03/24/2026
A new strength and conditioning graduate program is coming to SUNY Cortland’s Kinesiology Department this fall.
In development since early 2025, the degree’s in-person courses will let students develop professional skills as they prepare for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam administered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Students will take some courses with classmates pursuing SUNY Cortland’s M.S. in exercise science, according to Bryanne Bellovary, associate professor and chair of kinesiology. But the goals for each curriculum are different.
“The M.S. in exercise science is broader in its programming, allowing for students to go on to a number of different career paths, whereas the M.S. in strength and conditioning program is more specific to becoming a strength and conditioning professional and preparing to sit for their specific certifying exam."
Graduates will be prepared to work for organizations that span Olympic teams to military bases in roles that could include strength coach to sport scientist.
Applications can be submitted online for the fall semester.
Financial assistance is possible through the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation, which offers scholarship opportunities to assist with tuition costs and professional development.
Bellovary said that thanks to the university’s existing B.S. in strength and conditioning for human performance, the master’s program already has strong connections with nearby internships in Division I and III collegiate sports, sports medicine, high schools and the private sector.
“We also have practical hands-on experiences associated with our graduate lecture courses with activities being performed in three laboratories: the Exercise Physiology Lab, the Biomechanics Lab and the Human Performance Lab,” she said.
Those resources will give students access to modern technology used within the field. Faculty with certified strength and conditioning specialist credentials will guide the coursework.
Starting in 2030, the NSCA will require that students graduate from an accredited program to take its CSCS exam, Bellovary added. The Kinesiology Department plans to meet that requirement soon so students have access to what Bellovary calls the “premier certification for entry-level jobs in the strength and conditioning profession.”
The program includes 27 credit hours of coursework in exercise technique, assessment and programming, strength and conditioning theory and practical application, and sport science. There is also a nine-credit practical experience requirement for students, who will need to obtain 360 hours of experience with a CSCS professional before graduation.
Preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 scale for an undergraduate degree. Students who are accepted will need to show evidence of a minimum grade of C in the following higher education courses or equivalent:
- Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) and II (with lab) or Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with lab)
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Statistics
For more information, contact the Kinesiology Department.