Strength and Conditioning (MSSC), MS

Beginning in Fall 2021, a Strength and Conditioning Program will be offered by the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences within the College of Allied Health.

Mission

The mission of the program is to instill essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions for successful careers, and servant leadership in the field of strength & conditioning. Upon successful completion of the program the student will have membership in two national organizations and several valuable certifications.

For more information regarding the program please call us at 501-279-4839 or send us an email at EXSS@harding.edu.

Completion of the program will provide membership in two organizations and several certifications.

Membership in:

NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)

CSCCa (College Strength and Conditioning Coaches association)

Certifications in:

AED/CPR/First Aid

FMS (Functional Movement Screen)

CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)

Upon completion, the student will be prepared to take additional certifying exams.

Admission Requirements

The minimal admission requirements for the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning are as follows:

• Academic transcript indicating an earned bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Evidence of successful completion of the following prerequisites:
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
    • Or one Anatomy course and one Physiology course
  • Exercise Physiology
  • College Algebra or Statistics
  • AED/CPR/First Aid certification are required but may be completed upon entering the program.

Application Procedures

1. Complete the online application.
2. Request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to admissions@harding.edu.
   *Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.
3. Request two recommendations.
   1. Academic reference
   2. Character reference 
4. Submit a resume.

Provisional Admission

Applicants with less than a 2.5 GPA can appeal to the Strength and Conditioning Graduate committee for provisional acceptance

Academic Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and successful completion of both semesters of academic coursework is required. A grade of B or higher is required for both the Internship and Practicum.

Students must earn a grade of a C or higher in all courses in the professional curriculum in order to progress to the final semester. Any course in which the semester grade is lower than a C will be remediated.

A course may only be repeated one time.

Receiving a grade of C or lower in the Internship or Practicum will require remediation or repeating the semester.

Remediation

Remediation consists of the course coordinator creating a remediation plan that will include a remediation activity, assessment method, benchmark for successful remediation and a time frame for completion. If the student successfully completes remediation, the course coordinator changes the student’s final grade to C for the course. No grade higher than a C can be achieved with remediation. If upon reassessment, the student’s performance does not result in a C, the course will be repeated.

Academic Warning and Probation

Declining academic performance in the first semester places a student on Academic Warning. The student is given written notification but the status is not entered on the student transcript.

The purpose for placing a student on Academic Probation is to provide the student an opportunity to improve academic status and encourage successful progression through the graduate program.

A student is placed on academic warning if:

• His/her cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the first semester

A student is placed on academic probation if:

• His/her cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the second semester

When the student raises the cumulative grade above 3.0, he/she will be removed from Academic Probation and will return to Good Standing.

Academic Suspension

A student will be suspended with any of the following:

• His/her cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the third semester
• Failure of a repeated course
• Failure of the student to receive a grade of B or higher in a repeated internship or practicum

Non-academic Suspension

Non-academic Suspension may be given for any of the following reasons:

• Excessive absence or tardiness;
• Violation of technology;
• Violation of professional or ethical behavior