHAPE America board members. AAQEP accreditation covers the university's educator preparation.
2
72.3- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 42 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,546
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,868
Candidates at the University of West Alabama can reach Alabama P-12 teacher certification in physical education through a fully online M.Ed. covering Pre-School through Grade Twelve, with an Alt-A route for those who have no prior education degree. Average completion is about one year, a pace set around working teachers. The university also runs a separate M.S. in Physical Education with concentrations in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Sport Management, but that degree does not lead to licensure. CAEP accredits the education program, and SACSCOC accredits the university.
3
Azusa Pacific University
Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport and Physical Education concentration
Azusa, California
68.9- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $17,330
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $17,330
Azusa Pacific University delivers its non-licensure Master of Science in Kinesiology fully online and asynchronously, with a Sport and Physical Education concentration of 30 units. Curriculum design, leadership and administration, ethics, and sport psychology make up the focus. Cohorts of roughly 15 to 20 students keep the student-to-faculty ratio near ten to one, and candidates finish with a capstone project instead of a thesis. Those who need a credential look to the separate M.A. in Physical Education paired with a Single Subject Teaching Credential, which leads to the SB 2042 Preliminary credential. WSCUC accredits the institution.
4
67.0- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 52 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,106
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,208
Valdosta State University admits only practicing teachers to its online Master of Education in Health and Physical Education, and it admits them for the summer semester only. Applicants need a valid level-four professional teaching certificate in Health and/or Physical Education and must work at least 20 hours per week as a P-12 teacher in the field. The single-major degree totals 33 credit hours with no named concentrations and ends in an advanced portfolio. Graduates may become eligible to upgrade to level-5 certification.
5
University of the Cumberlands
Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leader - Health and Physical Education emphasis
Williamsburg, Kentucky
63.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
Already-licensed Kentucky educators can add a health and physical education credential through the University of the Cumberlands' Health and Physical Education emphasis within its online Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leader. A 12-hour teacher-leadership core combines with 18 hours covering exercise physiology, health promotion, youth fitness, sports medicine, and administrative management. Classes run in two eight-week terms per semester and are recorded and archived for working teachers. The Option 6 alternative certification pathway allows concurrent employment and coursework. The School of Education is CAEP accredited and approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board at initial and advanced levels.
6
Emporia State University
Master of Science in Health, Physical Education and Coaching
Emporia, Kansas
62.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 63 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $19,510
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,199
Working coaches and physical educators can study fully online through Emporia State University's Master of Science in Health, Physical Education and Coaching, a distance-learning degree established in 1996. The coursework centers on professional development in health, physical education and coaching practice, so students keep their jobs and stay in their own communities. Initial teacher certification and Kansas licensure are not outcomes of the degree, and applicants are asked to confirm that their own state will accept it before enrolling. Emporia State holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
7
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Physical Education
Kearney, Nebraska
60.2- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,570
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,866
A master-teacher credential is how the University of Nebraska at Kearney frames its 36-credit-hour online Master of Arts in Education in Physical Education. Candidates choose a Pedagogy emphasis or an Adapted Physical Education emphasis and finish with a comprehensive project, a comprehensive exam or a thesis. The degree itself confers no PE teaching endorsement, but the adapted emphasis leads to a Nebraska Department of Education endorsement for those who already hold a Nebraska teaching certificate. Graduates may also go on to pursue National Board Certification in Physical Education.
8
58.6- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,969
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,969
Sport and fitness professionals who keep working while they study can complete McDaniel College's 33-credit online Master of Science in Kinesiology without leaving their jobs. Specializations are Sport Management, Fitness Management and a Self-Designed option for careers that cross the usual boundaries. Each one ends in a capstone internship or a special studies project, which ties the coursework to the setting where the student already works. Qualified McDaniel undergraduates can move into the degree through an accelerated BA to M.S. pathway.
9
Campbellsville University
Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education
Campbellsville, Kentucky
57.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
Kentucky K-12 health and physical education licensure is the goal of Campbellsville University's Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education, delivered online. Two tracks exist. The traditional one takes 39 hours and includes 16 weeks of student teaching, while a 33-hour Option 6 track suits candidates who hold a Temporary Provisional certificate and serve as teacher of record during the coursework. Candidates sit the Praxis health and physical education content assessments on the way to licensure. The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board approves the degree, and CAEP accreditation backs it.
10
Jacksonville State University
Physical Education P-12 (Master of Science in Education)
Jacksonville, Alabama
56.6- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $17,640
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,304
A bachelor's-level educator certificate in physical education is the starting point for Jacksonville State University's online Master of Science in Education in Physical Education P-12. Holding that certificate is a condition of admission. Coursework runs 30 to 33 semester hours and covers applied exercise physiology, adapted PE, curriculum, a special education survey and research. Finishing makes a graduate eligible for master's-level professional certification in Alabama, with the recommendation due within 60 months. The Alabama State Board of Education approves the program.
11
Southwest Minnesota State University
Master of Science in Physical Education: Coaching of Sport
Marshall, Minnesota
56.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,052
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,052
Coaching is treated as a discipline of its own in Southwest Minnesota State University's online Master of Science in Physical Education: Coaching of Sport. Twelve courses and 34 credits include two practicum experiences and a portfolio aligned to NASPE coaching standards. Each course is co-taught by a Division II head coach and a university professor, which keeps field practice beside the academic material. The single track has no named sub-concentrations. Teaching licensure for K-12 is outside its design, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
12
Concordia University-Chicago
Master of Arts in Teaching: PK-12 Physical Education
River Forest, Illinois
56.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,782
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,782
Two pathways run through Concordia University Chicago's online Master of Arts in Teaching in PK-12 Physical Education: one ends in eligibility for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a PK-12 physical education endorsement, and the other confers no state credential. Field work includes at least 100 embedded pre-professional clinical hours, then either a six-semester-hour student teaching internship or a three-hour capstone. An accelerated schedule completes coursework in one year before a 16-week student teaching semester, while the traditional sequence takes 2.5 years. Content coursework totals 18 semester hours.
13
55.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,618
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,618
Developing athletes is the focus of the University of Southern Mississippi's fully online Master of Science in Coaching and Sport Performance, a single curriculum with no named concentrations. Close faculty mentorship and regular interaction keep distance learners in touch with their instructors. Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. The degree does not lead to a teaching license, so those who want K-12 physical education certification are directed to the university's separate Secondary Teacher Education Master of Arts in Teaching, which offers a physical education licensure option.
14
53.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,680
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,680
Canisius University's 30-credit online Master of Physical Education offers two pathways. New York State certified PE teachers take the Professional Certification pathway, which leads to professional certification. Candidates without teaching certification who want to teach or coach take Physical Education and Athletics, whose coursework can later count toward state certification. The non-thesis degree ends in an electronic portfolio and can be completed in as few as four semesters, about 15 months, which suits educators and coaches who work full time.
15
51.0- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 127 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $28,260
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,908
West Virginia University aligns the 30 credit hours of its fully online Physical Education Teacher Education M.S. with SHAPE America standards. Students choose a concentration in curriculum and instruction, interscholastic sport administration or models-based physical education. Initial licensure is not what the degree provides, though some states or districts may grant certified teachers an endorsement on completion. Advanced lab experiences place students in K-12 settings, and current WVU majors in physical education and kinesiology can enter through an accelerated B.S./M.S. pathway.
16
50.9- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 7 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,450
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,450
McKendree University's online Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education, K-12 follows a single pathway to Illinois K-12 physical education licensure. Delivery is asynchronous through Brightspace, so study can fit around other commitments, and one year is the shortest finish. The 32 credits include a 60-hour field experience, five credits of student teaching, a teaching performance assessment and a professional educator seminar. Any content deficiencies are made up so that physical education coursework reaches at least 18 credit hours.
17
Point Park University
Master of Education in Athletic Coaching and Administration
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
50.5- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,164
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,164
Point Park University's 30-credit Master of Education in Athletic Coaching and Administration moves a single cohort through eight-week online courses, framed by SHAPE America's National Standards for Sport Coaches. An application-based field practicum closes the degree. No initial teaching license results, but the coursework meets PIAA coaching requirements and supplies PA Act 48 continuing education and Instructional II credits to licensed teachers in Pennsylvania. Point Park is one of four PIAA-approved providers in the state and the only one in Western Pennsylvania.
18
University of West Georgia
Master of Education with a Major in Physical Education
Carrollton, Georgia
47.7- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,430
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,938
An existing Level 4 Five-Year Induction or renewable Professional certificate in Health and Physical Education is what the University of West Georgia's online Master of Education with a Major in Physical Education builds on. No initial certification is granted. Ten foundational courses across Health and Physical Education strands add up to 30 credit hours and finish with a comprehensive exam. Because delivery is online, current K-12 faculty can keep working full or part time while enrolled.
19
Pittsburg State University
Master of Science in Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Physical Education emphasis
Pittsburg, Kansas
47.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 24 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,022
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,190
Pittsburg State University lets students shape its online Master of Science in Health, Human Performance and Recreation with a Physical Education emphasis around one choice. The Thesis Option points toward in-depth research and doctoral study. The Coursework Option has students show competency through research papers, portfolios, practice, internships or comprehensive exams. Both options serve physical education professionals who study while staying in their positions, and the emphasis applies health, human performance and recreation content to physical education settings.
20
44.0- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,161
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,425
Adams State University delivers its 36-credit Master of Science in Kinesiology with a Coaching emphasis fully online, and it can be finished in two years. Coursework covers coaching theory, the business side of running a program and the physiological, sociological and psychological principles of athletic performance. Other kinesiology emphases at the university include applied sport psychology, exercise science and sport administration. No licensure component is attached, so the degree builds credentials for people advancing in coaching roles.
21
Georgia College & State University
Master of Arts in Teaching in Kinesiology/Physical Education
Milledgeville, Georgia
42.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,336
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,782
Bachelor's degree holders in kinesiology, exercise science, health promotion and related fields can become teachers through Georgia College and State University's online Master of Arts in Teaching in Kinesiology/Physical Education. One initial preparation track serves every candidate, with no named concentrations. Full-time students finish in a single academic year and part-time students in two. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission receives each graduate's recommendation for T-5 certification in Health and Physical Education, grades P-12. CAEP accredits the program, which aligns with NASPE and Georgia Performance Standards.
22
39.6- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 6 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,636
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,592
Active coaches are the intended students of the University of Tennessee at Martin's online Master of Sport Coaching and Performance. A single track ties coursework to real practice, so each candidate needs active coaching access to a team. Unconditional admission calls for at least one year of coaching experience. Health and Human Performance seniors at the university can start graduate work early, taking two graduate courses through an early-admission pathway if they hold a 3.0 grade point average. Teaching licensure is not part of the degree.
23
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Master of Science in Kinesiology - Physical Education Teacher Certification
Birmingham, Alabama
39.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,556
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,424
Where a candidate begins decides the track in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Master of Science in Kinesiology with Physical Education Teacher Certification. Teachers holding a Class B certificate take the Traditional track, 30 to 33 credit hours delivered entirely online, ending in a thesis or portfolio, and become eligible to apply for Alabama Class A certification through the ALSDE. Candidates with no prior certification take the blended, non-thesis Alternative Master's of 45 to 48 hours. CAEP accredits the program, and the Alabama State Department of Education approves it.
24
38.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $30,220
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,160
Physical education teachers, athletic directors and coaches are the intended audience for the University of Arkansas's online Master of Education in Physical Education. Taking six credit hours a semester leads to a finish in two years, a part-time schedule that fits around a full-time job. The degree sits in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, which also houses a separate Master of Science in Kinesiology in adapted movement science or exercise science, with thesis and non-thesis options. The emphasis is graduate standing in physical education for those who remain in schools and athletics.
25
University of New Mexico
Master of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction
Albuquerque, New Mexico
34.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $21,550
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,395
Sharpening practice, not earning an initial license, is the aim of the University of New Mexico's online Master of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction. The degree does not lead to New Mexico teacher licensure, so the work stays on pedagogy, curriculum design and research skills. Candidates take 33 to 36 approved credit hours plus statistics and research design, and finish with a thesis defense or a comprehensive examination. Many courses run in 8-week sessions, no GRE is required, and the fastest finish is three semesters.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 35 ranked programs, and the percentiles are weighted as below. The methodology page explains each choice.
- Degrees awarded: 50%. Master's degrees the program conferred in the latest reported year, counted up to 50. Past 50 a year a program is clearly established and more volume adds nothing.
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, out-of-state rate, 2023-24. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. Degrees awarded is the program's own count for the latest year reported to IPEDS, counted up to 50 for the score. Each tuition figure on a physical education and coaching card is the university's graduate charge for a full-time year, read from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24. It is not a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so ask the program for its own.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are 2023-24. Scores are our own.
How Many Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching Are There?
There are 42 fully online master's programs in physical education and coaching, out of 93 on federal record, and 35 of them are ranked above. A program counts as fully online when the school's own description of it says the whole degree can be completed at a distance, in line with the federal definition of an exclusively distance education program. In physical education and coaching, a required campus residency makes a program hybrid here, even when most of the coursework is online, while a student teaching or practicum placement near home does not.
What Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Cost?
An online master's in physical education and coaching costs from $4,560 to $41,550 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 35 ranked programs, with a median of $18,106. In state the median is $10,294. These are each university's annual graduate charge from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24 rather than a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so a physical education and coaching program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Cover?
An online master's in physical education and coaching covers how people learn to move, how to teach movement in a school, and in coaching-focused programs how to prepare athletes. Ball State University's master's in athletic coaching education, for example, rests on five core courses: physical preparation and conditioning, growth and development for coaches, skills and tactics, sport safety and injury prevention, and teaching and motivation.
Teacher preparation in this field is guided by SHAPE America's National PETE Standards, six standards that run from content knowledge and health-related fitness to assessment and professional responsibility. Its National Standards for Sport Coaches describe what coaches should know and do.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Take?
An online master's in physical education and coaching takes as little as twelve months when the credit load is light and about six semesters when an initial license is built in. Northwest Missouri State lists ten courses totaling 30 credit hours, finishable in as few as twelve months, while the University of Alabama at Birmingham's blended alternative master's for career changers is 45 to 48 credit hours and may take six semesters, and its fully online traditional master's for certified teachers is 30 to 33 credit hours.
Campbellsville University estimates 12 to 18 months for programs of 33 to 39 credit hours, and Canisius University says its 30-credit program takes one to two years.
Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Lead to a Teaching License?
An online master's in physical education and coaching leads to a teaching license only when it is built as a licensure track, and otherwise it advances a license you already hold or carries none. Campbellsville University's online MAT in health and physical education is a licensure track with Kentucky as its licensure state: the traditional route ends with 16 weeks of student teaching and requires passing Praxis health and physical education content assessments.
Canisius University's online master's shows the advanced route for certified New York teachers, with a second path that does not lead to initial certification. Emporia State describes the third kind: its online degree is not an approved teacher preparation program and does not lead to teacher licensure in Kansas.
Does an Online Master's in Coaching Qualify You to Coach School Sports?
An online master's in coaching does not by itself qualify you to coach school sports, because the requirements come from your state and its athletic association. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that high schools typically hire teachers or administrators at the school for most coaching jobs, and that public high school coaches may need to be certified or complete mandatory education courses, depending on the state.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association shows what such a rule looks like: its 2026-2027 requirements call for coaches to complete NFHS Concussion in Sports every year and NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching once. Ask your own association what it requires.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Work for Online Physical Education Students?
State authorization and licensure disclosures for online physical education students come from a federal rule that makes the school say which states its licensure program does and does not satisfy. 34 CFR 668.43 requires that list for a program designed to meet, or advertised as meeting, a license or certification requirement, and a notice before enrollment when the school finds the program does not meet your state's requirements or has not decided. A degree that makes no licensure claim may carry no list, so ask which kind it is.
NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval for teacher education, so a school's permission to enroll you is separate from your state's permission to license you. The licensure guide by state lists each agency.
What Costs Come With an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Besides Tuition?
The costs that come with an online master's in physical education and coaching besides tuition are the per-credit price that turns a credit total into a bill, exam fees and the work of arranging a local placement. Prices differ widely: Northwest Missouri State lists $432 per credit hour, Campbellsville University $324 and Canisius University $945.
These annual charges come from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics and describe a full-time year, so multiply per-credit price by credit total if you study part time. The Praxis Physical Education test lists a $156 fee.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Lead To?
An online master's in physical education and coaching leads most directly to work as a physical education teacher, with coaching and adapted physical education as later steps. The Occupational Outlook Handbook's profile of high school teachers says all states require public school teachers to hold at least a bachelor's degree and be licensed or certified, and that preparation programs include student teaching, so the master's builds on that credential.
Most coaches work in educational services, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment table shows. Adapted physical education has its own credential, the Certified Adapted Physical Educator certification, and the state licensure guide covers the teaching side.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in physical education and coaching pay a median of $72,040 a year in the closest federal occupation, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 1,065,210 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $48,780 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $107,600 or more.
The Bureau's Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for this occupation covers projected growth, entry requirements and typical duties.
These are national wages for the occupation as a whole, not what a master's graduate earns, so a district's salary schedule or an employer's own pay scale is the figure to plan on.
How Should You Choose an Online Physical Education and Coaching Master's Program?
To choose an online physical education and coaching master's program, decide first whether you need a license, then check the program against your state agency and the accreditation that covers educator preparation. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation is one body; Northwest Missouri State instead reports accreditation from AAQEP, so either can be right.
For a coaching degree, look for a practical component, such as the one-to-three credit coaching internship Ball State offers, and ask your athletic association whether it accepts the coursework. Confirm the credit total and per-credit price too.
How Do You Become a Physical Education Teacher or Coach With an Online Master's Degree?
You become a physical education teacher or coach with an online master's degree by starting from where you are: no license means a licensure track, a license means an advanced track, and a coaching goal adds your athletic association's courses.
- Look up your state's rules. Find the physical education license your state agency issues, the exam it names, and any coaching authorization your athletic association requires.
- Match the track to your starting point. Choose a licensure track with no teaching license, an advanced track if you already teach, or a coaching degree if the goal is the team.
- Get the licensure disclosure in writing. Before applying, ask the school which states its physical education program satisfies, and save the written reply for your records.
- Arrange the in-person placement and exam. Confirm how the program finds a school and supervisor near you, then schedule the state exam.
- Add the coaching credentials you need. Complete the courses your athletic association requires, such as NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching, and plan for the CAPE exam if adapted physical education appeals.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching
How Many Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching?
Are Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching Ranked?
Can You Earn an Online Master's in Physical Education Without a Teaching License?
Does a Master's in Athletic Coaching Require a Thesis or an Internship?
Which Exam Do You Take for a Physical Education License After an Online Master's?
Where Do Online Physical Education Students Complete Student Teaching?
What Is the CAPE Credential for Adapted Physical Education?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Physical Education and Coaching Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Distance Education in IPEDS
- College Navigator
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- SHAPE America, National PETE Standards
- SHAPE America, National Standards for Sport Coaches
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Physical Education Teacher Certification
- Canisius University, Physical Education (Online) master's
- Campbellsville University, online MAT in Health and Physical Education
- Northwest Missouri State University, MSEd in Health and Physical Education
- Emporia State University, MS in Health, Physical Education and Coaching
- Ball State University, Master of Arts or Science in Athletic Coaching Education
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Coaches and Scouts
- North Carolina High School Athletic Association, coaches requirements
- ETS, Praxis Physical Education: Content and Design (5095)
- NCPEID, CAPE certification and the APENS exam
- NCPEID, Get Certified (CAPE)
The figures on these online master's programs in physical education and coaching come from federal records that each college reports about itself, as of the dates shown. Each card's description is researched from that program's own page, which the card links.
Show the federal record for all 25 colleges ranked, in 18 states
Northwest Missouri State University University of West Alabama Azusa Pacific University Valdosta State University University of the Cumberlands Emporia State University University of Nebraska at Kearney McDaniel College Campbellsville University Jacksonville State University Southwest Minnesota State University Concordia University-Chicago University of Southern Mississippi Canisius University West Virginia University McKendree University Point Park University University of West Georgia Pittsburg State University Adams State University Georgia College & State University The University of Tennessee-Martin University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arkansas University of New Mexico