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College of Applied Human Sciences School of Sport Sciences

Strength and Conditioning, BS

One of the few accredited strength and conditioning programs in the country, WVU’s program puts evidence-based practice to work in real settings from day one.

The curriculum combines classroom instruction with applied laboratory work in strength and conditioning, sport physiology, biomechanics, and athlete monitoring. You’ll work with industry-standard technology, including force plates, velocity-based training systems, and performance testing tools, while learning to design and evaluate training programs for athletes and active populations. A dedicated weight room and applied teaching spaces give you room to develop coaching and programming skills in a practical environment.

Experiential learning extends beyond campus. You’ll pursue internships with high school and collegiate athletic programs and private performance facilities, building the real-world experience employers expect. The program also prepares you to sit for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam and to pursue graduate study.

Graduates go on to careers in collegiate and professional sport, private performance, tactical strength and conditioning, sport science, and coaching.

Your Degree Plan

Students stretching in the Strength and Conditioning Training lab
One of the few accredited programs of its kind, WVU’s Strength and Conditioning program prepares you for careers across sport, fitness, coaching, and human performance.
The Strength and Conditioning curriculum builds from a foundation in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics toward the applied skills of program design, athlete monitoring, and performance coaching. Coursework covers the full scope of what strength and conditioning professionals do, from assessing movement and monitoring athlete readiness to designing and evaluating training programs across different populations. Professional preparation, nutrition, and sport psychology are woven throughout, and the program concludes with a capstone experience in a real applied setting.
Take advantage of special options related to this major:

Honors

Expand your curiosity and enhance your curriculum through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart?

  • One of the few strength and conditioning programs in the country accredited by the NSCA Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education.
  • Dedicated weight room and performance testing facilities where you develop coaching skills in a practical environment.
  • Coursework prepares you to sit for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam.
  • Faculty with extensive real-world coaching and sport performance experience.
  • Internship opportunities with high school and collegiate athletic programs and private performance facilities.

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

The program offers you the opportunity to engage in applied research and experiential learning with athletes. Students may assist with performance testing and sport science initiatives in strength and conditioning and human performance, including with WVU Athletics.
Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:
Students gain practical coaching experience through internships with WVU Athletics, nearby colleges and universities, and a grant-funded strength and conditioning partnership with Monongalia County Schools. The partnership provides strength and conditioning support to 3 local high schools, creating coaching and leadership opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students while serving hundreds of high school athletes annually.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Strength and conditioning coaches design and implement training programs to improve athletic performance, reduce injury risk, and develop long-term physical capacity. They work across a range of settings, from high school and collegiate programs to professional teams and private performance facilities.

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career

Required certifications for this career

  • Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist

Applied Sport Scientist

Applied sport scientists collect and analyze performance data to inform training, recovery, and injury prevention decisions for athletes. Working alongside coaches and sports medicine staff, they translate data from wearable technologies and testing systems into actionable insights that drive athlete development.

Suggested WVU minors for students seeking this career

Required certifications for this career

  • Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist
  • National Nutrition Certification Program

Suggested experiences and résumé builders

  • Fitness center
  • High school or college weight rooms

Sport Coach

Sport coaches teach the skills, strategies, and fundamentals of their sport while developing athletes physically, mentally, and competitively. They work at levels ranging from youth and high school programs to collegiate and professional organizations.

Suggested WVU minors for students seeking this career

Required certifications for this career

  • WVSSAC coaching certification (for any West Virginia public school coaching position)
  • National Nutrition Certification Program

Alumni in The Field

Several WVU alums have prominent strength and conditioning roles, including:

Further Your Education

WVU graduate programs to consider:

Meet Your Community

The Strength and Conditioning family will inspire you.

Kristen Dieffenbach

Portrait of Kristen Dieffenbach

Professional Highlights

  • Past President (founding), United States Center for Coaching Excellence
  • Fellow, Association of Applied Sport Psychology
  • Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association for Applied Sport Psychology
  • Professional cycling and endurance sport coach for 25+ years
  • Sport Steering Committee, National Physical Activity Plan

Guy Hornsby

Portrait of Guy Hornsby

Professional Highlights

  • Head Coach of West Virginia Weightlifting and Volunteer (throws) Coach for WVU Track and Field
  • Coaching Science Coordinator at WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Human Performance Innovation Center
  • West Virginia State Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association

Peter McGahey

Portrait of Peter McGahey

Professional Highlights

  • Former NCAA Division I and II Women’s Head Coach
  • United States Soccer Federation A Licensed Coach
  • United States Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE) – Nominating Committee

Michael J. Ryan

Portrait of Michael J. Ryan

Professional Highlights

  • Program Coordinator for Athletic Coaching Education
  • 10 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience in Exercise Science and Kinesiology
  • National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) State and Mid-East Sectional Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year
  • 20 years of coaching experience at the Division 1 and high school levels
  • Coached 7 WVSSAC State Championship Teams in cross country and track

Valerie Wayda

Portrait of Valerie Wayda

Professional Highlights

  • North American Society (NAS) of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance Professionals Fellow
  • National Association for Kinesiology and Physical Education in Higher Education - Vice President, 2012
  • National Association for Sport and Physical Education Board of Directors, 2003-2006
Portrait of Pablo Pozos
"What I appreciate most is that the program is oriented toward what I actually want to do in strength and conditioning. The content is thorough and you can tell it was built with the profession in mind."

Pablo Pozos

Portrait of Troy Bishop
"The faculty here have all done what they’re teaching. I’ve gone to my professors and shared with them the problems I was having, and they’ve talked with me and helped me work through them because they’ve dealt with something similar before."

Troy Bishop

Portrait of Neiko Torres
"WVU’s program stands apart because of the real-world coaching curriculum students experience throughout their education. In addition to foundational coursework in anatomy and physiology, the curriculum emphasizes long-term athletic development, coaching and psychological strategies for working with children and young adults, creating engaging learning environments through games and activities, and developing leadership skills by coaching peers. Students also gain direct experience working with high-needs individuals, learning how to effectively train, teach, and communicate with diverse populations. I often reflect on my undergraduate experience because it built the foundation for both the coach and person I am today."

Neiko Torres

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Director, University of Louisville

Athletic Coaching Education, BS, Strength and Conditioning Minor (2018)

Portrait of Abbey Yuhasz
"This program emphasizes unique, comprehensive, and relevant field experiences that allowed me to immediately apply the things I learned in class. My education prepared me to communicate with athletes, structure training sessions, and adapt programs to fit the needs of different teams and individuals. The mentorship I received at WVU prepared me to confidently lead groups and create training environments that are both challenging and supportive."

Abbey Yuhasz

Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Morgantown High School

Coaching and Performance Science/Strength and Conditioning (2025)

Places and Spaces

See where you’ll study, research, and create.

Room with free weights and lifting stations

Strength and Training Conditioning Teaching Lab

Fully operational weight room designed for teaching free-weight exercise techniques, featuring 6 fully equipped platform and squat rack stations with complete bumper plate sets.

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Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Strength and Conditioning major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Tuition and Aid

How much does Strength and Conditioning at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Ways to Save

Beyond scholarships, here are other ways to reduce your cost of attending WVU.

Financial Aid

The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Strength and Conditioning, BS is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

How to Complete the FAFSA

Start at Another WVU Campus

You can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.

Explore WVU System

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

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