MS in Exercise Science – Fitness and Performance
Train for Greatness with Our Master’s in Fitness and Performance Degree Program
At Liberty, we believe in training champions, and we want to help you become a Champion for Christ in your community. Whether you are entering the field or looking to take your career to the next level, Liberty’s Master of Science (MS) in Exercise Science and Wellness – Fitness and Performance degree could be your next step toward becoming a personal trainer who expects excellence and integrity from yourself and others.
We offer a fitness and performance specialization with our exercise science and wellness master’s degree for students who want to take their passion to the next level.
On campus, you will have access to our various human performance, athletic training, and standardized patient center labs. You can use these invaluable resources to take your skills further while training under professors who have years of relevant educational, research, and field experience.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights
Highlights of Our MS in Exercise Science and Wellness – Fitness and Performance Degree
An Inspiring Community
Join with peers through Liberty’s Eta Sigma Gamma chapter to receive more career and professional growth opportunities. Immerse yourself in engaging research projects where you could study algae biofuels, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, DNA analysis, crayfish parasites, and more!
Strong Mentorship
Our faculty are experienced in academia, industry, and government, holding doctoral degrees from leading institutions nationwide. They bring this diverse expertise into the classroom to provide you with a well-rounded education grounded in both theory and real-world application.
Thrilling Facilities
Explore over 20 teaching and research laboratories, including the Health Promotion Lab, Human Performance Lab, Functional Assessment Lab, Athletic Training Lab, and our Standardized Patient Center.
In-person Encounters
You can gain hands-on experience with exercise science clients through Liberty’s Standardized Patient Center. This center allows you to practice your clinical skills and receive feedback from faculty.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with a Master’s of Fitness and Performance?
Liberty University’s Master of Science with a specialization in Fitness and Performance can help prepare you for the following occupations:
- Clinical exercise physiologist
- Corporate, university, commercial, or resort fitness trainer
- Exercise physiologist
- Human performance specialist
- Sports physiologist
- Sports scientist
- Strength and conditioning coach
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Master’s in Fitness and Performance Degree?
Our MS in Exercise Science and Wellness degree courses will focus on the research of athletic development based on movement, overspeed, resistance, and reaction, often referred to as the M.O.R.R. training system.
Through the M.O.R.R. lens, you can study to develop a strong understanding of strength development, speed and agility, and conditioning, and recovery. Our fitness and performance concentration examines biomechanical instrumentation systems and analyzes human movement. Also, you will explore a scientific understanding of best practices in prolonged activity with our fitness and performance degree.
Our core exercise science courses provide advanced instruction of research methods in the field. Study how to apply your data analysis and research skills to exercise prescriptions for your clients’ health and fitness needs. You will also have access to our Functional Assessment Laboratory, which is equipped with functional assessment, strength training, and agility equipment, so you can train hands-on.
Featured Fitness and Performance Courses
EXSC 540 – Advanced Strength Development
EXSC 541 – Advanced Speed and Agility
EXSC 550 – Advanced Biomechanical Analysis
HLTH 645 – Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Health Sciences
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Exercise Science and Wellness Master’s Degree?
Fit Your Degree into Your Busy Life
Pursue a career in fitness and performance training without putting your lifestyle on hold. At Liberty, we know many graduate students are balancing careers and family responsibilities, which is why we’ve created a flexible path to earning your exercise science degree. You don’t have to sacrifice your routine to pursue your goals.
Study on Your Schedule
Our MS in Exercise Science and Wellness is designed with working adults like you in mind. You won’t be required to complete internship hours, thesis research, on-campus labs, or week-long intensives. Some courses are available in convenient 8-week formats and can be completed entirely online, making it easier for you to keep moving forward professionally and personally.
Train in Advanced Lab Facilities
Even with the flexibility of our program, you’ll still benefit from high-quality, hands-on learning. Our Human Performance Laboratory and the Center for the Analysis of Human Movement offer over 8,000 square feet of space and are equipped with industry-standard tools to help you build practical skills in a real-world environment.
Develop Clinical Skills with Targeted Tools
Throughout your studies, you’ll also have access to our Functional Assessment Laboratory, Athletic Training Lab, and Standardized Patient Center. These facilities are designed to help you grow your strength training, agility testing, and clinical assessment abilities. With faculty feedback and hands-on instruction, you can refine your skills and build confidence before entering the field.
Admissions
How do You Become a Student in the Exercise Science – Fitness and Performance Program?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Additional Information
Students without the following coursework on their undergraduate transcript will be required to complete the following classes upon admission to the program:
- Undergraduate physiology or exercise physiology for EXSC 510: Advanced Exercise Physiology
- Undergraduate biomechanics or physics (or a similar course) for EXSC 550: Advanced Biomechanical Analysis
- Undergraduate statistics or tests and measurements (or similar course) for EXSC 520: Statistical Analysis in Exercise Science
Students also have the option of completing EXSC 505 if they have not completed the required prerequisite courses
- EXSC 505 can serve as an “either/or” prerequisite requirement for EXSC 510, 520, and 550
- EXSC 505 will count as an elective class on the MS in Exercise Science and Wellness DCP
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.